Golden State Warriors: Checking-in on Eric Paschall

Eric Paschall has been steadily killing it for the Golden State Warriors. 

The Golden State Warriors have been pleased to see Eric Paschall blossom into one of the league’s rising stars.

As die-hard fans, I’m sure you already know all about the “PascAnimal.” The praise for Eric Paschall has come hot and heavy this year, and deservedly so. Pachall’s efficiency would be impressive for a ten-year veteran, let alone a rookie.

Here’s Paschall’s line so far this season, 15.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists, while shooting 49.4 percent from the field, 28.6 percent from three and 80.7 percent from the free-throw line (Basketball-Reference). (And this is after a down stretch due to injury and fatigue.)

His three-point shooting numbers don’t yet match the eye test or the relative confidence he has taken them with, but that’s okay. Even with his awkward mid-air leg kick, I think his three-ball projects as a long-term asset rather than a liability.

Not to mention, confidence is almost always a good thing, even when it’s misguided or misplaced (see Jordan Poole). Paschall’s shooting 30.2 percent on catch and shoot threes and a woeful 16.7 percent on pull-ups (NBA.com).

Paschall only needs to get up to 33 percent on threes to function in the Warriors egalitarian, motion heavy, high assist percentage offense. Paschall won’t be taking a bunch of pull up threes once Steph and Klay return. Ideally, Paschall’s three-point percentage could get all the way up to 35 percent, but 33 percent is all that’s necessary, as that percentage is equal to 50 percent on twos.

Paschall looks more than capable of holding his own on the defensive end as well. He’s built like a power forward, but his height, 6’6’’, and lateral mobility mean he’s best suited to defend small forwards. He’s helped by the fact that many teams are turning their shooting guards into small forwards in order to increase the amount of shooting they have on the floor.

Paschall is a Harrison Barnesesque player. Remember, Harrison Barnes (6’8’’) guarded Marc Gasol at times in the 2014-15 playoffs, which allowed Draymond Green to act as a free safety on the backline of the Warriors defense.

There hasn’t been any indication that Paschall could handle such a task. He and the rest of the Warriors have been bludgeoned by the Lakers size (as has every other team in the league) dating back to the pre-season, but Paschall can hold his own in the post on lesser-skilled power forwards and scamper around the perimeter with most traditional small forwards. Paschall’s defense should only improve with the returns of Klay Thompson and Kevon Looney.

Comparing the rookie seasons of Harrison Barnes and Eric Paschall, Paschall looks to be the much more effective scorer, averaging 17.3 points compared to Barnes’ 9.2 points. Circumstances are different certainly, Barnes took only 7.8 field goal attempts in his first year, compared to Paschall’s 12.5 this season.

Paschall is also three years older than Barnes was when he entered the league. Nonetheless, my point is that Paschall’s bucket getting is real and it should continue to improve as he learns the NBA game, NBA referees, and hones in on his sweet spots on the floor.

Paschall’s ability to bully his way to the basket in isolation and the success he’s had finishing at the rim is a welcome sight for a team that has lacked traditional slashers in recent years. He’s shooting 59.4 percent on shots less than 10 feet from the basket this season. I can also envision Paschall utilizing his explosive, quick-jump ability to thrive in the dunker spot like Shaun Livingston and Andre Iguodala.

To this point in the season, Paschall’s rookie year has been an unmitigated success. He’s shown proficiency in the skills that will be necessary to thrive alongside three Hall of Famers—defense, dunker spot success and pull up midrange shooting, which can help prop up second units when the stars rest—but his efficient isolation scoring ability exists outside the role player archetype most people projected for him.

Due to the rash of Warriors injuries, Paschall is getting to explore his scoring game and develop his passing game in ways that simply wouldn’t be possible if everyone was healthy, but Paschall and the Warriors should be better for it when everyone does return.

Paschall’s bully ball is more strength than weakness, but it can be a liability when he’s matched up against savvy defenders. He’s got a quick first step and grown-man strength, which is usually more than enough to get by guys or bounce them out of the way on his drives to the basket. But, sometimes against quicker players, he relies too heavily on his strength and picks up deflating offensive fouls.

I questioned at least one of the offensive fouls Danilo Gallinari drew on him in the Warriors November 25 matchup against the Thunder, but those fouls demonstrated how smart defenders could combat Paschall’s power game.

Paschall likes to jab step and drive left. Gallo figured this out, waited for Paschall to drive, slid his feet and fell. Adding more counters to his driving game will go a long way in avoiding unnecessary offensive fouls. But you know what else will help, all the added space that comes with playing alongside Steph Curry and Klay Thompson.

Paschall is bullying his way through much smaller driving lanes than he should have to in the future. Even his current weaknesses are encouraging.

As is so often the case, Paschall’s shooting will be a swing skill. If Paschall can get up to 35 percent from three, he’ll be able to fit in almost any lineup that future Warriors teams want to employ.

There is still going to be a Kevin Durant sized hole at the small forward position on the roster. If I was in the Warriors’ front office, I’d be looking to fill that void through the draft. Paschall isn’t the answer to that problem, but his combination of size, toughness, defense, and scoring should work just as well alongside better players as it has on this 2019-20 tanktastic Warriors roster.

The Warriors wanted shooting in the 2019 draft, it remains to be seen whether or not they found that in Jordan Poole, but they certainly found “a bucket” in Eric Paschall.

Paschall’s scoring should be a valuable skill when teams double and triple-team Steph or try to throw janky defenses at him. Paschall plans to keep Nick Nurse on his toes should the Warriors and Raptors ever meet again in the NBA finals.