The Chris Paul-Jordan Poole trade brought huge ripples in the league. Trading a 20+ points scorer for an aging guard is usually not the recipe for success. However, the Golden State Warriors can afford such moves, considering they still have the services of Stephen Curry. One other message from the move was that the Warriors prefer Draymond Green over Poole. During the last season’s training camp, the Forward punched the high-scoring Guard.
A couple of things that Paul has over Poole are passing and winning experience. An NBA star approves of this change by the Warriors.
Star urges to have faith in Stephen Curry and the Warriors
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Last season, the Warriors had a logjam at the Guard position alongside some struggling lineups. Poole switched between the starter and the sixth-man role, mainly because of injury troubles to Curry or Thompson. This switch upset his rhythm a bit and, with the team chemistry wavering in the punch’s aftermath, this was a recipe for disaster.
The team was blown to smithereens away from home, but thanks to their home prowess, they somehow made it to the West Semis. They lost to the Lakers there, which lost in four straight games to the eventual champion Nuggets in the Conference Finals.
This season the team opted for CP-3. It was done to balance the budget book while also targeting someone who can help their shooters around, instead of taking multiple dribbles and shooting every time. In fact, he offers high-quality playmaking and floor leadership.
With Chris Paul dribbling it up, off-the-ball, Thompson, Curry, and Wiggins can cause a lot of damage as shooters from either side of the court. Chicago Bulls Star Zach LaVine also believes that.
Talking to Monte Poole of the NBC Sports Bay Area, the shapeshifting nature of the league bewildered the Guard,
He states, “The NBA’s ridiculous, man. It’s such a unique thing where anything can happen at any time — it doesn’t matter if you’re a role player or a guy trying to make the NBA, or a future Hall of Famer, top-five point guard like Chris Paul”.
Then the Guard who is in the second year of his five-year $215 million deal explained how the Warriors can thrive with CP-3.
LaVine backs the passing maestro
The Bulls’ high-scorer backs the talent of the Warriors’ Guard rotation. He goes on, “Yeah, high-level, high-IQ guys. They’re going to figure it out, especially with how much of a threat Steph is off the ball with his movement, how Klay spaces the floor. CP can just be the floor operator. I can foresee those two-, three-guard lineups”.
The nine-year veteran’s thoughts are in line with coach Steve Kerr, who is lauding CP-3 at every turn. The two linked up during the recent USA Basketball World Cup preparations.
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Hours ago, USA’s Head Coach Kerr talked to Sports Illustrated’s Robin Lundberg. He stated, “We needed another playmaker to give us a different look; and Chris is, as we know, one of the all-time great pick-and-roll players and he’ll know how to control the tempo”
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Do you think the CP3 experiment will bear fruit? Do share in the comments below.