Warriors' Draymond Green frustrated after being pulled in 4th quarter, but understands need to 'roll' with hot lineup

BOSTON — Draymond Green said he wasn't «thrilled» when Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr pulled him out Friday night with under eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of Game 4 in Boston.

While Green did come up with two big plays on a crucial possession with just over a minute to go to help the Warriors pull out a 107-97 series-evening win, he had to come to grips with sitting for nearly four minutes in the thick of the fourth quarter before being subbed in and out a few times for situational defense.

«I'm definitely never thrilled coming out of the game with seven minutes to go in the fourth quarter in a must-win game,» Green said. «I'm not going to sit here and act like I was thrilled. I'm a competitor.

»But if that's what Coach decides, then you roll with it. I had to keep my head in the game and whenever I went back in, try to make some plays. That was just my mindset."

Green's offensive struggles in the Finals continued as he missed six of seven shots before finishing with two points, nine rebounds, eight assists and four steals in 32 minutes.

With the Celtics up 90-86 with 7:32 remaining, Kerr subbed Kevon Looney (11 rebounds and six points) and Andrew Wiggins (17 points and 16 rebounds) in for Green and Nemanja Bjelica.

After Marcus Smart made a free throw out of that timeout to push the lead to five, the Warriors outscored Boston 11-3 to take a 97-94 lead with Green out.

«We took him out and put Loon in around maybe 7:40, which was our plan, anyway,» Kerr explained. «But Loon was playing so well and Jordan Poole was playing so well, so we just stayed with the group.»

Told that Green did not look thrilled to sit, Kerr said he didn't see Green's reaction but that he never wants his players to be