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Game 4: A Defensive Showcase
On April 28, 2025, the Golden State Warriors secured a thrilling 109-106 victory over the Houston Rockets in Game 4 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series, taking a commanding 3-1 lead. The game, played at Chase Center in San Francisco, was a testament to the Warriors’ defensive grit, with Draymond Green anchoring a performance that stifled Houston’s potent offense. Green’s clutch defensive plays, including a critical stop on Alperen Şengün in the final seconds, sealed the win, positioning the Warriors one victory away from advancing to the Western Conference semifinals.
The Warriors’ defense set the tone early, jumping to a 13-2 lead in the first 3:45 by forcing four Houston turnovers and converting them into seven points. Despite a chippy first half marked by altercations involving Green, Stephen Curry, and Houston’s Dillon Brooks, the Warriors rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit with an 18-1 third-quarter run. Jimmy Butler, returning from a pelvic injury, led with 27 points, while Brandin Podziemski added 26. Houston’s Şengün (31 points) and Fred VanVleet (26 points) kept the game close, but their team’s 12 missed free throws proved costly.
Green’s stat line—seven points, eight rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and two steals—belied his outsized impact. His ability to navigate foul trouble and deliver in crunch time underscored why he remains the Warriors’ defensive linchpin. Posts on X celebrated his performance, with fans and analysts alike hailing his game-changing stops. The victory highlighted Golden State’s championship pedigree, as they outmuscled a Rockets team known for physicality.
This game was the tightest of the series, with both teams trading blows in a contest that featured 10 lead changes. The Warriors’ ability to close out under pressure, driven by Green’s defensive intensity, has shifted momentum firmly in their favor as they head to Houston for Game 5.
Draymond Green’s Defensive Brilliance
At 35, Draymond Green continues to defy Father Time, delivering a defensive masterclass that earned him widespread praise in Game 4. Named a finalist for the 2024-25 NBA Defensive Player of the Year and the winner of the NBA Hustle Award, Green showcased his unparalleled basketball IQ and versatility. His crucial stop on Şengün’s jumper in the final seconds, followed by Butler’s game-sealing free throws, exemplified his ability to alter games without filling the stat sheet.
Green’s defensive impact was multifaceted. He recorded three blocks and two steals, but his presence was felt in deflections, contested shots, and disrupting Houston’s pick-and-roll sets. A notable moment came when he denied Şengün in the paint, using positioning and quick hands to force a miss without fouling. Analysts on X lauded his ability to cover multiple Rockets simultaneously, with one user noting how Green “denied the drive, closed to zero free space without fouling, and contested high within inches of the shooting hand.” His freelance rotations and anticipation, honed over a 13-year career, made Houston’s offense look disjointed.
Green’s season stats—1.5 steals, 1.0 blocks, and a 108.8 defensive rating—reflect his elite defensive prowess, but his intangibles elevate him further. He ranked in the top 15 in five hustle stat categories, including charges drawn and contested shots, making him the only player to rank in the top 40 across all nine tracked by the NBA. His ability to play center in crunch time, despite being 6-foot-7, remains a strategic cornerstone for coach Steve Kerr, who called Green “one of the great defenders in the world.”
Despite nearly being ejected after altercations with Brooks and Tari Eason, Green’s composure in the fourth quarter—playing the final seven minutes without a foul—was pivotal. His leadership and energy, as Kerr noted, galvanized the Warriors, proving why he’s a four-time champion and eight-time All-Defensive Team member.
Warriors’ Path to a 3-1 Lead
The Warriors’ 3-1 series lead reflects their ability to adapt and dominate a younger, physical Rockets team. Game 1 saw Golden State win 95-85, with Green logging three steals and a block while anchoring a defense that held Houston to 38% shooting. Game 2 was a 109-94 loss, compounded by Jimmy Butler’s early pelvic injury, though Green tied a game-high with three steals. The Warriors rebounded in Game 3, winning 104-93 behind Green’s three blocks and two steals, as they capitalized on Houston’s 19 turnovers. Game 4’s victory, despite Butler’s questionable status, showcased Golden State’s depth and defensive resilience.
Houston, led by Jalen Green and Şengün, has struggled to match Golden State’s veteran savvy. The Rockets’ physicality, evident in Brooks’ confrontations and Amen Thompson’s play that injured Butler, has been countered by the Warriors’ disciplined defense. Golden State’s trapping of Jalen Green has limited his efficiency, forcing Şengün and VanVleet to carry the offense. Houston’s poor free-throw shooting (19-of-31 in Game 4) and inability to close games have handed the Warriors control.
Green’s role as the Warriors’ crunch-time center has been critical. Kerr’s decision to lean on Green’s versatility, supported by Kevon Looney and Trayce Jackson-Davis, has preserved his energy for playoff intensity. The Warriors’ defensive rating, third-best in the league since Butler’s debut, underscores Green’s influence. With a 2-1 record in Houston this series, Golden State is poised to close out in Game 5, though the Rockets’ home crowd could pose a challenge.
The series has been chippy, with Green at the center of verbal and physical battles. His post-game confrontation with Jalen Green in Game 3, where the Rockets’ star dismissed Green’s impact, only fueled his intensity in Game 4. This dynamic has added an edge to the series, but Green’s ability to channel it into defensive dominance has given the Warriors the upper hand.
Fan and Analyst Reactions
Green’s Game 4 performance sparked an outpouring of praise from fans and analysts, particularly on X. Posts hailed him as the “alpha and omega” of the Warriors’ defense, with one user calling it “undoubtedly one of Draymond’s best games” for his clutch stops and playmaking. Another highlighted his ability to stay in the game despite five fouls, a technical, and a flagrant, noting his “big defensive plays in crunch time.” The NBA’s official X account shared a highlight reel of Green’s defensive plays, captioned “DRAYMOND GREEN DEFENSIVE MIX 🔐💪,” which garnered thousands of likes.
Analysts emphasized Green’s cerebral approach, with one describing how he “maximized difficulty at all phases” of Şengün’s final shot. Steve Kerr’s post-game comments, shared widely on X, lauded Green’s leadership and defensive mastery, reinforcing his status as a future Hall of Famer. Fans also celebrated Green’s Hustle Award win on April 26, 2025, with some arguing he deserved the Defensive Player of the Year over Evan Mobley, despite finishing third in voting.
Critics, including some Rockets fans, downplayed Green’s impact, echoing Jalen Green’s claim that he “can’t really do much of anything else” but talk. However, these sentiments were drowned out by the broader narrative of Green’s dominance. His ability to draw Houston’s ire while delivering game-changing plays has made him a lightning rod, with fans reveling in his villainous persona. Posts on X also noted the Warriors’ 3-1 lead as a sign of their championship mettle, with Green’s defense at the forefront.
As the Warriors prepare for Game 5, Green’s performance has rekindled debates about his legacy. At 35, he’s proving he remains one of the NBA’s premier defenders, capable of swinging playoff series. Whether he adds a fifth championship to his resume, his Game 4 heroics have cemented his place in Warriors lore, with fans and analysts eagerly awaiting his next defensive masterpiece.
