Community Picks: Golden State Warriors 0% vs Oklahoma City Thunder 0%

In case you've been living under a rock for the past 16 hours, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green was not suspended for Game 4 , following another kick to Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams' groin, so the 7-foot New Zealander is considering taking steps to prevent any further damage. Steven Adams said he was considering wearing protective gear for Game 4 because of the frequency of hits to his sensitive area. — Ben Bolch (@latbbolch) May 23, 2016 Adams said he's going to consider wearing some protective gear "due to the consistency of the hits." — Royce Young (@royceyoung) May 23, 2016 And wouldn't you consider protection if someone's leg had found your nether regions twice in a week? As the saying goes, fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, wear protective gear for your sensitive area. Fun fact: in New Zealand, a protective cup is called a box. — bholly (@atbholly) May 24, 2016 As for whether Adams actually lives in fear of further damage, he made it awfully clear with reporters prior to the league's ruling that his confidence won't waver with or without Green's legs available for Game 4. Steven Adams: "I think we can beat them with or without" Draymond Green. — Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) May 23, 2016 To his credit, Green issued the apology Adams said " wouldn't matter " in the form of an Undefeated diary . [ Follow Dunks Don't Lie on Tumblr:  The best slams from all of basketball] "I would tell [Adams], ‘My bad. I didn’t try to do something like that.’ Honestly, I wanted to go up to him during the game and say that. But I know what type of competitor he is and I think I know how he would react. If he would have reacted the way I thought he would have reacted, I know what that would have done to me, as well. I just kind of erred on the side of not saying anything and was hopeful I may catch him after the game. "I didn’t intentionally kick him down there. Whether he believes me or not, which I don’t think he will and wouldn’t in the moment, which is why I didn’t say anything. I would definitely apologize and I look forward to apologizing to him, if I see him." But if you thought the $25,000 fine and being one flagrant point away from a mandatory one-game suspension would prevent Green from still trying to verbally kick Oklahoma City in the groin, think again. "Russell [Westbrook] said I did it on purpose, but he's a part of the superstar group that started all this acting in the NBA," Green told the media on Monday. I didn't. So, I sold the call. ... Russell Westbrook kicked me at the end of the half. He just didn't happen to catch me where I caught Steven Adams at, so no — I'm not bracing for the worst." Green submitted this as evidence: Naturally, Westbrook didn't take too kindly to Green's accusations, throwing shade at the Warriors forward after Green's 1-for-9, four-turnover effort that resulted in the worst plus/minus in playoff history . Russell Westbrook on Draymond Green's comments about him: "He's gotta bring somebody into it. He's trying to take the heat off himself." — Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) May 23, 2016 Westbrook on Green's comments: "I don't know how to flop." — Michele Steele (@ESPNMichele) May 23, 2016 We'll see if these verbal barbs translate to the court. Just make sure your sensitive areas are protected. - - - - - - - Ben Rohrbach is a contributor for Ball Don't Lie and Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at rohrbach_ben@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @brohrbach Continue to Article

May 24, 2016 11:49:am EST

In case you've been living under a rock for the past 16 hours, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green was not suspended for Game 4 , following another kick to Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams' groin, so the 7-foot New Zealander is considering taking steps to prevent any further damage. Steven Adams said he was considering wearing protective gear for Game 4 because of the frequency of hits to his sensitive area. — Ben Bolch (@latbbolch) May 23, 2016 Adams said he's going to consider wearing some protective gear "due to the consistency of the hits." — Royce Young (@royceyoung) May 23, 2016 And wouldn't you consider protection if someone's leg had found your nether regions twice in a week? As the saying goes, fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, wear protective gear for your sensitive area. As for whether Adams actually lives in fear of further damage, he made it awfully clear with reporters prior to the league's ruling that his confidence won't waver with or without Green's legs available for Game 4. Steven Adams: "I think we can beat them with or without" Draymond Green. — Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) May 23, 2016 To his credit, Green issued the apology Adams said " wouldn't matter " in the form of an Undefeated diary . [ Follow Dunks Don't Lie on Tumblr:  The best slams from all of basketball] "I would tell [Adams], ‘My bad. I didn’t try to do something like that.’ Honestly, I wanted to go up to him during the game and say that. But I know what type of competitor he is and I think I know how he would react. If he would have reacted the way I thought he would have reacted, I know what that would have done to me, as well. I just kind of erred on the side of not saying anything and was hopeful I may catch him after the game. "I didn’t intentionally kick him down there. Whether he believes me or not, which I don’t think he will and wouldn’t in the moment, which is why I didn’t say anything. I would definitely apologize and I look forward to apologizing to him, if I see him." But if you thought the $25,000 fine and being one flagrant point away from a mandatory one-game suspension would prevent Green from still trying to verbally kick Oklahoma City in the groin, think again. "Russell [Westbrook] said I did it on purpose, but he's a part of the superstar group that started all this acting in the NBA," Green told the media on Monday. I didn't. So, I sold the call. ... Russell Westbrook kicked me at the end of the half. He just didn't happen to catch me where I caught Steven Adams at, so no — I'm not bracing for the worst." Green submitted this as evidence: Naturally, Westbrook didn't take too kindly to Green's accusations, throwing shade at the Warriors forward after Green's 1-for-9, four-turnover effort that resulted in the worst plus/minus in playoff history . Russell Westbrook on Draymond Green's comments about him: "He's gotta bring somebody into it. He's trying to take the heat off himself." — Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) May 23, 2016 Westbrook on Green's comments: "I don't know how to flop." — Michele Steele (@ESPNMichele) May 23, 2016 We'll see if these verbal barbs translate to the court. Just make sure your sensitive areas are protected. - - - - - - - Ben Rohrbach is a contributor for Ball Don't Lie and Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at rohrbach_ben@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @brohrbach Continue to Article

May 24, 2016 11:49:am EST

Draymond Green has a history, and in this case it seems to have been helpful. Only a minute before the overly excitable Golden State forward kicked Oklahoma City's Steven Adams in the midsection during Game 3 of the Western Conference finals on Sunday night, his leg flailing upward either clumsily or intentionally depending on perspective, he was under the basket as teammate Stephen Curry missed a 3-pointer. Continue to Article

May 24, 2016 2:24:am EST

Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green has been fined $25,000 but will escape a suspension for his kick on Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams, the NBA said Monday. Green left the Warriors sweating on the prospect of a possible ban after kicking Adams in the groin during Golden State's rout to the Thunder in Game Three on Sunday. Golden State's management and Green had insisted the incident in the first half -- which left Adams doubled over in pain -- was accidental. Continue to Article

May 23, 2016 9:00:pm EST

(Reuters) - Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green escaped a possible one-game suspension on Monday when he was fined by the National Basketball Association for a flagrant foul that was upgraded from category 1 to 2. Green faced the chance of being banned for Tuesday's Game Four of the Western Conference Finals against Oklahoma City after he had kicked Thunder center Steven Adams in the groin during Sunday's Game Three. "After a thorough investigation that included review of all available video angles and interviews with the players involved and the officials working the game, we have determined that Green's foul was unnecessary and excessive and warranted the upgrade and fine," Kiki VanDeWeghe, the NBA's executive vice president of basketball operations, said in a statement. Continue to Article

May 23, 2016 8:01:pm EST