Houston Rockets: Chris Paul’s still got some left in the tank

With a big road win over their rivals, Chris Paul reminded the basketball world that he’s still plenty capable of running the show at a high level.

For what seems like the longest of time, Chris Paul was always regarded as one of, if not the best point guard in the NBA. All the skills teams want out of their floor general are ones CP3 brought to the court at an elite level.

The man was a legend and teetering the line between facilitator and scorer, able to pick apart even the best defenses with his shiftiness and handles who could also be trusted to lock down opposing perimeter threats at the other end.

Ever since he entered the league back in 2005, the consistency in every facet of the game has always been present, leaving some to question if it would ever leave the nine-time All-Star before he decided to call it quits.

Paul has never been the most durable of athletes, always picking up injuries at the most inopportune time and missing chunks of games as he continues to progress through his 30s, but this year, the narrative surrounding his time spent away meant more than in past years.

Having just signed a massive four-year max contract with the Houston Rockets over the summer, Paul was expected to be the co-star to reigning MVP James Harden in the hope that the duo could finish what they started last season after being eliminated in the Western Conference Finals by the eventual champion Golden State Warriors.

The Rockets had always been a playoff contender, but the presence of another elite point guard presented the ability for something more, and with so much money committed long term to a guy entering his age 33 season, Houston was clearly all in moving forward.

Then, the DNPs began to pile up, resulting in 23 missed games for Paul, forcing Harden to go on a scoring binge the likes which haven’t been since Michael Jordan in the 1980s. CP had missed games in the past, but these latest flare-ups were even more alarming.

At this stage of his career, could Paul remain relatively healthy? Would the constant stream of injuries take away from his ability to produce at a high level? Would the Rockets regret investing millions of dollars into a damaged asset? While harsh, these were and continue to be valid questions, one that could only be dismissed on the basketball court, with Saturday night being the perfect opportunity.

Prior to a nationally televised game against the Dubs at Oracle Arena, it was announced that Harden would not play due to a neck injury, shifting a majority of the offensive responsibility onto Paul’s 6’0” frame.

It would’ve been a tough matchup for Houston even with its MVP in the lineup. His absence would make it impossible to come away victorious, at least that’s what was previously thought. With 23 points and 17 assists, CP3 would lead the Rockets to a surprising 118-112 victory over the two-time defending champions, helping four other teammates reach double figures in scoring.

As he continues to rack up minutes on his basketball odometer, injuries will always be a concern for Paul, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they will lead to his on-court demise, as his most recent performance can attest.

This doesn’t mean CP won’t miss future time with a number of bruises and ailments. It does, however, mean that any concerns over the future Hall of Famers ability to produce at a high level should be put to bed for now. This dude wants a championship so badly, and he’s not done chasing it just yet.