Title: Chris Paul’s Uncharacteristic Preseason Turnovers Raise Eyebrows, But Coach Kerr Remains Confident
Intro:
Golden State Warriors’ newest addition, Chris Paul, has struggled with turnovers in his first two preseason games with the team. However, head coach Steve Kerr remains unfazed by the unexpected performance, citing Paul’s impressive career assist-to-turnover ratio as a testament to his reliability.
Content:
On 11 occasions last season, Chris Paul failed to commit a turnover, showcasing his careful possession style that has become emblematic of his 18-year NBA career. Even as a member of the Phoenix Suns, he only had one guilty turnover in 16 other games. However, in his first two preseason games with the Golden State Warriors, Paul has committed a total of seven turnovers.
Despite the uncharacteristic turnovers, Warriors coach Steve Kerr is not concerned. During a press conference in Los Angeles, Kerr expressed his gratitude for having Paul on the team, highlighting the point guard’s organizational skills that have been vital to the team’s plans to cut back on turnovers. Kerr also emphasized Paul’s career assist-to-turnover ratio, which is the best among all point guards with at least 1,000 games played.
According to StatMuse, Paul holds an impressive career assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.98, making him the most reliable ball-handler in NBA history. This statistic provides reassurance for Kerr that Paul’s turnovers in the preseason are not indicative of his overall ability.
In his Golden State Warriors debut on October 7, Paul committed two turnovers in just 13 minutes of play. On Friday night, Paul played 20 minutes and had five turnovers in a 129-125 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Kerr believes that Paul’s turnovers are due to the adjustment period of fitting into the Warriors’ system, which differs from the offenses he ran in previous years. The Warriors play a faster and more movement-focused style, which Paul is still adapting to. However, Kerr praises Paul’s intelligence and expects the fit to become more natural over time.
Analyzing each of Paul’s turnovers in the preseason games, it is evident that some were a result of misjudgment or unfamiliarity with his new teammates’ tendencies. Kerr acknowledges that these preseason games are an acclimation period for Paul, as he learns to read his teammates’ rhythms and adjust to the different patterns the Warriors run.
Despite being 38 years old and slower than he once was, Paul’s real-time analysis skills and basketball IQ continue to make him an effective player. Kerr and the Warriors remain confident in Paul’s ability to minimize turnovers once he settles into the team and develops a better understanding of his teammates’ movements.
In conclusion, Kerr and the Warriors are not worried about Chris Paul’s uncharacteristic preseason turnovers. They trust his exemplary track record and believe that as he becomes more familiar with the team, his turnovers will decrease. These preseason games serve as an acclimation period, giving Paul time to adjust to his new teammates and the Warriors’ offensive strategies.