Not playing, Zaza ‘all about the team’
OAKLAND >> Zaza Pachulia hasn’t played in the Warriors’ first-round playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs as coach Steve Kerr has started JaVale McGee at center in Games 1 and 2. And it doesn’t look as if that’s going to change any time soon.
Pachulia, who helped the Warriors win the championship last season as the starting center, is handling the demotion like a true professional.
“It’s all about the team,” Pachulia said after the Warriors’ 116-101 win over the Spurs in Game 2 on Monday. “JaVale is playing great. There are no worries. Playoffs are fun. Obviously, I want to play. But at the same time, we’re in a position to win two (championships) in a row.”
The center position has been a revolving door since the All-Star break, with Pachulia, McGee, Kevon Looney and Jordan Bell each filling that role. Kerr has said that he decides who will start based on matchups.
Against the Spurs, McGee has played well on both ends of the court. He averaged 12.5 points and 1.5 blocks in the first two games, including a 10-point, seven-rebound performance in Game 2. In Game 1, he held LaMarcus Aldridge to 14 points on 5-of12 shooting.
Even though Pachulia started all 15 playoff games for the Warriors last season, he said that he’s willing to accept any role, so long as the team is in the best possible position to accomplish its goal.
“If we win, I’ll be the happiest person in this world,” Pachulia said. “That’s all that’s on my mind. This team is built with no egos, especially this time of year. You put your personal stuff away and concentrate on the team and help out.”
• With 4:29 left in Game 2, Davis Bertans wrapped his left arm around Draymond Green’s chest and neck area as Klay Thompson pulled up for a jumper. Green immediately swung his right arm, sending Bertans onto the floor.
Green was assessed a flagrant foul 1 on the play, but he’s not sure why Bertans wasn’t penalized, too.
After the game, Green said he was “choked” on the play as though he were “in the WWE.” He added that he thought Bertans flopped.
“If it’s going to be a flagrant foul, shouldn’t it be a double flagrant?” Green said. “I couldn’t just get grabbed around my neck. So I’m not going to sit there and say, ‘Oh, I did nothing.’ I’ve got to get someone off my neck, though. If you’re going to penalize me, then why not penalize both? That’s really my only thing.”
As part of the NBA’s cumulative points system, Green now has one point, three away from receiving an automatic one-game suspension.
“I don’t care,” Green said. “It is what it is. Life goes on. More important things in life than worry about a flagrant point. Maybe they will rescind it.”
• Stephen Curry, who remains sidelined by a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee, will travel with the Warriors to San Antonio for Games 3 and 4.
Curry will continue rehabbing the knee with the training staff during the trip. He will be re-evaluated Saturday but is expected to be sidelined for the entire first-round series.
This week, Curry ramped up his on-court work with running, cutting and shooting drills. He also had private workouts at the Warriors’ practice facility and open workouts before Games 1 and 2 at Oracle Arena.
Curry has not had any setbacks since he sustained the injury after McGee fell on him in a game against the Atlanta Hawks on March 23.