OAKLAND, Calif. -- It was “What might have been” night at Oracle, with Mark Jackson making his return as a broadcaster and Kevin Love playing against the team that nearly traded for him last summer. Jackson drew a standing ovation, despite whatever acrimony exists between he and the organization. Love was roundly booed in introductions, despite never having played a meaningful minute for or against the home team.

The game was close until the fourth quarter, when Stephen Curry carved up Cavs like a butcher with a surgeon's training. He finished with a seemingly effortless 23 points and 10 assists. Klay Thompson claimed a cool 24 points and might have had more if not for suffering a bloody forehead due to a J.R. Smith elbow. Again Thompson validated Golden State's decision to keep him.

With all the talk of the "Klay Thompson for Kevin Love" deal that never materialized, it's easy to forget its impact on the rising star of Draymond Green. Golden State's defensive ace could have conceivably been added to that trade package (if talks progressed), and he almost certainly doesn't grow into this role with Love on the roster.

That alternate reality was on Green's mind after the game. When asked if he enjoyed going against Cleveland's All-Star power forward, Green said, "Absolutely." He then smiled, paused, and added, "He's supposed to be here, don't he?"

Kevin Love had to deal with the versatile Draymond Green. Noah Graham/NBAE/Getty Images

Their battle was a study in contrasts. Both power forwards are "stretch-4s," guys who demand a closeout at the 3-point arc. Both can pass, and both rebound well. After those similarities, the differences mount. Love is an offensive focal point, someone whose varied arsenal changes game plans. Defensively, the Warriors hedged more on screens out of respect for his pick-and-pop prowess. Despite scoring only 17 points, Love demonstrated his value by altering what Golden State usually does.

But he did score only 17 points. Green described how the battle went, saying: "You know he's a good player. He got, whatever he had, but at the end of the day I think I had a pretty good game against him, did a pretty good job."

Unlike Love, Green isn't an offensive focal point, though he does move the ball well and make smart passes. Instead, he's Golden State's defensive linchpin, someone who's called upon to switch on anybody, from centers to point guards. He doesn't dominate the rock, so he doesn't command a lot of national attention. But he is valuable, arguably more valuable than the more lauded Love. Mercury News columnist Tim Kawakami put that side of the argument out there during the game, tweeting, "I wouldn't trade Draymond Green for Kevin Love straight up. Would not."

Green swatted Love's jumper two minutes into the action, to much celebration. When asked if he let Love know about the block, he responded, "I let everyone know when I have those. So, ain't no different with him."

Green, who finished with 10 points, 11 boards, 8 assists and 3 blocks, struggled with his shooting, but did everything else. He was an important part of Golden State's transition attack, which eventually broke Cleveland down after the Cavs began with some spirited half-court defense. The Warriors and Green raced by a squad that plods without LeBron. The newly added Timofey Mozgov and the aforementioned Love aren't exactly burners in transition. In explaining the effectiveness of a fast pace, Green said, "Four-men aren't used to picking up guys pushing the ball in transition. Let alone, somebody getting the rebound and just busting."

With all Green does for Golden State, you'd think his argument as a better player than a top scorer would get more traction. Not many guys can guard point guards and also claim seven straight games with at least two blocks, as Green has. Offense will always draw the eye first, though. We follow the ball when we watch, and that means following ball-dominant players. It will take some time for defensive players to be considered on par.

On defense not getting its due, Green said, "A person who can go out and get 40 is going to get a lot more respect than somebody who goes out and holds somebody to two points. It's just the nature of the game. It doesn't bother me. I don't do this for recognition. I don't do this for somebody to say, 'Ah, man that's my favorite player.' I do this to try to get wins.”

Ironically, that style of play is making Green a Warrior fan favorite.