The 2023-24 NBA season has been up and down for the Golden State Warriors. They have had to deal with players being in and out of the lineup and inconsistency with performances from some of their key contributors.
That has played a big part in the team hovering around the .500 mark, as their victory on Tuesday over the Washington Wizards pushed their record to 30-27 on the season. Tuesday also marked the first time in weeks that Chris Paul was back on the court.
Paul had missed the previous 21 games with a fracture to his left hand that required surgery. He made his presence felt immediately in his return to the court, as the veteran helped get his teammates organized and into position to succeed.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Steve Kerr, Chris Paul, Golden State Warriors Updates
One such example was in the third quarter. Paul was running the offense, moving his teammates around the court. How he organized them led to Jonathan Kuminga throwing down an alley-oop pass, courtesy of some perimeter destruction from Klay Thompson playing a decoy role.
“That’s what Chris does,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “He gets you organized, he gets you good looks. All season long, he’s been such a high performer. All of our best lineups, it seems like he’s in [them].”
Paul played 22 minutes in his return to the lineup for the first time since January 5th, coming off the bench for only the 22nd time in his NBA career. He scored nine points with four rebounds, six assists and four steals as he made an impact on both ends of the court.
He is going to be a big part of their game plan moving forward. The Warriors’ second unit is potent with him and Thompson in the backcourt, providing Golden State with a huge advantage against most of their opponents once the bench units start subbing into the game.
“He’s always in control of the game,” Kerr said. “We just handle things better with Chris. Just such a great point guard. He always knows exactly what’s happening in the game and what’s needed from him.”
With the Warriors getting players back in the lineup, as Draymond Green has served his suspension and Gary Payton II is healthy, things are beginning to click. They are going to be as dangerous as any team in the NBA down the stretch if their lineup can stay intact.
Want the latest NBA analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click Here. Follow NBA Analysis Network on Twitter and Facebook.
Interested in reading the latest storylines and analysis in the NFL? Check out our partner NFL Analysis Network.
