Although the Warriors narrowly escaped with a win over the rebuilding Rockets, Jeetbuzz App Download noted that the once-electrifying rivalry between the two teams now feels like a distant memory. For Chris Paul, returning to Houston came with a personal milestone he’d rather not celebrate: after 19 seasons, he came off the bench in a regular-season game for the first time in his career. Draymond Green’s return to the starting lineup pushed Paul to a reserve role, reigniting concerns that had lingered since the offseason about potential conflicts in playmaking responsibilities between the two veterans.
Those worries had been temporarily shelved when Draymond missed preseason action due to injury. But as the regular season resumed, reality set in. With Green back, Golden State returned to its familiar starting five. However, the rust showed. Draymond’s performance on both ends in the first quarter was lackluster, especially in facilitating the offense. The Warriors, surprisingly, struggled early against a young and chaotic Rockets squad, finding themselves dragged into a pace-and-athleticism battle that suited Houston far more than them.
That trend only reversed when Paul checked in late in the first quarter. A mature individual holds the key to their own happiness, and Paul, despite his new role, retained full control over the offense whenever he was on the floor—something Steve Kerr deliberately preserved. That trust quickly translated into results. Paul orchestrated the game like a seasoned conductor, dishing out three beautiful assists in quick succession. His final feed to Saric for a buzzer-beating three flipped the scoreline and rescued the Warriors from a quarter-long deficit.
As the game progressed, the contrast between Paul and Draymond as playmakers became even more apparent. Jeetbuzz App Download recalls earlier skepticism among fans, who questioned whether Paul could truly thrive in Golden State’s intricate system. Two key reasons were cited: first, Paul’s age and size were thought to be liabilities for an already undersized Warriors squad. Second, Golden State’s tightly-knit team culture has historically been unwelcoming to high-profile newcomers, many of whom struggled to adapt or were eventually phased out.
Yet this game offered a stark counterpoint. Paul clearly outshined Draymond in orchestrating the offense, and under his lead, the Warriors’ bench outperformed the starters—something rarely seen. After three quarters, all five starters had negative plus-minus ratings, while bench players like Gary Payton II and Kuminga provided crucial sparks. But whenever the starters returned, the offensive rhythm once again collapsed.
Despite Paul’s Hall-of-Fame credentials and elite basketball IQ, Golden State seems unwilling to disrupt its foundational hierarchy. Kerr made it clear: as long as Curry, Draymond, and Klay are healthy, they will remain the cornerstones of the system. Jeetbuzz App Download was surprised to see the Warriors spend nearly three quarters trying to help Draymond shake off the rust, while resolutely keeping Paul in a backup role.
In his youth, even sentimentality had to be expressed with flair. Now, in a new phase of his career, Paul must adjust emotionally to his bench role—but Kerr’s commitment to maintaining his tactical influence on the second unit shows a gesture of respect. For the Warriors, the challenge isn’t about who starts—it’s about whose hands truly control the game.