Tag: Eric Paschall

Eric Paschall is one of the most complete rookies in the NBA

Warriors forward Eric Paschall is one of the best rookies in the NBA so far this season.

In an era where versatility is craved, Eric Paschall has one of the brightest futures among NBA rookies.

A do-it-all forward out of Villanova, Paschall has proven to be one of the most skilled first-year players in the league.

He scored a team-high 30 points on Sunday night during the Golden State Warriors’ 108-100 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. With the performance, Paschall is the only rookie to have multiple 30-point games this season. 

One of Paschall’s best attributes is his ability to score in multiple ways. He can bully opposing players in the paint. He can move without the ball and score. He can take opponents to the rim. He’s capable of making open jumpers.

Though he’s shooting 27.3% from the 3-point line this season, his shooting from the midrange has been where he’s thrived. According to Basketball Reference, Paschall is shooting 66.7% on field goals 10-16 feet from the hoop.

Paschall is third on the Warriors in points per game (16.7), and he’s also third in the league for points per game among rookies behind Ja Morant and Kendrick Nunn, according to NBA.com.

Along with his scoring, though, Paschall grabs rebounds well and can set up his teammates. Paschall ranks fifth among rookies in rebounds per game (4.8). Paschall is also averaging 1.3 assists per game.

Earlier this month, coach Steve Kerr compared Paschall’s defense to Houston Rockets forward P.J. Tucker’s, per The Athletic’s Anthony Slater.

Tucker is one of the best defenders in the league, being able to defend guards and wings on the perimeter. He can also defend bigger players around the rim.

With Paschall defending in multiple places, he contests 3.0 2-point shots a game, according to NBA.com. But his work defending on the perimeter is a bit more prevalent, as he contests 3.3 3-pointers a game. That number ranks fifth among rookies this season.

Through 13 games, Paschall has showed a quality all-around game. An early Rookie of the Year candidate, Paschall has an opportunity to be a key player in the Warriors’ future.

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Eric Paschall: Only rookie this season with multiple 30-point games

Eric Paschall, the 41st overall pick, has now scored at least 30 points in two games this season, the most among first-year players.

Golden State Warriors rookie Eric Paschall recorded a team-high 30 points and seven rebounds Sunday night in a 108-100 loss on the road against the New Orleans Pelicans.

The second-round pick has now scored at least 30 points in two games this season, the most among first-year players, according to Marc Stein of the New York Times. He previously recorded a career-high 34 points on Nov. 4 against the Portland Trail Blazers. Paschall finished by shooting 10-of-17 from the field on Sunday.

Paschall continued his strong start to the season with the Warriors. He has taken advantage of his newfound opportunity and has run with it. Paschall has proven to be a dynamic scoring threat that can shoot, hit the mid-range shot and drive to the rim — he attempted a season-high 10 free throws.

After losing several players this season due to injury, including Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, the Warriors have struggled on the court, dropping their seventh straight game on Sunday to fall to 2-12. In total, 11 players have missed at least one game this season due to injury, opening the door for players like Paschall to step in and contribute.

While the Warriors may struggle this season, one silver lining for fans will be to watch the younger players on the roster, like Paschall, Jordan Poole and Ky Bowman, develop into future contributors.

The Warriors play next on Tuesday against the Memphis Grizzlies.

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Eric Paschall after another 30-point effort: ‘I belong in this league’

Eric Paschall became the first member of the 2019 NBA Rookie Class to record multiple 30-point games this season. That says a lot.

With a bevy of injuries to his club, Steve Kerr hasn’t had many reasons to smile this season. Through the team’s first 14 games, though, rookie Eric Paschall has given him at least one.

On Sunday night, Paschall became the first member of this year’s rookie class to record two 30-point efforts when the young forward admirably led the club in its matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans. Although the Warriors were on the wrong end of a 108-100 decision, Paschall was a bright spot. He shot 10-for-17 from the field en route to his 30 points, and looked quite comfortable being the lead dog for Kerr’s club.

“It’s my teammates and my coaches just giving me the confidence to go, so I feel like that’s all that it is,” Paschall said of his assertiveness (via the San Francisco Chronicle).

“I feel like I belong in this league, and I just try to continue to prove that.”

While the Warriors may be currently sporting the league’s worst record at 2-12, injuries to Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and D’Angelo Russell make the tough times somewhat understandable. Paschall, though, has emerged as the silver lining—he’s performed quite well.

With this season not necessarily expected to result in a playoff berth, Paschall has essentially been enjoying a year free from the burdens of championship expectations as he attempts to prove that he deserves a rotation spot when the team’s big guns return to the lineup.

“A lot of that goes to my teammates and coaches and giving me the ability to just go out and play and have fun,” Paschall said of his newfound confidence, which has been quite apparent.

After the loss to the Pelicans, Kerr raved about Paschall’s playing style, including the fact that the way that today’s NBA is officiated, he has an advantage over most defenders.

The rookie agreed with his coach’s assessment, but proved he maintains a level head about the respect he’s given by the officials and his newfound popularity.

“Sometimes, it goes against me,” he said of the officiating, “But, I mean, it’s all good. Everything’s not gonna go my way all the time, but you just gotta keep a good attitude at all times and keep playing the right way and playing hard.”

To this point, despite a rotation that has resembled a game of musical chairs, he certainly has.

That, as well as his obvious talent, should serve him well in the NBA and give him an opportunity to become an important piece for Golden State. Both now, and in the future.

Eric Paschall turns in fantastic effort, but Warriors lose to Pelicans

Without D’Angelo Russell, Eric Paschall picked up the slack for Steve Kerr’s team, but he couldn’t help the team avoid a 108-100 loss.

On Sunday night, for the Golden State Warriors, the Big Easy was anything but.

Despite a 30-point effort from standout rookie Eric Paschall, Golden State couldn’t keep pace with the tandem of Jrue Holiday (22 points, eight rebounds, nine assists) and JJ Redick (26 points, 6-for-11 from 3-point territory), as the Pelicans scored a 108-100 victory over Steve Kerr’s team.

Paschall became the first member of this year’s rookie class to record multiple 30-point games, as he scored 34 points in the club’s 127-118 win over the Portland Trail Blazers back on November 4. He has been one of the few bright spots on a Warriors team that has now lost seven consecutive games.

With the loss, the Warriors fell to 2-12 on the regular season and dropped the first game on their four-game swing, which will also include stops in Memphis, Dallas and Salt Lake City.

The contest also happened to be the first that D’Angelo Russell missed after being announced with a sprained right thumb on Saturday. Russell is expected to miss at least the next two weeks.

As for the game itself, the Warriors trailed throughout, but managed to cut a 17-point deficit to just three in the game’s third quarter. Still, the team shot just 37.3 percent from the field over the course of the game’s first three quarters and simply couldn’t slow Holiday down in the fourth quarter, where he shot 5-for-7 and scored 12 points.

Although the final margin happened to be just eight points, the Pelicans led by as many as 15 during the game’s final frame, and it’s fair to say that the outcome of this one was never really in doubt.

For the Warriors, aside from Paschall’s 30 points, the team got 19 points off the bench from Ky Bowman and a 14-point, six-rebound effort from Glen Robinson III.

Omari Spellman has been an offensive rebound machine this season

Omari Spellman has been the Warriors’ best offensive rebounder this season.

The Golden State Warriors aren’t a top-tier defensive rebounding team, but with the help of Omari Spellman, they are good at grabbing offensive rebounds.

The Warriors are tied for 12th in the NBA for offensive rebounds per game, and Spellman has been one of the team’s best offensive rebounders, averaging 2.7 per game in 15.5 minutes.

During the Warriors’ 108-100 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday, Spellman had one offensive rebound. Marquese Chriss and Eric Paschall both had a team-high three offensive rebounds.

According to Basketball Reference, Spellman led the league in offensive rebound percentage (19.1) before Sunday’s game. He also had ranked eighth in total offensive rebounds, according to Basketball Reference.

Coach Steve Kerr praised for Spellman and his rebounding ahead of the Warriors’ game against the Pelicans.

“Omari’s been relentless on the boards all year,” Kerr said, per Connor Letourneau of the San Francisco Chronicle.  “He’s a guy we really like. He’s very skilled. He’s still learning the NBA game. He’s very young. But when he goes out there, he gives us a rush of energy right away.”

With Spellman bringing some value off the bench, he could potentially be a key role player for the Warriors as they move forward.

The Warriors will play the Memphis Grizzlies on the road Tuesday at 8 p.m. EST.

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Steve Kerr raves about new ‘excellent’ defensive-minded starting unit

The Warriors nearly scored a major upset over the NBA-leading Boston Celtics thanks in part to a new starting lineup on Friday night.

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While it wasn’t a win the Golden State Warriors, Steve Kerr likes what he saw from the team in Friday night’s 105-100 loss to the Boston Celtics.

In particular, the level of effort from a team riddled with injuries to critical players—now including All-Star guard D’Angelo Russell, who exited the game in the third quarter with a sprained thumb after logging 12 points and seven assists—was promising.

The home crowd was engaged as a result, with the game within a possession or two for much of the contest.

“Warriors fans have always appreciated high-energy, hustle, toughness and competition,” said Kerr (via Let’sGoWarriors). “You could feel it in the building tonight. Our fans really enjoyed watching our guys compete and that’s important.”

“We want people to come into this building and be excited about our team and it’s been a rough start, but I think if we can compete that way and play that way we are going to win some games and our fans will enjoy what we are doing,” the coach offered, alluding to the difficulty of putting posteriors in the seats of the team’s new arena with so many marquee players riding pine while recuperating.

Kerr tinkered with the lineup in the hopes of finding some traction after dropping the previous five games, going with a more defensively-oriented approach. Rookie standout, Eric Paschall entered the lineup to play next to Draymond Green.

“We just wanted to take a different look,” explained the coach. Struggling rookie, Jordan Poole, who started the previous eight games was sent to the bench as a result.

“We had lost five games in a row and we wanted just to see Eric [Paschall] and Draymond [Green] play together. We like the physicality that brought to our defense and so we had a more physical front line with both Eric and Draymond and Willie [Cauley-Stein].”

“We give up a little something in spacing, but we pick up something defensively and we get a look at,” he continued, noting a shift away from the offensive onslaught the team has depended on so long in the absence of effective shooters.

A move to rely more on defense to keep the team close against superior scoring teams (Golden State currently is in 17th place for points scored per game in the league) nearly paid off against the league-leading Celtics, and should provide dividends against lesser opponents.

“I thought the defense was excellent, we didn’t turn the ball over for the first nine minutes or so and we executed offensively”, noted Kerr. “The game is so connected, when we were taking care of the ball our defense was great.”

“As soon as we started turning it over the defense struggled and it’s no coincidence,” he explained, referring to the Dubs issues finding their defensive footing when reacting to the team’s many second-half turnovers, including a few key late ones.

“It’s hard to guard a fast-break when you’re just not in position, so the turnovers shifted the tide of the game but I was really proud of the way the guys fought back and took the lead, and the hung in there and we had a chance.”

“We just couldn’t get it done,” he added.

On to the next one.

Klay Thompson believes Paschall and Poole are ‘foundational pieces’

Klay Thompson spoke with ESPN on Wednesday night. He likes what he sees from both of Jordan Poole and Eric Paschall, two of the newest Golden State Warriors.

The Golden State Warriors’ 120-94 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers was a bore. Against the shorthanded Warriors, the Lakers showed why they are NBA Finals favorites. Golden State, meanwhile, showed why they are currently the NBA’s worst defense.

The bright spot in the Warriors’ blowout defeat came in the fourth quarter when a familiar face was pulled aside for an interview. Klay Thompson joined ESPN’s Jorge Sedano to discuss how he’s handling watching the Warriors from the sideline during his ACL rehab.

Thompson spoke about how “tedious” the rehab process has been, but his tune changed when he talked about the Warriors rookies, stating:

I’ve enjoyed watching these young guys develop, that’s for sure. Eric Paschall and Jordan Poole, their first year, I’m liking what I’m seeing because they have tremendous potential.

In a down year, Paschall has been one of the Warriors’ best players. He had the highlight of the night: finishing a layup on LeBron James. The rookie finished with 15 points in 32 minutes.

Poole has struggled at times, but his confidence in his shooting provides hope. The rookie knocked down three triples against the Lakers, and both he and Paschall have shown glimpses of potential. With the Warriors not expecting to compete for a playoff berth, there will be more opportunities for Paschall and Poole to display their skills.

“These guys are going to foundational pieces for years to come,” Thompson said.

That’s high praise from one of the league’s best players. Thompson’s willingness to compliment the young guys during a rough game demonstrates his leadership, as well as his hopes for the future.

Although both Stephen Curry and Thompson are injured, their fingerprints are still all over this roster. Having future Hall of Famers like Thompson in their corner should boost the rookies.

Before Thompson’s interview with Sedano ended, he provided a glass-half-full outlook for the rest of the Warriors’ season, stating:

We’re out here missing five key guys. It’s a struggle but we’ll persevere.

At 2-10, Golden State can only hope things do, in fact improve, and hopefully, before next season.

Eric Paschall says Draymond Green has helped him ‘a lot’ this season

The Warriors’ breakout rookie often talks to Draymond Green on ways to improve his game and learn the ins and outs of the NBA.

Eric Paschall has emerged as one of the top rookies so far this season.

The second-round pick has burst onto the scene for the Golden State Warriors essentially out of need. The Warriors have had a bad case of the injury bug this season with 11 players missing at least one game due to injury. Of course, that includes Stephen Curry, who is out indefinitely after breaking his hand, and Klay Thompson, who is out all year with a torn ACL.

But, as they say, injuries create opportunity and Paschall has fully taken advantage. He entered the NBA Draft touted as a player that can contribute immediately, which is exactly what he has done. He is averaging 15.6 points per game, good for fourth among all rookies. He was the first Warriors rookie since Curry to record 25 points in back-to-back games.

His hard work to this point can be attributed to his strong rookie start but he has also leaned on the Warriors’ veterans for advice, like Draymond Green. Paschall recently stopped by SportsCenter for an interview and praised the former Defensive Player of the Year.

He is just a great dude off of the court and is always having fun, always trying to bring energy on and off of the court. Learning from him has helped me a lot just because he sees the game in so many different ways and he is so smart. I just try to pick his brain however way I can and just keep trying to learn.

Paschall has been among the first-year players to emerge seemingly out of nowhere and it has been a revelation for the Warriors. They have found some key role players in the past and the former Villanova forward is yet another example.

While the Warriors could very well miss the playoffs this season after a 2-9 start, the emergence of Paschall has been encouraging and he does not appear to be slowing down any time soon.

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Rookie Wire Power Rankings: Ja Morant stays on top for Week 3

Rookie Wire took a look at the top rookies through the third week of the 2019-20 NBA season.

With three weeks officially in the books, it appears as though players are beginning to feel the rigors of the NBA season. More guys are getting banged up each week and some have missed time as a result.

When it comes to the rookie class so far, some players are starting to heat up while others are regressing after a hot start to open up the year. The fascinating part about this crop of first-year players, though, is there have been some players emerge seemingly out of nowhere to gain notoriety and perform well in the early going.

Rookie Wire will compile the rankings of the five best players each week based on how they performed on the court. The rankings are not for Rookie of the Year purposes but, rather, to illustrate the top-performing players week to week.

Here are the Rookie Wire Power Rankings for Week 3:

Week 1 Power Rankings | Week 2 Power Rankings

All stats are through games played on Nov. 12

5. Brandon Clarke, Grizzlies

Stats: 11.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, 1 assist

Rank Last Week: N/A

While Brandon Clarke is still just ninth among rookies in scoring, the 21st overall pick has really emerged over the past week or so. He is averaging 15 points and six rebounds over his last three games and is shooting a blistering 69.2% from the field. In fact, his 60% field-goal percentage on the season ranks fifth in the NBA among all players. He went a perfect 7-of-7 from the field on Nov. 6 for 18 points and shot 6-of-7 two games later on Monday for 14 points. Clarke is taking shots he is most comfortable with and is rarely forcing things. He may not shoot 60% all season long but if he continues taking good shots and doesn’t it, he should have a strong first year with the Grizzlies.

4. R.J. Barrett, Knicks

Stats: 16 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.4 steals

Rank Last Week: 2

Prior to recording 21 points on Tuesday night, R.J. Barrett had struggled over his previous two games, recording just 12 combined points on just 25% (5-of-20) shooting from the field. His workload remains astronomical this season with the Knicks and doesn’t appear to be slowing down, at least as long as David Fizdale is running the show. Barrett started off the season strong but has since struggled with his efficiency from all over the court — the mid-range, 3-pointers and at the rim. Given his workload and role in the offense as the main option, Barrett could see his inconsistent play continue until he breaks out of his slump but it shouldn’t take away from the fact that he has been an exciting player to watch this season.

Exhibit A:

3. Eric Paschall, Warriors

Stats: 15.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists

Rank Last Week: 4

As the Warriors continue to struggle, Eric Paschall has been among the few bright spots thus far this season. After dealing with so many injuries, 11 players have missed at least one game this season, the Warriors have been forced to rely on Paschall. He has responded by averaging 15.6 points per game, good for fourth among rookies. He was forced to miss a game recently due to a hip injury but he returned on Monday to score eight points and six rebounds in a losing effort. Touted as a player that could contribute now, Paschall has shown that he has the potential to go off during games as evident by his career-high 34-point performance on Nov. 4. While the Warriors could miss the playoffs this season, the emergence of Paschall has been encouraging for the future.

2. Kendrick Nunn, Heat

Stats: 16.9 points, 2.8 assists, 2.3 rebounds, 1.6 steals

Rank Last Week: 3

The undrafted Kendrick Nunn continues to show that he belongs near the top of the rookie class this year. On Tuesday, Nunn helped the Heat overcome several injuries, including one to rookie teammate Tyler Herro, by scoring 20 points in a 117-108 win over the Detroit Pistons, shooting 4-of-8 from 3-point range. Nunn ranks second in scoring among rookies, just trailing Ja Morant. Nunn had been a bit quiet over his previous five games but bounced back in a big way on Tuesday and continues to be an under-the-radar player on the verge of a strong season.

1. Ja Morant, Grizzlies

Stats: 17.8 points, 5.2 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 1 steal

Rank Last Week: 1

Since erupting for 26 points on Nov. 6, Ja Morant has struggled some over his last two games but the second overall pick has been sensational for the Grizzlies this season. After that game, Morant became the first player since Michael Jordan during the 1984-85 season to average at least 20 points and five assists on 50% shooting through his first seven career games. His numbers have dropped a tad since then but Morant is still first among rookies in scoring and perhaps the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year at this point. Of course, there is still plenty of basketball left to be played but Morant is showing his potential early on this season.

Honorable Mention:

P.J. Washington, Hornets: 13.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.4 steals

While P.J. Washington dropped out from our Week 2 rankings, the 11th overall selection had a solid week for the Hornets and is still sixth in rookie scoring. He still leads the class among qualified players in 3-point shooting at 48.6% and is second in rebounding and third in steals. He is getting it done on both ends of the floor given his versatility and has proven to be fun to watch this season.

Rui Hachimura, Wizards: 13.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists

Rui Hachimura is coming off one of his finest performances of the season after recording 21 points and seven rebounds on Friday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He has battled through consistency issues — he went scoreless in 20 minutes on Nov. 6 — but has shown to have a short memory to bounce back the next night. Still, he has been one of the most entertaining rookies to this point.

Tyler Herro, Heat: 13.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists

The Heat rookie did not play Tuesday due to a sprained ankle but he has had a solid season to this point. Perhaps most impressive is Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra spoke very highly of him recently after saying he has seen improvement from Herro in each game. Herro has also drawn praise from his teammates for his work ethic, something that will only carry Herro in the future.

On the Rise:

Coby White, Bulls: 12.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists

After hitting seven 3-pointers alone in the fourth quarter on Tuesday night, it shouldn’t be a surprise White is on the rise. His burst gave him the highest scoring average among rookies over the past week and he will certainly try to continue that moving forward.

Cameron Johnson, Suns: 7.4 points, 2.8 rebounds

Suns head coach Monty Williams recently shortened his rotation, which has led to more playing time for Johnson. He has scored in double figures in back-to-back games for the first time this season and is coming off of an 11-point performance against the Lakers on Tuesday.

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Eric Paschall jersey-swapped with childhood friend Donovan Mitchell

After growing up playing AAU basketball together, the two friends caught up with each other after the game on Monday and exchanged jerseys.

Golden State Warriors rookie Eric Paschall had his first opportunity on Monday night to play his childhood friend, and Utah Jazz guard, Donovan Mitchell.

The two grew up playing AAU together in New York and have remained close ever since. Prior to the beginning of the season, Mitchell even named Paschall to be his sleeper pick for the Rookie of the Year award.

“He brings so much to a team that’s ready to play now,” Mitchell said at the time. “He is a defender, he is athletic, he can shoot and he’s strong. He wasn’t like that when we were younger.”

Though it was Mitchell and the Jazz that walked away with the 122-108 win over Paschall, the two friends caught up with each other after the game and exchanged jerseys.

Paschall recorded eight points and six rebounds in 30 minutes off of the bench while Mitchell had 23 points in the contest. The two were briefly matched up with each other as Paschall held Mitchell scoreless on three shot attempts.

The game for the two friends was surely a special moment after playing with each other countless times growing up. After losing on Monday, Paschall will certainly have something to say the next time they play on Nov. 22 in Utah.

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