The NBA regular season continued with the Golden State Warriors taking on the Washington Wizards on the road and eventually winning 123-112. In this game, the Warriors' point guard Chris Paul ushered in a comeback, he contributed 9 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals in 21 minutes of playing time, with a plus/minus of +17, which contributed to the team's victory. After the game, Warriors coach Steve Kerr spoke highly of Paul's performance, saying that he was an excellent point guard who could control the pace and direction of the game.
Paul previously missed nearly a month of games with a fractured left hand, during which the Warriors did not have a good record, winning only six games and losing eight games, ranking ninth in the West, and still some way from the playoff threshold. In Paul's absence, the Warriors' offense also looked monotonous and lackluster, relying mainly on Curry's individual ability to finish, while opponents targeted Curry to pack and restrict, making it difficult for him to play. Therefore, Paul's return is a timely rain for the Warriors, and his presence can bring more offensive styles and changes to the team, making it easier for Curry and others to play.
Paul didn't start today, coming off the bench midway through the first quarter, but he quickly showed his worth, his every move on the court was full of intelligence and intimidation, he was able to flexibly organize and distribute the ball, create favorable opportunities for his teammates, and was able to put pressure on opponents by hitting his own shots at crucial moments. His defense is just as good, and he is able to use his speed and awareness to constantly interfere with and steal opponents' passes, causing a lot of problems for the Wizards' offense. Under his leadership, the Warriors' bench lineup played a wave of highs, pulling the score apart and laying the foundation for the team's victory.
In his post-match interview, Kerr welcomed and appreciated Paul's return, saying: "I mean, the team has been pretty good for the last month or so. I'm really looking forward to Chris Paul's return. You can see why tonight. He played 21 minutes and had a plus/minus of +17 and he was always in control of the game. I think it was very important at the end of the third quarter that Paul was in the lead, he found Kuminga, he made an open pass, we defended the opponent and got the last shot of the quarter. So, with Chris Paul, we're getting better. He's a great point guard and always knows exactly what's going on and what he needs to do. So it's nice he's back. ”
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