Cavs' Ty Lue on flagrant: Draymond was trying to 'send a message'

Given that Monday night’s rout was the last time we’ll be seeing the Cleveland Cavaliers take on the Golden State Warriors before a potential Finals meeting, the enduring image of Draymond Green leveling LeBron James could last a while.

Green, who was assessed a Flagrant 1 after barreling into James with his shoulder near midcourt, chalked it up to a typical foul intended to stop a fast break. “Nothing major,” Green called it.

That’s not how Cavs coach Tyronn Lue viewed it. He explained to reporters on Wednesday that he felt Green was trying to send a message.

“Was it a dirty play? I don’t know,” he said. “Was it a statement? I think so. He didn’t want LeBron to get in the open court and get a dunk or layup, and he took a hard foul. He wanted to try to send a message to our team.”

Though Green and Cavs forward Richard Jefferson were ultimately assessed technicals in the ensuing skirmish, the larger message was sent with the 35-point drubbing, a win that snapped the Cavs’ four-game winning streak vs. the Warriors.

Should the Cavs meet the Warriors in the Finals, it would be the first time in NBA history two teams have met three consecutive years in NBA history. And at that point, any messages sent in January will have long subsided. 

Follow Michael Singer on Twitter @MSinger