5. Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
Position: Point Guard
Age: 31 (5/6/1985)
Experience: 12th Season
2016-17 Slash Line: .469/.393/.873
2016-17 Season Averages: 31.4 MPG, 17.7 PPG, 9.7 APG, 5.4 RPG, 2.3 SPG, 1.9 3PM
If the Chris Paul that has shown up during the 2016-17 NBA regular season does the same in the playoffs, the Los Angeles Clippers may finally escape the second round. He’s still producing at an elite level and is beginning to show the long-awaited killer instinct in the fourth quarter.
As for why he’s a Top 5 player on this list, try the fact that Paul is No. 1 in the NBA in Real Plus-Minus, with Top 5 rankings on both offense and defense.
Paul began this week with 14 points, 12 assists, six rebounds, and three steals in a 106-98 road win over the Sacramento Kings. He ended the week with 18 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and four steals in a 105-96 win over the Orlando Magic.
Between those two performances, Paul went off for 19 points, 18 assists, six rebounds, and two steals in just 29 minutes in a win over the Miami Heat—and he did so while committing just one turnover.
Paul had a game with 20 points and 20 assists to no turnovers earlier this season, which makes a second unfathomably efficient performance all the more intriguing. The fact he’s closing out games for Los Angeles may be even more significant than any statistics.
The Clippers have won five consecutive games—all of which were played without Blake Griffin—and Paul has returned to contending for MVP.