In one of the most shocking moves of the off-season the Golden State Warriors traded Jordan Poole for Chris Paul. There were other assets involved in the trade but essentially the Warriors gave up on the youth and potential of Poole for the proven veteran play of Paul. Yes, there were other factors involved but let’s stick to basketball for right now.
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Chris Paul is one of the greatest point guards of all-time. He is third all-time in assists in NBA history with 11,501 heading into tonight. The only players in history who have more assists in their careers are John Stockton and Jason Kidd. Paul has accumulated more assists in his career than players like Magic Johnson, Mark Jackson, Steve Nash, and LeBron James among many other great passers.
Chris Paul is also a nine-time member of the NBA’s All-Defensive team. He led the league in steals on six different occasions.
Paul for his career averages 17.9 points per game, 9.5 assists per game, and 2.1 steals per game. He has been very efficient shooting 47% from the floor and just under 37% from three point range. Why would it even be a question if someone like this is going to start?
Should Chris Paul Start?
The reason this is a question is because this team has a set starting five that has had lots of success. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green and Kevon Looney are all core players of the Warriors. Now Chris Paul will start tonight with Green currently being injured. What happens when Green comes back?
Sources: Chris Paul will start for Warriors in opener vs. Suns tonight with Draymond Green sidelined.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 25, 2023
This is a good problem to have as the Warriors have two of the greatest point guards of all-time on the same roster. One of those point guards, Curry, is one of, if not, the greatest mover off of the ball that the game has ever seen.
So, as long as the players don’t care, it shouldn’t matter who starts. The big question is who finishes the game. Chris Paul has to be out there but now who isn’t. Against certain match-ups, Looney has to be out there because putting Draymond Green out there to guard centers like Nikola Jokic or Joel Embiid in closing minutes will be asking a lot.
This will be an interesting question as the season goes along but tonight Paul should be both starting and finishing the game.
