Houston Rockets: 3 takeaways from Game 5 vs. Jazz

1. Chris Paul is locked in

In a game in which James Harden struggled to find his shot, Chris Paul picked up right where he left off in Game 4, returning to the floor in full-out attack mode and hitting countless shots while also finding a way to set up his teammates.

Paul’s most recent playoff showing places him in a league of his own:

"“He’s a great player,” Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell said following Game 5. “He’s been under a lot of unfair scrutiny throughout the playoffs, and tonight he showed that he wanted it. “He’s in a different mode right now.”"

Throughout the night, Paul appeared to be in total control of the Rockets’ offense, as he exploited forward Joe Ingles and the rest of Utah’s vaunted defense multiple times within the pick-and-roll.

This included Defensive Player of the Year candidate Rudy Gobert out in isolation sets, where Houston sought to draw the big man out onto the perimeter by setting screens for Paul to get open and go to work against the Stifle Tower.

https://twitter.com/HoustonRockets/status/994056197719273473

Although Paul’s performance did not come on the NBA Finals stage, the 13-year veteran finally managed to silence his critics for once and for all on his biggest one yet. As the player who has suffered through countless playoff pains and heartbreaks over the course of his career, CP3 is now one step closer towards capturing the title that he so desperately covets in Houston.

The greatest point guard of our generation will now have the opportunity to play in his first ever Western Conference Finals.

Next: Full two-round 2018 NBA Mock Draft

The Rockets will seek to rest up and recover over the next five days, prior to facing off against the defending champion Golden State Warriors at home in Game 1 on Monday.