The Playbook: Draymond Green blossoms into an elite playmaker

Get this: Draymond Green, at 6.7 per game, is averaging more assists than LeBron James.

Green not only leads the Golden State Warriors in assists, but he ranks eighth in the league in assists per game, ahead of several top-notch point guards like Mike Conley and Kyle Lowry.

He's more than doubled his average from last season (3.3), and has become the second-most important player to Curry on the league's deadliest offense.

Running the break

The most notable difference in Green's game this season is that he's become more brazen in the fast break.

He's always around the paint contesting shots and rebounding misses on defense, which naturally leaves him as the trailer. But by being able to run the break, Green frees up the Warriors' legion of wings to disperse before the opponents can set up.

At that point, all Green has to do is make the right read, as he explained to ESPN's Ethan Strauss.

"I know Steph's running to the wing. I know Klay Thompson's running to the wing or to the corner. I know (Harrison Barnes)'s running to the corner and cutting in. I know Andre Iguodala's probably cutting in. I know Festus Ezeli is running to the rim. It's about knowing where your guys are going to be."

Here's an example of what Green's referring to.

He grabs the rebound and within three seconds, he's already marched his offense down the court. He sees that Curry and Thompson have fanned out to the perimeter and are being watched closely, so he drives into the lane, draws the defender, and tosses up a gorgeous alley-oop to Ezeli.

Post delivery

The Warriors' first option is always hunting for transition opportunities, but Golden State's halfcourt sets are just as deadly.

The core pieces have played together for three years, so the Warriors have no need for set plays. They understand how to move, and they take what the defense gives them.

As head coach Steve Kerr is fond of saying, "Everything comes out in the wash."

Green serves as the conductor. He keeps the play moving. He's adept at finding cutters regardless of where he is on the court.

When he's at the high post extended, Green is able to open up the paint by dragging another big with him. At that point, he has two options. He can either find spot-up shooters flying around screens along the perimeter, or he can set up the deadly handoff to Curry.

(Source: YouTube)

Green can also punish opponents when he's on the low block. He's not really a post-up scorer, but he's strong enough to bully smaller defenders on a switch.

But he's smart about it. He doesn't get tunnel vision like most bigs in mismatches. He keeps his head up and allows the Warriors to cut and move, before deciding to bulldoze - and, to his teammates' credit, they give him options.

(source: YouTube)

The unstoppable play

When the Warriors really need a basket, they turn to the play that no team in the NBA has yet to figure out: the spread pick-and-roll with Curry and Green.

It works because the defense has three options: go under the screen, switch the play, or aggressively trap. The first one isn't actually an option because Curry's far too deadly a shooter, and the second one doesn't work because Curry's handles are too slick for any big to keep up with him.

That's why teams usually trap Curry 30 feet from the basket and take their chances with Green playing 4-on-3. But that's just as effective for the Warriors, because Green's ability to handle, drive, and dish is terrifying.

Green's shooting 43.8 percent from deep, so right off the bat, he can pick and pop for an easy score. But he causes even more problems when he drives. Green's able to get to the rim in three dribbles and finish at the basket, so help has to come. However, that becomes a "pick your poison" scenario: The Warriors have three more 40-plus percent 3-point shooters along the perimeter, so where can you afford to send help?

That's the play that doomed the Los Angeles Clippers when Golden State erased a 23-point deficit last Thursday. Notice the two drive-and-dish connections between Green and Iguodala.