Los Angeles Clippers: Stop Blaming Chris Paul
Stop looking at Chris Paul as the reason for the Los Angeles Clippers failing to break through in the NBA Playoffs. He’s the last man to blame.
For 41 years, the Los Angeles Clippers were the laughing stocks of the NBA. There were brief periods of moderate success, including the occasional postseason appearance and the presence of all-time great big man Bob McAdoo when the Clippers were still the Buffalo Braves.
Since the arrival of point guard Chris Paul, however, Los Angeles has become a genuine force in the Western Conference.
Many have debated whether or not the Clippers are legitimate championship contenders. Thus far, they haven’t been, with relatively early exits becoming a habit for the other Los Angeles organization.
That underachievement reached new heights in 2015, when the Houston Rockets stormed back from a 3-2 series deficit, and a 19-point hole in Game 6, to steal the game and series from the Clippers in the Western Conference Semifinals.
No player felt the wrath of the collapse more than Paul.
Yet, whenever the Clippers are discussed, the narrative is clear: it’s Paul who saved the organization. After all, this is a team that went from 32-50 the year before Paul’s arrival, to 40-26 in his first season with the team.
Hard as it may be to overlook his postseason struggles, it’s time to stop blaming Paul for the Clippers’ shortcomings.
He’s the least deserving man of the criticism.
Better Than Ever Before
Since Chris Paul arrived in Los Angeles, the Clippers have recorded three 50-win seasons and a 40-26 lockout-shortened campaign. For what it’s worth, that 40-26 record can be translated to a win percentage of .606, which is good for 49.7 wins—or 50, if you’re rounding up.
In the 41 seasons prior to Paul’s arrival, the Clippers had a grand total of zero 50-win seasons.
The playoffs haven’t been kind to Paul, as he’s never once made it beyond the Western Conference Semifinals. During his tenure with the Clippers, Paul has led Los Angeles to the second round on three different occasions, but has never once made it beyond that stage.
In the 41 seasons leading up to Paul’s acquisition, however, Los Angeles won a grand total of two postseason series.
In other words, in Paul’s four seasons with the Clippers, the organization has already accomplished more than it did in 41 without him. Thus, it’s hard to rationally point the finger Paul’s way when he’s the reason the Clippers have pulled themselves out of the gutter.
That’s never been more true than in 2015-16.
Incomparable Influence
All hope appeared to be lost when the 17-13 Clippers learned that Blake Griffin had suffered a partially torn left quad tendon on Christmas Day. It was a crippling injury that, along with a broken hand, kept the team’s leading scorer—and, arguably, its best player—out for 45 games.
That’s a death sentence for the average team, but Paul would not let the Clippers fall into the lower realm of the NBA hierarchy.
In the 45 games without Griffin, Paul averaged 21.0 points, 10.5 assists, 4.7 rebounds, 2.1 steals, and 1.9 3-point field goals made on a slash line of .460/.376/.895. During that time, Los Angeles went 30-15, which has since been followed by a three-game winning streak.
In turn, Paul helped the Clippers reach 50 wins once again.
If you’re questioning Paul’s influence, don’t; he’s assisted a league-best 49.1% of his teammates’ field goals in 2015-16. His 3.78 assist-to-turnover ratio is second to only Mike Conley, and his 23.5 points created via assists per game ranks No. 3 in the Association.
With 43.3 points created per contest, Paul accounts for 41.4 percent of the Clippers’ total offense. That’s a lot.
Can The Clippers Hang In 2016?
This article isn’t an excuse for Paul’s postseason shortcomings. He’s severely underachieved in the postseason—by superstar standards, of course—and that much ranges beyond the realm of subjectivity.
Perennial second-round exits simply will not suffice.
In 2016, it simply makes no sense to shovel the blame onto Paul if disappointment is what resides in Los Angeles’ future. He’s saved the Clippers from drifting into obscurity, performing at a level that’s helped the Clippers maintain a high enough level of play to be a Top 4 seed in the Western Conference.
Between Blake Griffin’s health, the uncertainty surrounding the second unit, and DeAndre Jordan‘s free throw shooting, the expectations are limited for Paul and the Clippers entering the 2016 NBA Playoffs.
At the very least, Paul and Griffin should be able to lead Los Angeles to the Western Conference Semifinals. From there, the rivalry between the Clippers and Golden State Warriors creates a platform on which anything is possible.
If Paul continues to perform at the level he has since Christmas Day, Los Angeles will have a chance.
Regardless of what transpires in the playoffs, however, the 2015-16 NBA regular season has very clearly established that Paul is not the problem in Los Angeles.