Lowell Cohn: Draymond Green a two-edge sword for Warriors

All things considered, I prefer Klay Thompson to Draymond Green.

Not as people. Both are good guys, deep-down decent men as far as I know. I gravitate to people on the quiet side. Loud, frequent talkers give me a headache. And I prefer Thompson's demeanor on the court. Green's court demeanor got him in trouble, will get him in trouble again and again. He puts the team in trouble. See Game 5 of this championship series.

I have read Green is the heart and soul of the Warriors, the team leader, the spirit of the team. That kind of stuff. Untrue. As I have written, Green is the false leader, the apparent leader. He shouts a lot and goes after officials and calls attention to himself. People think that's a leader. That is not a leader. That is an attention-grabber. That is a grown man acting like an adolescent.

The true leader of the Warriors is Stephen Curry. Repeat that 100 times. Stephen Curry is the leader. Etc. Etc.

I have read Green is the second-best player on the Warriors. Equally untrue. He is the third best. A very good third best, but third best nonetheless. Thompson is the second best. He is a better offensive player than Green. Not even a discussion. And although Green is a top-tier defender, so is Thompson. He defends the most dangerous guard on the opposition because Curry can't, and because he can. Thompson is a fabulous two-way player, and it's amazing he doesn't fall down from exhaustion.

He's never been thrown out of a game and he's never put his team in jeopardy by his behavior or made the game about him or made the championship series about him - except for his wonderful playing.

He was on the court Monday night while Green was across the way at the Coliseum nursing his grievance in a luxury box, helping no one. During Game 5, fans - God love them - chanted “Free Draymond.” It's just that Draymond put himself in the slammer for continued behavior short of the professional standard. Not just for his fight with LeBron James in which James was more at fault. But his two previous flagrant fouls in the playoffs and his load of technical fouls and his big mouth.

The Warriors needed him Monday. Really needed him. They could not defend the Cavs without him. James and Kyrie Irving had a superhighway to the hoop, a highway Green usually clutters with roadblocks. The Cavs had 61 points at the half, 93 after three quarters. Unseemly numbers. Numbers Green would have diminished if he had been there.

He had no excuse for not being there. Let his team down big time. Irresponsible of Draymond Green. He needs to study Thompson. He needs to talk to Thompson. Needs to learn from Thompson.

I am in love with how Thompson plays ball, with how he comports himself. He is the anti-Green and, because of that, he's more valuable to the Warriors and, if you'll pardon me, a better teammate.

Study Thompson's face. It is a young, handsome face. But not innocent like Curry's. It is hard. Or maybe blank is the right word. You don't know what his face means. Thompson gives away nothing. He stares at you from behind serious eyes.

After he makes a gorgeous 3, he runs down court with that same indecipherable face. The game continues. He continues. He is all business.

A call goes against him. He allows himself the merest frown. Just a frown. Maybe he mutters to himself. That's the extent of it. And he's off running down the court. A game to play.

He doesn't jaw with officials. Doesn't keep up a running critique throughout the game. Wasted energy. He moves on. Plays the game. Performs his job. Arguing, sulking, posturing, bellowing, shouting at officials, shouting at teammates all take away from his main purpose.

He understands the difference between well-applied energy and wasted energy. He is the ultimate mature player. He is a model of a pro.

He is everything Green is not but should be.

I honestly believe Green wants to be like Thompson. Who wouldn't? I believe Green tries to be, tries to walk away from trouble, tries to keep playing after a bad call or after an opponent like James disrespects him. Tries to tell himself it's not worth the fight, not worth the suspension. Not worth making Steve Kerr's stomach do a Triple-Lindy.

It's just that Green can't help himself. He plays so close to the edge all the time he can't stop himself from going over. Like a kid who gets called to the principal's office for putting Bonnie's pigtail in the inkwell and promises never to do it again and sincerely means it, but he sees that pigtail in front of him calling to him, and something happens in his soul and he dips it once again.

Draymond Green is a serial dipper.

He has put the Warriors in danger of losing this series. I don't think they'll lose, but things aren't as peachy as they were before Green flicked James' groin. Does Green have a crotch fixation?

The wrong message Green can take from his suspension is this: The Warriors need me. Everyone sees that. Hooray for me.

The right message Green can take from his suspension is this: I'll never let down my team again. I'll learn from this. I really will.

Even if it means getting counseling or saying a million Hail Mary's, I will make my life mission to become my best possible Klay Thompson.

For more on the world of sports in general and the Bay Area in particular, go to the Cohn Zohn at cohn.blogs.pressdemocrat.com. You can reach Staff Columnist Lowell Cohn at lowell.cohn@pressdemocrat.com.