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Danny Green has not produced as expected during the season for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Los Angeles Lakers winger Danny Green is a two-time NBA champion in pursuit of his third ring playing for three different teams. Not many players have done that and they are mostly role players who, despite moving from team to team, have provided a consistent and helpful contribution to the championship quest.
Green is the one who put the 3 and D on the map. The first specialist to receive a great contract by virtue of his qualities, fundamental in the Gregg Popovich system in San Antonio. Soon after, the value of these types of followers skyrocketed and they became the most sought-after type of gamer behind the stars.
This year, Green has been almost dependable for the Los Angeles Lakers and failed to deliver what he is supposed to do better. In the regular season, he shot 36.7 percent of three on 4.8 attempts in 24.8 minutes per game. In the first round through Game 1 of the second, it fell to 33.3 percent.
We know that the ancient Tar Heel has a history of fickleness. He went from two great playoff runs in 2013 (a spectacular 55.1 percent in the finals) and 2014 to a terrible 30 percent in the 2015 playoffs.
After signing the big contract that summer, he had a poor regular season but bounced back for a great 50 percent performance in the playoffs. Two average seasons in 2017 and 2018 were followed by dismal playoff performances, especially an atrocious 25 percent in 2018.
Traded to the Toronto Raptors, he had a 45.5 percent shooting season from deep in 2019 and then disappeared in the playoffs with 32.8 percent. Finally, he arrived in Los Angeles. His shot has been a disappointment all season, worsened in the bubble and continued into the playoffs.
On the defensive side, he has not been anywhere near the player that was expected. Unable to keep up with the stars of other teams, the Lakers’ defensive rise in the playoffs is due to the rise of Alex Caruso and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
Last summer, Danny joined the Lakers hoping to lead a unit of shooters that surrounds LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Heck, it was LA’s biggest free agent acquisition in terms of market value and contract size.
He was hired as soon as Kawhi Leonard left the market, with the attention that big players get, signing a two-year, $ 30 million deal. The third highest paid player on the list, behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
But as of Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals, Danny Green has finally started showing up in games, hitting 47.4 percent of his 3s. A long awaited and needed contribution from the veteran sniper.
As we enter the conference finals, things could get tougher against the tough Denver Nuggets, and the Lakers will need to have their outside shooting, especially with the Nuggets playing heavy minutes with Nikola Jokic on the court.
Green needs to step up if the Lakers are to defeat them, reach the finals and possibly face the tough Miami Heat for the 17th championship. He has to achieve the productivity of a player worth $ 15 million and prove that he is worth every penny of them, something that until now has not been able to do.
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