Draymond Green and the Warriors caught a huge break after Game 3, when the NBA opted not to suspend him for kicking Steven Adams in the groin. However, that kick was upgraded from a Flagrant 1 to a Flagrant 2, putting Green in danger of triggering an automatic suspension with another flagrant foul of any kind.
In the Warriors’ Game 4 loss to the Thunder on Tuesday night, Green’s collision with Enes Kanter looked a lot like a trip as they both went flying:
https://i.giphy.com/3o7qDWt8A2TvtMJ9DO.gif
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst speculates that it could be upgraded to a flagrant foul if the league takes a look via replay, which they can do after the fact:
It seems Draymond Green's trip of Enes Kanter last night might literally be a textbook case of a flagrant 1 foul. https://t.co/E4ySzpYwIN
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) May 25, 2016
If NBA were to rule by that standard, Green theoretically could get flagrant added & face suspension for flagrant points. Theoretically.
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) May 25, 2016
It’s just borderline enough that it’s doubtful that the league will do such a thing, unless the Thunder force the issue by sending the play in to the league office for review. A potential Green suspension could all but kill the Warriors’ chances at a comeback from a 3-1 series deficit. Green has been terrible so far in the Western Conference Finals, but it’s difficult to imagine Golden State pulling off the comeback without him at his best.
