Green: Rockets are physical, not dirty

Draymond Green has asserted that the Houston Rockets are a physical team rather than a dirty one. Speaking on his podcast, Green addressed the label that emerged after the Warriors' recent loss to Houston, which saw Steph Curry exit the game with an oblique abdominal tear. He emphasized that while incidents of dirty play occur in the league, the Rockets' style is primarily characterized by intense physicality.

Green acknowledged that some might label the Rockets as dirty, especially after Curry's injury, which resulted from a screen by Alperen Sengun. However, Green drew a distinction, stating that his primary frustration stems from the Rockets' physicality combined with occasional "flopping." This, he believes, is more irritating than intentional dirty play. He cited Marcus Smart's ejection and subsequent three-game suspension for a punch as an example of conduct he would label as dirty.

Green explained that his assessment is based on game film, which clearly shows the Rockets' consistently physical approach. He concluded that while he would speak out against genuinely dirty actions, the Rockets' overall game, in his view, falls under the umbrella of being highly physical.