Golden State Warriors center Zaza Pachulia has logged fewer playoff minutes than the games the team has played, garnering only eight in total between Games 3 and 4 of the series against the New Orleans Pelicans, which came to an end on Tuesday night.
Head coach Steve Kerr has gone to a small lineup, landing Pachulia, who started the most games at center this season (69), right on the bench.
“Zaza Pachulia should complain to Mike,” said Kerr jokingly, referring to Houston Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni, according to Melissa Rohlin of the San Jose Mercury News. “‘You ruined my career.'”
Kerr hasn't sat out his starting center just to give new lineups a whirl, but he has in fact used the first two rounds of the postseason to get a small lineup battle-tested enough to contend against the Rockets' pace-and-space style of play.
The center position has somewhat eroded for both of these teams, and depth hasn't ever been the issue.
The Warriors have Pachulia, JaVale McGee, David West, Kevon Looney, Jordan Bell, and Damian Jones — six players capable of playing center, yet it's Draymond Green taking the reps when it's time to play, giving them a more mobile defender that can transition from defense to offense in the blink of an eye.
The Rockets have surrounded their roster with three-and-D players, shooters that can make their mark as soon as they're left open, carving up a run faster than someone can say help.
In these Western Conference Finals, minutes don't look well for Pachulia, as the Warriors will be tasked with trotting out their small lineups more often than usual, hoping to fight fire with fire.
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