Warriors' Green, others sacrifice minutes to boost backups

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Starting players around the NBA are sacrificing their minutes with the first team to better the backups. Draymond Green's increased minutes with the Warriors' reserves a few months back worked out well for coach Steve Kerr to help prepare the Golden State second unit for a potential playoff run this spring. Rick Carlisle recalls how Dirk Nowitzki used to do it in Dallas. And when Carlisle played, the now-Pacers coach always loved the minutes Hall of Famer Bill Walton played with him and the Boston backups. Nate McMillan once did it, too.