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NBA Player Power Rankings: Russell Westbrook Pushing for MVP

By Maxwell Ogden

Mar 29, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) gestures from the court during the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 29, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) gestures from the court during the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 30, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) dribbles in the first quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 30, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) dribbles in the first quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /

6. Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers

Last Rank: No. 7

Position: Point Guard

Slash Line: .460/.372/.895

Season Averages: 33.0 MPG, 19.5 PPG, 9.9 APG, 4.2 RPG, 2.1 SPG, 1.7 3PM

The fact that the Los Angeles Clippers are even in the playoffs is a testament to how brilliant a player Chris Paul is. At 20 games above .500, there aren’t enough words to accurately describe how incredible of a season CP3 has put forth in 2015-16.

Blake Griffin hasn’t played a single game since Christmas Day, and the Clippers have gone 30-14 during that time.

Since Griffin went down, Paul is averaging 21.0 points, 10.5 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.1 steals on a slash line of .460/.376/.895. That’s over the span of 44 games played, which is a large enough sample size for the numbers to be taken at face value.

Not only is Paul performing at an All-NBA level, but if he hadn’t started the season so slowly, he’d all but certainly be in the MVP discussion.

Paul didn’t shoot very well this past week, but he continues to lead the Clippers to victory. He scored 25 big points in a win over Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers, and had 20 points, 16 assists, and eight rebounds during a victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

We’re all waiting for Paul to lead Los Angeles beyond the second round of the playoffs, but he’s having an outstanding year in 2015-16.

Next: Still Stroking