Draymond Green owns his 'short-man complex' as Warriors ride six-game streak into Orlando game

Draymond Green had his first chance to talk about Monday's ejection against Phoenix, and he skipped the apology. He explained himself. After Thursday's 120-100 win over Miami, the 36-year-old told reporters that playing center at 6-foot-6 against much bigger men gives him a chip he has no plans to lose. He compared it to a Napoleon complex, the New York Post reported.

Green said he usually gives up 20 to 60 pounds in a matchup, and that he needs a certain nastiness to do the job. "There's certain things you cannot allow to happen," he said, according to the Post, because if he lets an opponent get away with something, it happens again the next game. That was his explanation for wrapping up Suns center Khaman Maluach on Monday instead of just contesting the entry pass. Dillon Brooks ran in after Maluach hit the floor, and Green grabbed him by the jersey. NBC Sports Bay Area reported that Green picked up two technicals and was tossed with 10 minutes left in the third quarter, with Golden State trailing 67-57. The Warriors came back to win 116-113.

Brooks said after the game that he had been trying to calm things down. Green didn't buy it. He said Brooks came in talking and leaning into his shoulder, and he added that there wasn't much to calm down in the first place. The two have been feuding since Brooks played in Memphis and they met in the 2022 Western Conference semifinals. Green told reporters he had started to soften on Brooks before this week.

The discipline concerns are real. CBS Sports counted it as the 31st ejection of Green's career and noted that his three technicals were tied for the league lead. People reported that Stephen Curry said the scuffle lit a fire under the team. The defense is holding up too. The Post noted that Giannis Antetokounmpo went 4-of-9 on Thursday with Green guarding him, and that Green has handled Rudy Gobert, Walker Kessler and Nikola Jokic this season while Yaxel Lendeborg's emergence at the four has moved him to the five.

What it means against Orlando

Green's edge is getting results. Golden State opened 0-3, with losses to the Lakers, Memphis and Phoenix, and has won six straight since to reach 6-3. The streak includes road wins at Denver and Minnesota, a 17-point win over the Lakers and Thursday's 20-point win over Miami. Saturday's home game against the Orlando Magic is the next test of whether the Warriors can keep Green on the floor without dialing back what makes him useful.

The Warriors are clear favorites on the board. Novig, one of 12 venues tracked, has Golden State at -228 on the moneyline and Orlando at +217. Pinnacle has the best Magic price anywhere at +222. The spread sits at Warriors -6.5 and the total at 221.5 on Novig, while BetRivers has the total a little lower at 219.5. Prices across venues are close together, with sportsbook hold ranging from 2.8% to 5.5% on the moneyline.