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The Golden State Warriors, anchored on Draymond Green’s one-on-one defense, threw the kitchen sink at Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid. “The Process” still dominated, forcing the Warriors to rally on their home floor to beat the visiting 76ers.
After the game, Green had this to say about Embiid’s dazzling display:
“A guy like that, you just never want to give him a steady diet of anything because they just figure it out. He [Embiid] said, ‘You know why I played like that tonight? You said Joker [Jokic] was the hardest person to guard in the league. I took that personal.’
"So, I’m gonna tell you. Joel is the hardest guy to guard.
Embiid staked the 76ers to a 88-79 lead entering the fourth quarter. Doc Rivers tried to give him a breather but the Golden State Warriors came storming back.
When Joel Embiid returned for the final push, he overwhelmed everything the Warriors threw at him by scoring 13 straight points. Only Jordan Poole’s crucial baskets and Draymond Green’s playmaking prevented what could have been a loss on their home floor.
Green also described what their strategy was in stopping one of the leading NBA MVP candidates:
"In the fourth quarter, we just tried to throw different looks at him. … We sent double teams from the top of the floor, we sent double teams from the bottom of the floor. He caught the ball one time from the three-point line and we sent a double team."
Green has been singing Nikola Jokic’s praises since the last postseason, when the Golden State Warriors eliminated the Denver Nuggets in five games. “The Joker” still put up impressive numbers, but without a legitimate supporting cast, couldn’t overcome the Warriors’ firepower, poise and championship experience.
Draymond Green and the Golden State Warriors are winless in two games against Jokic and the Nuggets. Denver’s role players are healthy and they’re showing what they can do by leading the Western Conference standings.
The Bay Area team’s win over the Philadelphia 76ers, behind Embiid’s sizzling form, was easily their best and biggest win of the season. They’re on a three-game winning streak and starting to look like the defending NBA champs.
Draymond Green and the Golden State Warriors will have another crack at Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets
Acknowledging to the media that Joel Embiid is the hardest player to guard in the NBA might sting the Warriors before the regular season ends. Golden State is scheduled to travel to Colorado on Apr. 2 to take on Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.
Denver is 2-0 this season against the defending NBA champs behind Jokic’s MVP-level play. The back-to-back NBA MVP has been unstoppable versus the Warriors. He is averaging 24.0 points, 13.0 rebounds and 13.0 assists against the Draymond Green-led defense.
Jokic is hitting 61.5% from the field, including 50.0% from behind the arc against Steve Kerr’s team. Draymond Green had every reason to say the reigning MVP was the hardest to guard.
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