The Toronto Raptors advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history and managed to do so without the entire team firing on all cylinders.
Danny Green was among the most accurate shooters from distance in the NBA this campaign – only Joe Harris of the Brooklyn Nets had a better three-point shooting percentage than Green’s .455 – but the Raptors guard has gone cold in the post-season.
Green went 10-of-28 from beyond the arc in the 28.7 minutes per game he logged in five contests against the Magic in round one, then drained 13-of-35 in seven games against the 76ers averaging 33 minutes per night.
Against the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals, Green’s struggles shooting the ball continued and, in fact, got progressively worse throughout the series. His playing time decreased as well.
No one is more aware of Green’s shooting woes than Green himself, and the guard says he’s going to “just keep shooting” and “try not to think about it,” which might be easier said than done.
“It’s hard not to think about it because everybody in the world is telling you ‘don’t think about it,’” Green told reporters in Toronto on Monday.
“Everybody you come across, ‘Keep shooting it.’ Trust me, I’m gonna keep shooting. ‘Don’t think about it.’ I’m trying not to. You’re not helping. So everybody that’s in my inbox, PSA: stop texting me ‘don’t think about it, just keep shooting.’ I know that.”
Green only managed to drop five of his 23 three-point attempts against the Bucks and he failed to hit any in Game 4, Game 5 and Game 6.
If the Raptors are to have any real chance at beating the Golden State Warriors in the Finals, they’ll need Green to get back in form.
“I’m not second guessing myself,” Green added. “Whenever I get a look, more so than anything I try to let my defence fuel that side of the floor for me. Be active, try to get in passing lanes, get some rebounds, box out, get into guys and then offensively just run, and hopefully build my rhythm back that way.”
Game 1 of the NBA Finals is set for Thursday night at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena.