Following his initial cries for justice after seeing Golden State Warriors center Zaza Pachulia questionably fall over Russell Westbrook's legs during Saturday's tilt, Boston Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving doubled down on his stance, noting it was not only him feeling like Pachulia had dirty intentions in that particular play.
“I think everybody kind of saw what happened,” Irving told Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. “Whether Nick’s foot pushed (Pachulia) down forward, we’ve seen it over and over and I don’t want to direct just him being a very, very dirty player strictly on him because a lot of dirty plays happen throughout the NBA but I mean when it’s consistently happening. Russ felt the same way. Paul (George) felt the same way.”
Pachulia's most recent claim to fame was a wild closeout on Kawhi Leonard, who injured his quad and was knocked out of the postseason, resulting in a clean sweep by the Warriors over the San Antonio Spurs. Leonard has yet to come back to action since a nine-game stint earlier this year, despite being cleared to play.
“What do you actually feel about it? Because as a player, we’ve seen it happen before for years and years with him doing (expletive) like that,” Irving said. “I don’t want the league to just suspend him for 10 games but you’ve got to take a look at it or something. That’s unacceptable in this game.”
“Guys who play in this league and play hard, we’re trying to keep everybody safe. I think should be the same thing that’s echoed in front of everyone else. When it’s done like that and we know his intentions, it’s bulls**t.”
Irving said the play against Westbrook was dirty and Pachulia is a repeat offender, even if the league reviewed the play and decided not to admonish the Warriors' center.
“We all saw what was going on,” Irving added. “Whether people want to admit it or not, that’s on them. But for me, I voiced my opinion. It’s not me going against the league. I felt that play was just unnecessary. It was totally unnecessary.”
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