Photo Credit: Kyle Terada / USA TODAY Sports
Green Says Golden State Has Adjusted Without Bogut
Golden State Warriors all-star Draymond Green says the Warriors have adjusted to a life after Andrew Bogut’s departure. Bogut, who was key piece in Golden State’s championship run in 2015, signed with the Dallas Mavericks during the offseason.
Andrew Bogut’s replacement? Zaza Pachulia; a veteran center who is nowhere near the defender Andrew Bogut was, but who is effective in different ways. Golden State stole Pachulia from free-agency, walking away with him on a one-year-deal worth $2.8 million, compared to Bogut’s $36 million deal.
After struggling early on in the season at the defensive end, the Warriors have improved and now are the second team in the NBA in defensive efficiency.
”You lose a guy like Bogut who, you almost can funnel stuff to Bogut. You funnel someone to him, you know he’s there and he can kind of erase any mistake that someone makes, and then you lose that, you have to get used to not having that there. When you had it there for the last four years, it takes a little while to adjust to that. However, I think we adjusted to it,” said Green.”
You can’t blame Golden State for letting Bogut go; he wanted a hefty contract to remain in Golden State, he is injury prone, and his numbers fell a bit in 2015-16. Their plan was to sign a solid center for a better price—they did just that—but, Bogut’s absence was surely felt.
