Paschall thriving as small-ball center for Warriors
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr pulled Eric Paschall aside before a recent pract ice and gave him a new assignment: He’d be playing center.
“He was like, ‘That’ll give you an opportunity to get the ball in your hands more and attack other bigs,’” Paschall said Wednesday before the Warriors played the Los Angeles Clippers at Chase Center. “So, I was like ‘ That’s fine with me.’”
As a result of Marquese Chriss suffering a broken leg in a scrimmage in Chicago, the Warriors had a hole in their center rotation. Kerr saw an opportunity to fix two problems at once: fill minutes at a position of need and put Paschall in a better position to succeed.
In five games as a smallball center, Paschall has scored in double- digits every game and helped anchor a second unit for a Warriors team that has won four of its last five.
Paschall was uncomfortable starting in place of an injured Draymond Green at power forward to open the season, as he was asked to play off the ball, guard multiple positions and make 3-pointers from the corner. In two games, he averaged 6.5 points on 35.7% shooting (1- of- 4 from 3-point range), 1.5 rebounds and 0.5 assists.
“Eric has done a really good job of carving out a role for himself, and he’s put together some good games in a row,” Kerr said. “Hopefully this is a role that he can really latch on to and hold for the year.”
To do that, Paschall will still need to improve as an all-around defender. Though he has the strength to body opposing bigs in the post, Paschall is working on his help defense, understanding of positioning and grasp of the playbook.
Green, who returned three games ago from a foot injury that sidelined him for the start of the season, serves as the ideal role model for the 24-year- old and has helped Paschall learn the finer points of playing as a small- ball center.
“Being there for my teammates,” Paschall said, “as they would be for me.”