With training camp a few weeks away, we’re officially in the dead period of the offseason. Every year, at this stage of the summer, multiple websites release player rankings. After all, fans want to know where their favorite players sit among the best in the league.
The Golden State Warriors are among the top teams in the NBA heading into the new season and are expected to boast multiple top-100 talents on their roster. As you work through CBS Sports’ latest top 100 players list, Chris Paul is the first name you encounter. The veteran guard is 73rd, which is a huge drop for a player who ranked 18th this time last year.
Here’s what CBS Sports had to say about Paul.
“Paul put together his least efficient scoring season last year since he was a rookie. He’s not going to dominate a game for 40 minutes anymore. The days of him getting whatever shots he wants for himself or a teammate are over. But he can still do it in stretches, and he’s now playing with the two best shooters and off-ball movers in history in Golden State. He’s going to have a lot of space to work in, which should make that snake dribble pull-up all the more effective. Keep an eye on Paul’s chemistry with Jonathan Kuminga; that could end up being a money pick-and-roll combination for the Warriors.”
Paul is in the final stretch of his career. Joining the Warriors is an opportunity for the outstanding veteran to finally earn a championship ring. Paul will need to adapt his game to the Warriors’ style of play and accept whatever role is deemed in the best interests of him and the team.
However, if Paul can jell with his new teammates and continue to produce at an elite level, he could be the difference maker in the Warriors’ bid to win the fifth championship of the Steph Curry era.
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1434]