Danny Green isn’t fazed by fourth quarter minutes: ‘Everybody knows the bigger picture’

This past summer, the Los Angeles Lakers went into free agency with two goals in mind: Add defense and shooting. By signing the NBA’s “3-and-D” poster boy, Danny Green, to a two-year, $30 million deal, they did just that.

Green has been productive through his first 20 games with the Lakers, averaging 8.6 points per game on 44.6% shooting from the field, including 39.8% shooting from behind the arc. He’s also ranked third on the team in offensive rating and overall net rating.

However, in spite of his production, Green is averaging just 25.4 minutes per game, the fewest minutes per game he’s averaged since the 2013-14 season. Last season with the Toronto Raptors, he averaged 27.7 minutes per game. Additionally, Green is averaging just 5.4 minutes per game in the fourth quarter this season. The only regular member of the rotation playing fewer minutes for the Lakers in the fourth quarter this season is Rajon Rondo.

We talked to Green about his minutes, among other things, ahead of the second-ever Showtime Seat Exchange, which allows Lakers fans to donate select game tickets and, in exchange, receive a Delta flight anywhere in the United States. Delta and the Lakers then collaborate to donate the game tickets to local charity partners. The first 50 tickets donated on Monday will go to Bob Hope USO.

Our full conversation with Green will go live on Thursday’s Silver Screen and Roll podcast, but here’s the portion where Green talks about his minutes under new Western Conference Coach of the Month Frank Vogel:

“We play it by ear. I think every person, every player knows on this team what the bigger picture is. It’s not about how many minutes (you get). Obviously, at the start of the season we all played a lot of minutes in the first game and then coach had to figure out what was best for everybody, figure out different lineups. That’s pretty much what his job is, and to not to feel bad because there’s so many great players on this team.

“Some games you’re going to play a lot of minutes in games that are close, or you’re playing well. Some games you’re not... You’ve got to go with the guys that are rolling. That’s what we need. Everybody knows in the bigger picture it’s not about me or my minutes or whose turn it is, (or) who’s playing over who. We’re all here collectively to try and win, have the best season possible and also try to win an NBA championship.”

We also talked to Green about load management, his early impressions of the team and how this year’s Lakers roster compares to the two other championship teams he’s been on. Stay tuned for the full episode on Thursday.

For more Lakers talk, subscribe to the Silver Screen and Roll podcast feed on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts. You can follow this author on Twitter at @RadRivas.