After getting past the Memphis Grizzlies in the Play-In Tournament, the Golden State Warriors locked in their spot in the Western Conference playoffs. But they now face one of the top teams in the NBA right now—the Houston Rockets, and Draymond Green reflected on the matchup.
“We are the underdogs. They are a two seed, we’re the seven seed,” the forward said on The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis. “We haven’t been able to play underdog in a long time. Obviously we don’t view ourselves as an ordinary seven seed but it is what it is.”
Indeed, the Warriors have been one of the NBA’s most dominant teams over the past decade, ever since capturing their first title under Steve Kerr in the 2014–15 season. That’s why it’s hard not to view them as contenders—even when there’s a significant gap in the standings, as there is in this case.
“We’re a seven seed and they’re a two, we got to start off on the road and that’s always fun when you get the opportunity to start off on the road,” Green added. “So, man, I’m just excited, man.”
Jalen Green of the Houston Rockets speaks with head coach Ime Udoka during a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on December 27, 2024.
Draymond Green praises Houston ahead of Playoff clash
When asked what he expects from facing the Houston Rockets, Draymond Green didn’t hold back his respect. “I’m excited about the matchup. This young team has gotten a lot better,” the forward said. “Look at the team last year, they were like the 14th seed or 12th seed or something like that last year. They’re hungry.”
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Green went on to draw parallels between today’s Rockets and the Warriors of a decade ago. “They want what we’ve experienced before, you’ve been in that position before, you know exactly how they feel,” he said. “You can always rewind back to like, ‘Man if when we were in that position,’ you can put yourself in those shoes which can in a sense help you prepare in a different way because what to expect.”
Green respects Rockets coach Udoka
Beyond Houston’s hunger, Draymond Green also acknowledged the challenge of going up against their head coach. “We’ve played Ime Udoka in the playoffs in NBA Finals, we know what his teams bring,” said the four-time NBA champion with Golden State.
Udoka was the head coach of the Boston Celtics in the 2021–22 season, when they reached the Finals but fell 4–2 to the Warriors. That marked Golden State’s most recent championship—and now, three years later, Green and Stephen Curry are aiming to write another chapter in the franchise’s storied run.
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