Clippers Face Harsh Truth About Chris Paul
The San Antonio Spurs are currently thriving, while the Los Angeles Clippers are just confronting a significant flaw in Chris Paul that the Spurs have long recognized. Early in the season, the Spurs’ success is propelled by the performances of Steph Castle and Dylan Harper.
Chris Paul spent one season with the Spurs, guiding a young team before moving to the Clippers. Although his leadership and playmaking boosted the Spurs' young players, a glaring limitation was often ignored: Paul’s reluctance or inability to aggressively attack the paint.
Impact on Spurs’ Performance
Paul’s hesitation to drive to the basket led to the Spurs ranking poorly in rim attempts when he was on the court. The team is now eager to integrate De'Aaron Fox alongside Harper and Castle, who all excel at penetrating the defense and finishing at the rim.
Consequences for the Clippers
The Clippers are discovering firsthand how vital it is for a point guard to challenge the rim on offense. Attacking the basket helps collapse defenses, generating open three-point shots and creating opportunities for easy dunks through pick-and-roll plays.
"Having a point guard who can't touch the paint on offense dramatically limits their effectiveness as a scorer and especially as a passer."
When the Spurs signed Paul, many anticipated that he would transform Victor Wembanyama into a lob threat, but this impact never materialized.
Summary
Chris Paul's inability to attack the basket has limited both his teams, leaving the Clippers to face a challenge the Spurs identified early on.