The Warriors Are A Better Team With Chris Paul
The Golden State Warriors stunned the 29 teams in the NBA along with their fanbase when they traded Jordan Poole to the Washington Wizards and, in return, added veteran point guard Chris Paul.
There has been a lot of backlash and vitriol from the fanbase regarding the addition of Paul, who has been public enemy number one over the years, but time heals all wounds, and cooler heads will always prevail.
From a basketball perspective, the Warriors are a better team with Paul on the roster as a backup point guard to Steph Curry. A lot of issues plagued the team in a season filled with turmoil, but one of the glaring issues was the team's basketball IQ, specifically late in games, which was at its lowest since the Dynasty. There were various times where they made costly mistakes—erratic shot selection, irrational live ball turnovers, and mental errors—that lost them games in the regular season and playoffs.
The addition of CP3 to the roster drastically improves the overall basketball IQ of the team and will instantly clean up the mental and physical miscues, especially late in games, which will drastically improve their chances of winning games.
"I’m all about winning. Whatever is going to give me an opportunity to win, I’m all for it. I’m excited and grateful to get a chance to play with that core group of players, Steph, Klay Draymond, Looney, and Wig, and play for Steve," Paul told Lindsay Czarniak of Fox Sports on his reaction to joining Golden State.
The move to bring him on to the roster signifies the Warriors are willing to do anything and everything in their power to extend their championship window and win now, despite what a segment of the fanbase feels about him.
A major aspect of those physical mistakes that derailed the season for Golden State last year was turnovers. They led the NBA in turnovers per game at 15.7 per game. There were an abundance of cough-ups—loose ball turnovers, live ball turnovers, and shot selection turnovers—that ultimately had a negative effect on the season, as the team has seen in seasons prior as well.
With Paul as the primary handler of the basketball, the Warriors will finally be able to limit costly turnovers and be less erratic with the ball, which was leading to easy points for the opposition. He did average the lowest turnover rate of his career last season with the Phoenix Suns, and has always protected the rock well.
"I think he’s just going to add such a calming presence and leadership component that we need. For me, it’s going to be a smooth transition playing with such a passer and playmaker; I’m just excited," Klay Thompson on his viewpoint on playing with Paul this season via The Athletic.
There is a lot of excitement between the organization and Paul about joining forces this upcoming season. But the person who should be most excited to play with him is Steph Curry.
Paul being the backup point guard gives them a calming presence on the court, especially when Curry is off the floor. For the last couple of seasons, one of the most glaring issues and concerns with the Warriors has been the productivity of the second unit when Curry is sitting.
"Every team that CP has been on gets better. That’s the most consistent thing about him—who he is and what he brings to the team," Curry said of what Paul brings to the Warriors via The Athletic.
Paul makes the Warriors a better overall team. He also makes them a smarter and more consistent team on the court compared to when they had Jordan Poole running the second unit. It’s difficult for the fanbase to see a homegrown player who helps the organization win a championship get traded, but it is part of the business of professional sports.
"It’s tough to see him go. But, you know, we’re trying to win next year, and CP can help us do that," Curry said on the Poole trade in that same interview.
The NBA is a bottom-line business, and the bottom line is that it’s all about winning championships. The Warriors are in the business of winning championships right now, and Paul makes Golden State more of a championship contender than they were last season.
(Photo credit: Mary Schwalm / Associated Press