Intense or dirty? Green walking line in Finals

He flexes his muscles and he barks at the crowd. He blocks shots and he kicks opponents. He hits 3s and he devours rebounds.

Draymond Green has had his fingerprints - and shoe prints - all over these NBA Finals as his Golden State Warriors have dominated the first two games of their highly anticipated rematch against Cleveland.

LeBron James and the Cavaliers have used all their defensive energy trying to keep Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson from beating them, which has opened the door for Green to take control.

He hasn't just walked through that door - he's kicked it down.

Green averaged 22 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists in the Oakland games and has spearheaded the Warriors' dominant defensive effort against the Cavaliers.

The result has been victories by a combined 48 points, the most ever in the first two games of an NBA Finals.

The intensity and ferocity Green brings the Warriors have been crucial throughout their playoff run. But it has also manifested in some on-court antics that have turned the hard-nosed, prideful underdog into something of a villain.

"When you look at him as a competitor, you want Draymond Green on your team - and you probably can't stand him when you have to face him because he keeps his foot on the gas and he's going to do whatever it takes to win ballgames as far as a competitive spirit is concerned," said ABC analyst Mark Jackson, who coached Green for two years at the start of his career.

Green had several run-ins with Oklahoma City Thunder tough guy Steven Adams in the Western Conference final and that has carried over to the championship round, when he kicked Kyrie Irving in the chest in Game 1.

Players have long made a habit of kicking their legs out while taking jump shots to try to draw fouls, with Reggie Miller, Manu Ginobili and Russell Westbrook just a few of the culprits.

But Green's kicks, like the one to Adams' groin the previous series, are much more violent in nature. He has said on multiple occasions his wild kicking motion is involuntary.

"If I was aware of something, I wouldn't do it," Green said. "But basketball is basketball, and bodies react a certain type of way.

"I don't mind any scrutiny. It doesn't bother me. I'm going to still live my life and do everything I do the same way and not lose any sleep."

It's not just fans and media taking notice. Commissioner Adam Silver singled out Green at the start of the Finals when he said the league is watching closely.

"It may be that we have to take a fresh look at that and draw a brighter line in terms of what's permissible on the court so that we do a better job of preventing players from making any potential non-basketball move that could result in injuring another competitor," Silver said.

Green has never been bothered by the scrutiny, but it could have ramifications. The Warriors are dominating this series against a Cleveland team that looks overmatched, and one of the only ways the Cavs might be able to have a chance is if Mount Draymond erupts.

Green is two technical fouls or one flagrant foul away from a one-game suspension. Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he put Green "on probation" during the Thunder series and has been pleased with how he has kept his cool of late.

Green knows he is too important to the Warriors to risk abandoning them. Not when a record-setting regular season is on the cusp of being capped with a second consecutive championship.

He's worked too hard to come this far, and the one thing keeping him in check may be the chip on his shoulder. The former Michigan State star fell all the way to the 35th pick in the 2012 draft. He can recite all 34 players who were picked before him from memory.

"Draymond finds any little slight to get himself going, and that's great," Kerr said.

"He's our emotional leader. He's our slightly crazy, gives-us-the-edge type guy that you need to compete at the highest level, and whatever he needs to do to motivate himself, he does."

The series turns to Cleveland now, a town with a tortured fan base that will have Green in its crosshairs.

"They'll be playing with a sense of desperation and their fans are going to be really hungry," Thompson said.

"They're not very nice in Cleveland, the fans, and that's all right. That's what makes the game so much fun."

Green has been here before, the boos raining down on him in Oklahoma City something fierce. He responded to force with force, raising his level of play to help rally the Warriors from a 3-1 deficit.

"We've got to win two more games and they'll be the hardest two wins of the season," Green said. "So that's my focus."

Team USA won't be spiced with Curry

Stephen Curry has withdrawn from consideration from the Olympics, leaving the US basketball team without the NBA's MVP.

Curry said on Monday he had decided to pull out for "several factors - including recent ankle and knee injuries."

He didn't say what the other factors were that he referenced. Several athletes have expressed concerns about the water situation in Rio and the Zika virus.

The guard is the highest-profile absence for defending Olympic champion Team USA, which was already without NBA All-Stars Chris Paul and Anthony Davis.

Curry has won a pair of world titles with the Americans and was a starter when they won the 2014 Basketball World Cup. He had spoken of wanting the chance to win Olympic gold, but missed six games in the postseason with a right knee injury.

"My previous experiences with USA Basketball have been incredibly rewarding, educational and enjoyable, which made this an extremely difficult decision for me and my family," Curry said.

"However, due to several factors - including recent ankle and knee injuries - I believe this is the best decision for me at this stage of my career."

Curry said he had spoken with his family, the Warriors and his representatives, and recently informed USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo that he would not go to Brazil.

"Obviously we are disappointed Steph will not be available this summer, but we understand these situations arise and we are fully supportive of his decision," Colangelo said.

Curry's decision to withdraw was first reported by the San Jose Mercury News.

Team USA has a list of 31 players in its roster pool for this summer - and plans to name its 12-man roster later this month.

Curry started all nine games for the Americans in Spain, averaging 10.7 points, and his USA Basketball experience dates to when he played for the under-19 team in 2007 that won a silver medal.

"It's an incredible honor to represent your country and wear 'USA' on your chest, but my primary basketball-related objective this summer needs to focus on my body and getting ready for the 2016-17 NBA season," Curry said.

Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors reacts in the second quarter of Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena in Oakland last Sunday. Green scored 28 points to lead the Warriors to a 11077 rout. Ezra Shaw / Getty Images / AFP