Draymond Green’s competitive fire is one of his biggest strengths and, at times, his biggest weakness.
First-year Kings coach Mike Brown, who taught and mentored Green for six seasons with Golden State, knows that better than anybody.
Brown’s revamped Kings will meet Green and the defending NBA champion Warriors in a first-round playoff series, with Game 1 set for Saturday night at Golden 1 Center. Brown is trying to prepare his players both mentally and physically for the task at hand, as Sacramento plays a playoff game for the first time in 17 years.
"You try to tell them as much as you can about each individual player, not just Draymond," Brown told reporters after Kings practice Thursday. "You show them film on each individual player. Draymond's going to be intense, he's going to be physical, he's going to let you know what he's thinking every single minute of the game.
"And all those things, you got to be able to stay the course. You got to play your game and be just as physical with him on both sides of the ball as he is with you, if not trying to exceed it."
Since Brown left Golden State for Sacramento last summer, there’s been nothing but mutual respect for him from Warriors players, coaches and fans.
Green was asked Thursday at Warriors practice what he misses most about Brown.
NBA
"His voice," Green said. "No. 1, his voice, especially when it comes to the defensive side of the ball. He's super intense."
Both Green and Brown share a love and passion for the defensive side of the game. The Warriors finished this season 17th in defensive rating and 21st in opponent points per game. Last season, with Brown leading the charge as defensive coordinator, the Warriors were first in defensive rating and third in opponent points per game.
Brown reached the Finals four times and won three titles in his time with Green and the Warriors. He now hopes to replicate that success with the Kings.
RELATED: Why Barnes embodies Kings' key to beating Warriors in playoffs
"You guys know how Draymond is. You know how Steph [Curry] is. You know how Klay [Thompson] is," Brown continued. "You know how their whole team is. There’s no secret. It’s just about whether or not we can go out and execute our game plan, which our guys were locked into today, and if we can, we’re going to give ourselves a good chance."
And that's all the Kings need in a best-of-seven series.