3 reasons Chris Paul makes the Houston Rockets unbeatable

HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 13: Chris Paul #3 of the Houston Rockets handles the ball against the Charlotte Hornets on December 13, 2017 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 13: Chris Paul #3 of the Houston Rockets handles the ball against the Charlotte Hornets on December 13, 2017 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images /

2. He holds teammates accountable on defense

Prior to Chris Paul’s arrival in Houston, Draymond Green was asked by the media to evaluate the Rockets’ offseason, and whether or not if they had enough to officially dethrone the Golden State Warriors out in the Western Conference.

"“I guess he took some risks,” Green said about Rockets general manager Daryl Morey prior to the season. “He got Chris Paul. He’s a man of his word. He took some risks. “I don’t know how serious they take defense…but they added some good defensive players. They want it to be a shoot out, which is fine. But we’re going to play some defense…”"

Now, that question is no longer up for debate, as Paul has helped serve as the quarterback on a Rockets defense that has made tremendous strides over the last month and a half.

While there are a handful of factors that have played a role in the team’s success on defense, Paul plays arguably the most critical role, as there are games in which he has shown the ability to transfer information to teammates about specific sets and see things before they happen.

Animated GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY
Animated GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY /

As a result, this has given the perennial leader in steals the chance to emerge as the leader of the Rockets’ defensive attack, as players such as Paul, P.J. Tucker, and Luc Mbah A Moute have provided Houston with the ability to switch more when opponents try to set screens against them.

He’s helped the coaching staff officially cultivate seeds of growth, as the team that finished in the middle of the pack defensively last year appears to have the pieces to finish within the top five this season under D’Antoni — with a proper floor general to hold them accountable, of course.