Despite getting off to a sluggish start and battling with injuries through the first half of the season, Houston Rockets point guard Chris Paul has recently worked his way back to find his stride.
Feb. 23, 2019.
It’s an exciting day in the subset of Northern California, as the Houston Rockets prepare for the heat of battle in a primetime showdown against the archrival Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena.
The cameras are rolling. The lights are bright. And while the previous matchup between the two Western Conference foes has many buzzing in anticipation for what happens next, the Rockets receive news that they will be without their leading star just hours before tipoff.
Harden is sick in addition to dealing with the cervical strain.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) February 24, 2019
Houston — which holds a 2-0 lead in the season series — is given little to any chance by most national experts to win the now dampened affair in the minutes leading up to the heavyweight bout.
However, there is another star present that most people have already brushed off and ignored. He’s a future Hall of Fame floor general who would refuse to let his team wallow behind enemy lines in spite of his earlier setbacks this season.
Enter Chris Paul.
In a contest that took place a day before Hollywood’s main event, Paul composed arguably his finest performance in a Rockets uniform without backcourt mate James Harden.
Conducting a near perfect game, the nine-time All-Star erupted for 23 points and a season-high 17 assists to guide Clutch City to a 118-112 statement win against the defending champions in Oakland.
"“I know what I’m capable of,” Paul told Chris Haynes of Yahoo! Sports. “I’m not worried about what nobody else is talking about…I’ll find a way [to be successful].”“I’m always self-motivated, and anybody who knows me knows that. It’s not about proving it to somebody else. It’s me. I’m harder on myself than anybody else ever can be.”"
https://twitter.com/HoustonRockets/status/1103112442647851011
In a year that appeared to mark the onset of Father Time’s arrival due to injuries and shooting struggles at the early onset of the season, Paul has made his voyage back to the game with a ferocious vengeance, yet again after missing nearly month of action.
Displaying constant reminders why many once regarded him as the ultimate point guard of our generation, the man who led Houston within one game of reaching the NBA Finals a season ago has recently shown signs of turning the corner at the ideal time.
Over the last 10 outings, Paul has averaged 16.8 points, 9.8 assists and 6.0 rebounds per game for the Rockets on the way to helping Houston catapult up the Western Conference standings, with wins against the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors to kick off March.
https://twitter.com/HoustonRockets/status/1102337995364073472
"“We’re lucky to have him,” Rockets forward Gerald Green told Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle earlier this week. “I’m lucky to play with him. Any time I’m on the floor with him, it’s a different vibe.”“I know what time it is. I know what to expect. I know what is coming. I know when the ball is coming.”"
Although most national experts will likely keep their eyes on The Beard’s nightly scoring exploits, no one can deny that CP3 has cemented himself as the most crucial component to the Rockets’ championship hopes. In addition to their overall psyche, Paul’s veteran presence has presented Houston with the luxury of throwing different counter sets against opposing teams on offense.
Despite currently averaging near career-low marks in almost every statistical category, Paul has aided in the most recent shooting resurgences of Gerald Green and P.J. Tucker from beyond the arc. This includes his own renaissance, as Paul is finding a way to get to his spots to operate and vehemently attack defenders within Houston’s vaunted isolation and pick-and-roll sets.
https://twitter.com/HoustonRockets/status/1099504265008009217
"“He’s playing real well,” Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni told reporters when asked about Paul’s most recent stretch of play on Thursday. “I knew he was going to be this way as soon as he got into a rhythm and felt good physically,”“I’ve said it 1,000 times it’s not this year; I’m not worried about the next three years, he’s going to be good the whole time he’s here. I have no doubts.”"
Paul and the Rockets will seek to capture their seventh win in the last eight outings, as they get ready to take on Ben Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers at the Toyota Center on Friday.