Chris Paul came off the bench for the first time after 1,365 starts in his storied NBA career against the Houston Rockets. Paul reflected on coming off the bench after the game, showing that he’s bought into the role the Warriors need him to play.
“It was different. At the end of the day, it’s basketball… Once you get out there, it’s hooping. It’s cool to be on a team where you’re free-flowing. Everybody playing & sharing the ball… It’s whatever I got to do to help our team win. If it means that, it means not finishing some games, or whatnot. If you get a chance to play long enough in your career, there’s gonna be things that will change and be different. I’m here.”
“It was different… It’s whatever I gotta do to help our team win.”
Chris Paul on his first time coming off the bench in his career.
(Via @NBCSWarriors) pic.twitter.com/KyaIfh9Qtg
— CP3REGION (@cp3region) October 30, 2023
In 27 minutes off the bench, Paul scored eight points, grabbed five rebounds, and made seven assists. He did bring a lot of level-headed play to the volatile Warriors bench that we saw last season, making the team more balanced across a game.
His impact was major, as his stints across the bench unit and the starters saw him notch a +22. The Warriors also won the minutes Stephen Curry was on the bench, showing how Paul was integral in keeping the Warriors in the game when it looked like the Rockets could run away with the win.
Chris Paul Didn’t Appreciate People Thinking He Couldn’t Adapt To The Warriors’ Style
Before the season, many people questioned Paul’s fit on the Warriors due to his play style requiring him to control the ball. The Warriors play within a motion offense where the offense is constantly moving. Paul’s style in recent years has been the opposite of what the Warriors preach, but he explained to everyone why that wouldn’t be a problem before the season.
“I’ve been playing basketball for a long time. Everybody gonna have something to say about ball movement and this and that, but I’ve been fortunate enough in this league to play with the ball in my hands. Just because I play like that doesn’t mean I don’t know how to play without it. Luckily I played in college where they put a bubble on the goal coaches played where you couldn’t pass the ball, you had to set flares and backscreens. I ain’t forget how to do that. I still know how to play… when you got more people like that, you have more options.”
Paul has had a terrific attitude since joining the Warriors, clearly ready to buy into their championship-winning system to get one ring in his NBA career.
The Warriors Are Aiming To Win The In-Season Tournament
After the end of the opening week of games in the NBA, the league will start preparing for the In-Season Tournament, with its first games being played on November 3. The Warriors will play the Thunder in their opening seeding game, with Draymond Green and Chris Paul already making it clear to the franchise that they’re aiming to win, as they told GM Mike Dunleavy the same.
“I said to [Warriors general manager] Mike Dunleavy about a month ago, I said, ‘Hey Mike, what do you think about this in-season tournament?’ He said, ‘Well, Draymond Green and Chris Paul told me we’re going to win it.’ I said, ‘OK, that’s all I needed to know.’ “
The in-season tournament would be a nice achievement, but the Warriors are aiming for the Larry O’Brien trophy. They’ve made it clear that they want to win title No. 5 of this era, and most of their focus will be after that goal this season.
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