When the Golden State Warriors acquired Chris Paul in the offseason, it raised some eyebrows among the fanbase. There was a concern about whether Paul could gel with a team he battled against throughout his career. And whether he could share the court with Steph Curry while still being an effective floor general. After Golden State’s first eight games, it would seem that Paul is an ideal fit.
Recently, Golden State’s assistant coach Brian Fraser spoke with Sportskeeda’s Mark Medina for an exclusive interview. During their conversation, Fraser noted how Paul gives the Warriors another high-IQ guard who can dictate the offense and create for others around him. He also detailed how Curry and Paul can work well as a duo and when checking into the game for each other.
“It also gives us versatility in other ways offensively. Steph can be on and off the ball,” Fraser said. “We also have another high-IQ player that can distribute and score. Chris can still score. He hasn’t shot it well this season yet. But no one is worried about that. He’s a playmaker and scorer, a high IQ vet, a really good leader, and a really good culture piece for our team. Chris is a pro and in great shape. He’s been a great fit for us.”
When on the court together, Paul and Curry have shown signs of becoming a high-level backcourt duo. However, the true value is having the option to replace Curry with another elite guard as part of a substitution pattern. Opposing teams will have difficulty handling Paul when their second is on the floor.
Warriors' Bruce Fraser to @Sportskeeda on @CP3: "He wants to seek knowledge with the way we do things" & that "he's also a really good resource for knowledge." Fraser: "He offers suggestions. He’s not afraid to do that, but he’s not over the top." https://t.co/SO9G01nDXz
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) November 7, 2023
The Warriors are 6-2 to open the season. Curry and Paul have both been impressive – as individuals and as part of a duo. Golden State has a chance to emerge as a legitimate championship contender this season; Paul’s addition is a large part of that.
