Zaza Pachulia swipes at Iman Shumpert’s groin during chaotic Game 4
What would any good Cavaliers – Warriors finals game be without the requisite controversial groin strike?
Friday night’s Game 4 of the NBA Finals got heated, to say the least.
Fan ejections, a double technical that wasn’t and the latest in the groin-related drama to plague the NBA Finals.
While scrumming for a loose ball late in the third quarter, Warriors center Zaza Pachulia appeared to throw a punch in the general direction of the crotch of Cavaliers forward Iman Shumpert.
maxrappaport: Punch ABC NBA Playoff: Game 4: Warriors at Cavaliers https://t.co/8VZyb6Jej3 pic.twitter.com/vNv2Q2RLni
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) June 10, 2017
Zaza was not ejected, much to the surprise of a number of NBA commentators on twitter.
How is Pachulia not ejected for punching?
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) June 10, 2017
Pachulia should be thrown out for the punch on Shumpert.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) June 10, 2017
Pachulia caught on video throwing punch. Why is he still in game?
— Max Kellerman (@maxkellerman) June 10, 2017
The scuffle is the latest incident in a game that has flirted with losing complete control.
The ‘punch’ in question follows a dramatic non-ejection of Warriors star Draymond Green, the original crotch assaulting star whose antics in last season’s playoffs was one of the most talked about events in the NBA season.
Green appeared to be ejected for two technical just moments before the punch. Green was saved by a miscommunication that led to a first quarter technical foul being transferred over to Warriors head coach Steve Kerr.
The event also comes on the heels of a national debate about whether or not Pachulia is a dirty player following the Western Conference Finals series against the San Antonio Spurs.
While undercutting a shooter can be framed as an accident, Pachulia’s latest great hit is a bit harder to defend.
In any other game, the punch would be the big story. In game four of this NBA Finals, it’s just the latest insane thing to happen in one of the most bizarre performances in NBA Finals history.
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As the Cavaliers are in do-or-die mode with their back against the wall, the decision to not eject Pachulia could be a big issue facing the league as the season concludes.