Clippers Discover Chris Paul’s Critical Limitation
The San Antonio Spurs are currently excelling, while the Los Angeles Clippers have only recently come to recognize a significant limitation in Chris Paul—a fact the Spurs have long understood.
Spurs' Strong Start with Young Talent
Early in the season, the Spurs are thriving due to standout performances by Steph Castle and Dylan Harper. Their success highlights an important dynamic in the team’s offense.
Chris Paul's Tenure and Flaw
Chris Paul spent one season with the Spurs, aiding the growth of their young roster before moving to the Clippers. Although his leadership and playmaking helped, Paul showed a notable weakness:
Paul was either unwilling or unable to attack the paint.
This limitation caused the Spurs to perform poorly in rim drive statistics when Paul was on the court.
Implications for Spurs’ Future
The Spurs are poised to change this pattern as they anticipate De'Aaron Fox joining Harper and Castle—three players who excel at driving to the basket.
Why Paint Attack Matters for Point Guards
A point guard’s inability to penetrate the paint severely hampers their scoring and passing impact. The Clippers are experiencing these challenges now, struggling with offensive fluidity.
- Driving to the rim collapses defenses.
- This collapse opens up three-point opportunities.
- It also creates chances to find rolling teammates for easy baskets in pick-and-roll plays.
Expectations vs Reality in Paul's Role
When the Spurs signed Paul, many hoped he would transform Victor Wembanyama into a dominant lob threat, but this effect never materialized.
Many expected Paul to turn Victor Wembanyama into a lob threat, but that never really happened.
Author’s Summary
The Clippers are now facing a flaw in Chris Paul’s game that the Spurs identified early: his reluctance or inability to attack the paint limits the offense’s full potential.