By most metrics, Golden State Warriors All-Star Draymond Green had an excellent Game 4 of the NBA Finals vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers, balancing a relatively poor 2-of-9 shooting night with 12 rebounds, four assists, three blocks, two steals, and tremendous defense to open up a 3-1 advantage in the series. However, an altercation with LeBron James in the fourth quarter could bring a review from the league and put Green's availability at risk for Monday's potential clincher in Oakland.

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Yes, Green now finds himself at the center of a groin-related controversy yet another time this postseason. With fewer than three minutes remaining in regulation and the Warriors leading 96-86, Green and James became tangled while setting and covering (respectively) a screen for Stephen Curry. Green appeared to start the incident with a swipe at James, after which LeBron retaliated with a stronger flail of his arm and stepover after Draymond fell to the ground. The two All-NBA forwards then continued their discussion through the possession, which ended with double fouls and jump ball won by the Cavs. Take a look here:

The incident seemed over and perhaps more about LeBron's frustration with the loss and Draymond's pest-like play than anything else. Look at the play a little closer, though, and you can see Green's arm come up towards James's crotch as he steps over and towards the basket. Here's a good view of it:

Draymond Green gives cheap shot to LeBron James.https://t.co/EvgfekPIFs — ⓂarcusD (@_MarcusD_) June 11, 2016

Green's action would not be so attention-grabbing if not for his history in these playoffs. Golden State's vocal leader courted controversy in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals when he kicked Steven Adams in same area. That play was initially called for a flagrant-1 on the floor and upgraded to a flagrant-2 the next day upon league review, a decision that brought punishment to Green without affecting the outcome of the series. It didn't end up mattering — the Warriors got blown out again in Game 4 — but it did put Green in the precarious position of having to avoid a flagrant foul the rest of the postseason to avoid a one-game suspension for flagrant point accumulation.

That situation means any league review that ends in a Green flagrant will keep him out of Game 5. The league could attempt to issue a lesser punishment again and assess the play as a technical — where Draymond has more wiggle room — but this incident should be looked at as a potential flagrant if it's reviewed at all.

Not surprisingly, both James and Green were asked about the dust-up after the game. James did not come out and say that he thinks Green should be suspended, but it's clear that he and his teammates aren't pleased with what occurred:

Oh, nothing got me going. You know, Draymond just said something that I don't agree with. I'm all cool with the competition. I'm all fine with that, but some of the words that came out of his mouth were a little bit overboard, and being a guy with pride, a guy with three kids and a family, things of that nature, some things just go overboard and that's where he took it, and that was it. [...]

Well, I don't know what should happen. It's not my call. That's the league office. They'll take a look at it. We all saw it in the locker room. You know, like I said, as a competitor, I love going against Draymond, and I'm all about going out there and leaving it out on the floor. But when it gets a little bit more than what it should be, that's what caused me to have words with him. So as far as the play, I think the league will take a look at it. Obviously our locker room has seen it, and we'll see what they say.

LeBron responded to a follow-up about whether he deemed a suspension likely with one word — "No."

Perhaps LeBron does not expect a suspension because he's referring to what Green said, not where he put his arm. His answer focuses on Draymond's verbal response, and such incidents between two players almost never result in suspensions. For that matter, inappropriate words should be viewed as a potential technical, not the flagrant that would keep Green out of Game 5. According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com, the exchange doesn't even seem that extreme:

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