Golden State Warriors: 1 aspect for every player to improve upon – Cory Joseph

As the 2023-24 NBA season draws near, Blue Man Hoop will focus on one aspect of potential improvement for every Warrior player.

After signing a one-year, $3.2 million contract in free agency, Cory Joseph arrives at the Golden State Warriors with some elements of uncertainty surrounding his role heading into this season.

The Canadian will be a third-string point-guard for the franchise, though with Stephen Curry and Chris Paul 35 and 38-years-old respectively, he may get more opportunity than a depth piece otherwise might.

However, to label him simply as a depth piece is probably a little unfair. He feels like a Steve Kerr type of player, and given the increased priority Golden State will put on ball security, his elite assist-to-turnover ratio could see him earn minutes even beyond the inevitable rests for Curry and Paul.

Joseph’s been an above average three-point shooter over the past few seasons, particularly off the catch where he’ll be taking the majority of his jumpshots with the Warriors. His defensive numbers have been in decline, though much of that can be attributed to playing in a young, rebuilding system at the Detroit Pistons. So, let’s focus on the other end of the floor where the 32-year-old will be tasked with contributing to an efficient Golden State offense.

Finishing in the paint

The 32-year-old’s efficiency in the paint has been on the decline in recent seasons, with his 40.3% (excluding the restricted area) last season the second-lowest mark of the past seven years. Joseph’s never been an athletic rim-rattler by any means, but he’s been crafty enough to have multiple seasons above 44% earlier in his career.

So, why is this important? NBA defenses usually want to run the Warriors off the three-point line as much as they can, making it important for players to put the ball on the floor and make decisive decisions — whether that’s kicking out a pass or attacking the paint on the interior.

Teams will be aware that Joseph is a high-level shooter and will therefore want him making decisions among the trees in the paint. We saw that a little bit with Donte DiVincenzo last season who’s statistically been a poor finisher from anywhere outside the restricted area throughout his career.

Perhaps as he enters the latter years of his career, Joseph has lost some athleticism that’s impacting his work in the paint. That doesn’t mean his efficiency can’t see a spike though, particularly when defenses are unlikely to collapse off the likes of Curry, Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins at the same rate they would have done with Joseph’s recent teammates in Detroit.

Joseph projects as the 11th man in the Warrior rotation, meaning it won’t be a disaster if his finishing in the paint doesn’t elevate. Yet for Joseph himself, it does forecast as an important area in trying to garner a bigger role than what most expect this season.