Draymond Green and Juan Toscano-Anderson terrorize Phoenix

Warriors snap Suns' 18-game win streak with a fury.

HAPPY SATURDAY DNHQ, LET’S TALK SOME BASKETBALL.

JTA brings Town Biz to Chase Center

My last piece discussed the success Phoenix’s stingy defense had against the Warriors. Specifically I examined how Draymond Green and Juan Toscano-Anderson, the pass-first point-forwards of Golden State’s high-flying offense, were knocked out of sync by a Suns that dared them to be scoring threats. In that game, Phoenix mucked up the passing lanes and turned Green and JTA’s unselfish instincts against them, forcing them into poor passes and aimless drives.

Clearly DNHQ is getting read in the Warriors’ locker room; or they’re just high IQ professionals who don’t need blog bois like myself to know how to adjust in the game they’re paid millions to pay. IDK, who’s to say?

Either way, last night in the rematch they punished Phoenix for leaving them open, and the Warriors laughed their way to another W despite Stephen Curry (23 points on 20 shots) and Jordan Poole (14 points on 12 shots) not having big scoring nights. How much did Green and JTA improve from Tuesday’s loss to the 118-96 victory Friday night?

Well, this was the freakin’ header on NBA.com this morning!

Warriors on NBCS @NBCSWarriors

JTA PUT JAVALE ON A POSTER

Lmao I wrote these notes in the previous game:

If JTA takes his time and gives Booker a nice move to score, or get fouled, or draw a double team around the basket, the Suns have to rejigger their defensive net.

Instead, they can swarm around with CP3 acting as a free safety, mucking up the passing lanes and daring the Warriors to score 1 on 1 with players who aren’t necessarily looking for their own shot.

With the shot clock running down, JTA is forced to try and heroically drive around solid defender Jae Crowder, but he’s not historically known as an ISO-get-you-a-bucket kinda guy.

Now he’s out here posterizing shotblocking 7-footers!! Talk about getting you a bucket! Former Warrior fan-favorite JaVale McGee got turned into a memento!

Anthony Slater @anthonyVslater

JTA called that dunk on JaVale McGee the best in-game dunk of his career. Answer includes an Andris Biedrins shoutout.

Warriors Nation @WarriorNationCP

JaVale McGee is a class act for this 😂 Juan Toscano-Anderson will be looking forward to it 💪

JTA finished the night with 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in 26 minutes off of the bench on 7-of-8 shooting from the field. He also only had 1 turnover after coughing the rock up 5 times in the loss to the Suns. Way to hoop JTA!

Monte Poole @MontePooleNBCS

Rough game for Juan Toscano-Anderson the other in Phoenix. Yamming on JaVale like that was an act of catharsis

Draymond Green torments Phoenix in the rematch

Green was another guy I studied in Tuesday’s loss for forcing passes that weren’t there (5 turnovers) against a defense that was baiting him into passivity. Last night he responded with 9 assists to only 2 turnovers and was a threat offensively (4-of-6 shooting from the field).

Yaya Dubin @JADubin5

Draymond had 9 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists last night against Phoenix. Incredibly, that's apparently happened only 8 times since the ABA-NBA merger.

When Phoenix dared to leave him open, he stepped up and made them pay. And even when he didn’t shoot, the fact that he appeared like he MIGHT shoot threw Phoenix’s defense off.

Golden State Warriors @warriors

Dray ➡️ Andrew 📺 @NBCSAuthentic

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE. Green had 6 steals and 3 blocks last night hahahahah. He was everywhere at once, anchoring a defense that choked the life out of the Suns. Per NBA tracking stats, Suns center DeAndre Ayton was 2-of-6 from the field when guarded by Green. There plenty of times where Green wouldn’t let him get the ball!

Calvin Fong @CalFongNBA

Draymond should be the DPOY frontrunner He plays this perfectly to deter the pocket pass to Ayton, and then swallows up Payne's dump-off pass once Payne is caught in mid-air

Mark Haynes @markhaynesnba

Steve Kerr on Draymond Green's defense: "He's the best defender in the world. He does everything for us defensively."

Dennis Miguel @OakA_sFan4life

Draymond making Ayton look like Ronnie Seikaly https://t.co/xssvlaI00n

Steve Berman @BASportsGuy

Draymond is playing even better defense than usual, and he's the betting favorite to win DPOY.

Gary Payton II or Andrew Wiggins for Most Improved Player?

• Wiggins: 30 min, 19 points on 8-of-16 shooting, 5 rebounds, 2 assists +24 plus/minus.

• GPII: 26 min, 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting (3-of-5 from downtown, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 stunning tie-up of Chris Paul.

Warriors on NBCS @NBCSWarriors

GP2 tied up CP3

Will anyone score on this team in the playoffs when Coach Steve Kerr activates the Curry, GP2, Wiggins, Andre Iguodala, and Green defensive lineup? Serious question.

BACK2BACK

Whoa there’s another game today. At 5:30 PM Cali time on NBC Sports Bay Area, the Dubs take on the San Antonio Spurs. Golden State’s former rival is now floundering in obscurity, far removed from the dynasty days of decades prior. They have a 7-13 record, but they have won three in a row and would be more than happy to get that fourth on Golden State’s home court.

That Dejounte Murray guy they developed is leading the team in points (18.9), rebounds (8.4), and assists (8.3). I always figured he’d be a solid player, and now he’s coming to the fore. Good for him!

Now sic Wiggins on ‘em and let’s sweep this home back to back, baby!