Clippers Realize Chris Paul's Limitation Known by Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are off to a strong start this season, powered by the impressive performances of Steph Castle and Dylan Harper. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Clippers have begun to recognize a critical weakness in their star signing, point guard Chris Paul.
Spurs’ Early Success and Player Development
Chris Paul played a pivotal role for the Spurs during his single season with the team, guiding a young roster and aiding several players' development. However, a significant flaw in his game became apparent over time.
Paul's Struggle to Attack the Paint
Paul consistently showed either reluctance or inability to penetrate the paint on offense. This limited the team’s effectiveness in rim drives while he was on the court, causing the Spurs to rank poorly in that area.
"Paul was either unwilling or unable to attack the paint. His inability to do so resulted in the Spurs ranking poorly in rim drives when he was on the floor."
Spurs’ Future with Aggressive Guards
San Antonio now looks forward to adding De'Aaron Fox alongside Castle and Harper, all of whom excel at attacking the basket. Having a point guard adept at driving to the rim is crucial not only for scoring but also for setting up teammates.
Impact on Clippers and Offensive Strategy
The Clippers are coming to understand this limitation firsthand. A point guard must be able to challenge defenses by driving in the pick-and-roll, creating open shots or easy scoring opportunities for teammates.
"Whether it be collapsing defenses, which leads to open threes, or finding the roll man for an easy dunk in the pick-and-roll, a point guard must be able to attack the basket."
Expectations vs. Reality for Paul and Wembanyama
When the Spurs acquired Paul, many anticipated he would unlock Victor Wembanyama’s potential as a lob threat, but that impact never fully materialized.
"When the Spurs signed Paul, many expected him to turn Victor Wembanyama into a lob threat, but that never really happened."
Author’s summary: The Clippers are now confronting a key offensive shortcoming in Chris Paul's game—a paint attack deficit Spurs recognized early—that limits his impact as both scorer and facilitator.