Chris Paul remains in “ transition “. His ears still have to get used to hearing “Dub Nation” around him. “ This is something I haven’t liked to hear in I don’t know how many years. », smiles the former Suns playmaker, who came up against the Californians numerous times in his career.
“CP3” is now a member of the team that made him suffer so much in the playoffs. And one of the central questions linked to his arrival, and which has not yet been decided, is whether he will keep a starting status or come off the Warriors bench. And this for the first time in his career, in 1,214 matches.
“ I think anyone who knows me knows that I’m all about winning, anything I can do to help our team win. I know we will talk about it with the coach and see what he likes. We played basketball all summer. For the season it will be whatever can help our team win, that’s what I have at least tried to show or prove throughout my career “, displays the 38-year-old.
A role as a 6th man doesn’t seem to scare him. The former Thunder or Rockets player recalls that he experienced this status during the 2008 Olympic Games, with “Team USA”. At the time, Jason Kidd, older than him, started in the five alongside Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and the others. Which did not prevent Chris Paul from finishing as the team’s best passer, playing more than Jason Kidd.
Find the right formula
The current Warriors five (Stephen Curry – Klay Thompson – Andrew Wiggins – Draymond Green – Kevon Looney)? It was the “ best in the league » according to Draymond Green. “ We cannot ignore it. But we also can’t ignore that Chris Paul is Chris Paul », agrees the interior.
A few days ago, Steve Kerr said he had “ six starters, and we can only play five each night. I haven’t decided yet what we’re going to do (…). We’ll try different combinations and take a look. » We could thus imagine adjustments depending on the opponents, with for example a very small five, where Kevon Looney is put on the bench for the benefit of the Warriors rookie.
“ I’ve played every role, from starter to substitute to not playing at all. I feel like I’ve worked pretty hard to be a starter in this league, but we have five other guys that have gone to the All-Star Game. You just have to go with the flow and see what happens. “, the pivot doesn’t worry.
Stephen Curry, too, doesn’t seem to mind: “ I’ve never really been with a player who has the qualities of a CP and who has managed to help teams progress throughout his career. With the way Klay and I can play off the ball and knowing his talent, it’s going to give us other opportunities. It should be pretty easy to work with each other, whether from this five or from one possession to the next, depending on who initiates the attack for us. »
It’s up to Steve Kerr to find the right formula.
