PASS-kul
When the Warriors drafted Eric Paschall late in the second round, they described him as a lot like Draymond Green, but more athletic. And I found this hilarious because Draymond Green is an All-Star and three-time champion, and you’re bringing out a guy like him who’s bigger, stronger and faster? Sure Mac, sure.
The old coaches will tell you to ignore the measurements and the scores from the Draft Combine, just look at the guy play. The John Madden thing: Freddie Biletnikoff didn’t look like much but he knew how to play the game. But sometimes there are details you should take note of. Like the 6-7 guy having a seven foot wingspan. Or getting the highest overall score at the Draft Combine. EVER.
But come on, Paschall was picked after 40 other guys. Can he play?
I heard a podcast today with with his coach at Villanova. He said the kid was just a family guy, went to church, totally bought into the program. And when they needed him to guard centers, he guarded centers, and when they needed him to guard point guards, he did that too.
He started off quietly in the NBA, earning playing time like anyone else, making plays and screwing up, but never seeming intimidated or physically overmatched. Then something happened: His points, rebounds, and assists by game so far this November:
11/2: 25-4-2
11/4: 34-13-0
11/6: 19-6-3
11/8: 12 - 1- 1 (played hurt)
Suddenly he’s shooting threes, dunking on seven footers. Tom Tolbert on the radio is saying he’s obviously going to be at least a rotation player - meaning the 40th pick in this year’s draft is already one of the top 200 basketball players in the Association.
For the Warriors you might ask whether he crack the team when everyone comes back healthy? Look, no one’s talking about it but Draymond Green is wearing down. He was playing hurt in the first two games of the season, then got knocked out completely. He has been to the finals five straight times, and he’s almost 30. There’s room for a 23 year-old backup who knows what to do and has the physical gifts and mental makeup to do it.
The Warriors have five more guys like this - people who were off the radar, but maybe can play. They already have their backup power forward in Paschall. They may have a backup point guard in Ky Bowman. They still have the 6-9 enigma Marquese Chriss, who did this Friday night, and Paschall’s 6-8 Villanova teammate Omari Spellman, plus the crazy 20 year old who misses everything, then crosses up Dame Lillard and buries a step-back three. Poole…needs time to develop.
They are losing almost every game, driving the coach to distraction, provoking protests from the owner that they aren’t tanking. Maybe they are, and maybe they aren’t (Tankathon.com has them in first place for a lottery pick). But they are finding players who can play, and with three all-stars injured that’s probably the only sane plan.
Anyway, it’s Paschall, pronounced PASS-kul.