Draymond Green 'Excited as Hell' for Warriors' Play-in Game vs. Lakers

Joseph Zucker @@JosephZuckerFeatured Columnist IVMay 19, 2021

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 15: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors smiles before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 15, 2021 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images

Not surprisingly, Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green has had a change of heart about the NBA's play-in tournament.

Green told ESPN's Rachel Nichols he's "excited as hell" to play the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night:

ESPN @espn
"Playing against the Lakers, defending champion ... the stage doesn't get any bigger in LA." @Money23Green said he is "excited as hell" for tonight's game. @Rachel__Nichols pic.twitter.com/9kr0iCsqAt

That's a different stance than the one the three-time All-Star expressed in April, when he told reporters that "fighting for a play-in spot does not motivate me."

Granted, Green may have said something else if he knew with certainty the Lakers would be waiting after Golden State finished eighth in the Western Conference.

Simply getting to this point is an achievement for the Warriors after they lost Klay Thompson to a season-ending injury for the second straight year. No matter what might happen beyond that, sending the Lakers packing and denying their bid for a second straight title would be a satisfying outcome for Golden State.