Paul & Griffin: OVER RATED

[86MaxwellSmart]

Now they both have MORE time to commit to their real love---KIA and ALL STATE commercials.

[rondohondo]

It still puzzles me that the Clippers rushed to sign Spencer Hawes, instead of going after Paul Pierce.

I don't really blame the stars so much as I do everyone else on the team.

its all on Doc Rivers. He traded away Eric Bledsoe for JJ Redick and Jared Dudley. And then sign Spencer Hawes over  Pierce.

That was actually a good trade for them in terms of fit. He messed up in what he did with Dudley. He included a 2nd rd pick in trade to acquire him and then gave up a 2017 1st rd pick just to trade him away. Dudley would've been an upgrade over Barnes and then they could've used the said 1st rd pick to acquire another player (Brandon Wright for example) before the deadline.

Paul played great and played his heart out until the end. Yes, he deserves to be all NBA defense. The guy is an excellent defender.

how is that a great fit for them? Bledsoe provided a second ball handler  that could create shots, and also a very good defender to take pressure off Paul from guarding players like harden. Bledsoe is much better than either of those players.

[Eddie20]

It still puzzles me that the Clippers rushed to sign Spencer Hawes, instead of going after Paul Pierce.

I don't really blame the stars so much as I do everyone else on the team.

its all on Doc Rivers. He traded away Eric Bledsoe for JJ Redick and Jared Dudley. And then sign Spencer Hawes over  Pierce.

That was actually a good trade for them in terms of fit. He messed up in what he did with Dudley. He included a 2nd rd pick in trade to acquire him and then gave up a 2017 1st rd pick just to trade him away. Dudley would've been an upgrade over Barnes and then they could've used the said 1st rd pick to acquire another player (Brandon Wright for example) before the deadline.

Paul played great and played his heart out until the end. Yes, he deserves to be all NBA defense. The guy is an excellent defender.

how is that a great fit for them? Bledsoe provided a second ball handler  that could create shots, and also a very good defender to take pressure off Paul from guarding players like harden. Bledsoe is much better than either of those players.

Bledsoe is better, but not a better fit. JJ Redick provides spacing, which is vital for a team that has Blake and Jordan inside. Replacing Bledsoe with Redick, would destroy their spacing and hurt all the PnR action they run. Bledsoe shot 32% from 3's, 35% from 10-16 ft, and 38% from 16ft to 3pt land.

Dudley was playing hurt last season, so he had a down year. However, he bounced back this season and would've provided another perimeter shooter and helped depth.

Bledsoe handling the ball would also not allow Griffin to handle the ball and facilitate offense like he did this season. He quietly was very productive in the role (see when Paul was injured) and averaged 5.3 APG to Bledsoe's 6.1 on the season.

Money was also a huge factor. Had they not made that trade, and paid Bledsoe, they would've either been forced to let Jordan walk this summer or take a huge luxury tax hit.

[biggs]

It still puzzles me that the Clippers rushed to sign Spencer Hawes, instead of going after Paul Pierce.

I don't really blame the stars so much as I do everyone else on the team.

its all on Doc Rivers. He traded away Eric Bledsoe for JJ Redick and Jared Dudley. And then sign Spencer Hawes over  Pierce.

I know, I couldn't believe how bad the Bledsoe trade was. Having said that, yes, I think CP3 & Blake are overated.

Having said that, let's go after DeAndre hard this summer!!!

[Smitty77]

On ESPN's real plus minus for PG's on defense for 2015, Paul ranks #13!!!

Behind Bradley at #11 and Smart at #6!!!!!

http://espn.go.com/nba/statistics/rpm/_/sort/DRPM/position/1

I am sick and tired of almost EVERYONE swallowing what TV tells you about Paul's being a great defender.  Watch him play and decide for yourselves!!!  He is NO WHERE near the defender that Bledsoe is or Smart or Teague or Bradley, just to name a few!!!

Smitty77

Smitty77

[Endless Paradise]

He is NOT a great lock-up perimeter defender

Well, yeah, name a premier point guard who is and still carries a heavy offensive load. There's a trade-off when devoting energy to defense, hence why you often see defensive specialists who are fairly one-dimensional on offense.

and he has PROVEN to be a CHOKE in the playoffs.  We have years of history to back that statement up!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nope. The one instance of CP3 choking in the playoffs was in Game 5 against OKC. Other than that, his teams just are bad at closing the deal. Not CP3's fault Blake put up the quietest 27/11/6 statline ever in an elimination game.

He's a pass-first point guard, not a superstar scorer. If your idea of CP3 "choking" is failing to average 30 against the Rockets, then you might as well call Harden a choker for not magically transforming out of his role to become a premier shot blocker this series.

[crimson_stallion]

On ESPN's real plus minus for PG's on defense for 2015, Paul ranks #13!!!

Behind Bradley at #11 and Smart at #6!!!!!

http://espn.go.com/nba/statistics/rpm/_/sort/DRPM/position/1

I am sick and tired of almost EVERYONE swallowing what TV tells you about Paul's being a great defender.  Watch him play and decide for yourselves!!!  He is NO WHERE near the defender that Bledsoe is or Smart or Teague or Bradley, just to name a few!!!

Smitty77

Smitty77

Marcus Smart is 6'4" / 220 pounds with a 6'9" wingspan and is 20 years old.  Avery Bradley is 6'3" / 180 pounds with a 6'7" wingspan and is 24 years old.  Both have very good lateral quickness and both are already elite defensive players.  Neither guy of those guys played more than around 31 MPG, and neither had to spend their entire time on the court as both a pimary defender and a primary ball handler.

Chris Paul is 6'0" / 178 pounds with a 6'4" wingspan and is 30 years old, he's had a number of injuries in recent times, and he's the offensive center of almost everything the Clippers do.  He has to run the entire offense AND play defense for 35 MPG for a team that utterly depends on him.

That he still ranked 13th in defensive RPM while also being the primary ball handler AND being responsible for more of his team's offense then Lebron James, and not being physically dominant (both undersized and not super athletic) says a hell of a lot about how good he is. 

Chris Paul is the best PG this league has seen since John Stockton, that is not debatable.

[rondohondo]

On ESPN's real plus minus for PG's on defense for 2015, Paul ranks #13!!!

Behind Bradley at #11 and Smart at #6!!!!!

http://espn.go.com/nba/statistics/rpm/_/sort/DRPM/position/1

I am sick and tired of almost EVERYONE swallowing what TV tells you about Paul's being a great defender.  Watch him play and decide for yourselves!!!  He is NO WHERE near the defender that Bledsoe is or Smart or Teague or Bradley, just to name a few!!!

Smitty77

Smitty77

Marcus Smart is 6'4" / 220 pounds with a 6'9" wingspan and is 20 years old.  Avery Bradley is 6'3" / 180 pounds with a 6'7" wingspan and is 24 years old.  Both have very good lateral quickness and both are already elite defensive players.  Neither guy of those guys played more than around 31 MPG, and neither had to spend their entire time on the court as both a pimary defender and a primary ball handler.

Chris Paul is 6'0" / 178 pounds with a 6'4" wingspan and is 30 years old, he's had a number of injuries in recent times, and he's the offensive center of almost everything the Clippers do.  He has to run the entire offense AND play defense for 35 MPG for a team that utterly depends on him.

That he still ranked 13th in defensive RPM while also being the primary ball handler AND being responsible for more of his team's offense then Lebron James, and not being physically dominant (both undersized and not super athletic) says a hell of a lot about how good he is. 

Chris Paul is the best PG this league has seen since John Stockton, that is not debatable.

curry would argue that.

[tarheelsxxiii]

I just think the core of the team lacks the mental toughness and intangibles for me to think they are credible title contenders.  I wouldn't be enthusiastic about any of these guys becoming a Celtic.

Nailed it here. Also think they're seriously hindered by having only one shot creator in Paul who, while effective over the years, does not seem to be big enough in that regard to make a deep run. Blake's inability to create could always be a major issue.

That said, I wouldn't mind DeAndre coming here. Doubt the Clippers would consider letting him go given they have no other way of filling that role, and despite his weaknesses, he is darn good at what he does. Would fill such huge holes for us, and given the rising of the cap, would def be worth the max imo.

[loco_91]

On ESPN's real plus minus for PG's on defense for 2015, Paul ranks #13!!!

Behind Bradley at #11 and Smart at #6!!!!!

http://espn.go.com/nba/statistics/rpm/_/sort/DRPM/position/1

I am sick and tired of almost EVERYONE swallowing what TV tells you about Paul's being a great defender.  Watch him play and decide for yourselves!!!  He is NO WHERE near the defender that Bledsoe is or Smart or Teague or Bradley, just to name a few!!!

Smitty77

Smitty77

Marcus Smart is 6'4" / 220 pounds with a 6'9" wingspan and is 20 years old.  Avery Bradley is 6'3" / 180 pounds with a 6'7" wingspan and is 24 years old.  Both have very good lateral quickness and both are already elite defensive players.  Neither guy of those guys played more than around 31 MPG, and neither had to spend their entire time on the court as both a pimary defender and a primary ball handler.

Chris Paul is 6'0" / 178 pounds with a 6'4" wingspan and is 30 years old, he's had a number of injuries in recent times, and he's the offensive center of almost everything the Clippers do.  He has to run the entire offense AND play defense for 35 MPG for a team that utterly depends on him.

That he still ranked 13th in defensive RPM while also being the primary ball handler AND being responsible for more of his team's offense then Lebron James, and not being physically dominant (both undersized and not super athletic) says a hell of a lot about how good he is. 

Chris Paul is the best PG this league has seen since John Stockton, that is not debatable.

I agree with this. CP3 is an exceptional player. I think greatest-since-stockton is debatable, but I would debate on Paul's side.

[Smitty77]

Paul might be over rated

But ...NEVER

Over HATED.

That is pretty good, even coming from a Chris Paul hater:-)))

Smitty77

[wdleehi]

I just think the core of the team lacks the mental toughness and intangibles for me to think they are credible title contenders.  I wouldn't be enthusiastic about any of these guys becoming a Celtic.

Nailed it here. Also think they're seriously hindered by having only one shot creator in Paul who, while effective over the years, does not seem to be big enough in that regard to make a deep run. Blake's inability to create could always be a major issue.

That said, I wouldn't mind DeAndre coming here. Doubt the Clippers would consider letting him go given they have no other way of filling that role, and despite his weaknesses, he is darn good at what he does. Would fill such huge holes for us, and given the rising of the cap, would def be worth the max imo.

Not worth the Max.


He is not a max level offensive player.  (obvious)



And it is very clear he is not a max level defensive player.  If the big man is suppose to be the defensive backbone, where was the Clippers defense? 



Great rebounder.  Great weak-side shot blocker.  A alley-oop threat with a great passers. 

But overrated defensive player. 

[Smitty77]

He is NOT a great lock-up perimeter defender

Well, yeah, name a premier point guard who is and still carries a heavy offensive load. There's a trade-off when devoting energy to defense, hence why you often see defensive specialists who are fairly one-dimensional on offense.

and he has PROVEN to be a CHOKE in the playoffs.  We have years of history to back that statement up!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nope. The one instance of CP3 choking in the playoffs was in Game 5 against OKC. Other than that, his teams just are bad at closing the deal. Not CP3's fault Blake put up the quietest 27/11/6 statline ever in an elimination game.

He's a pass-first point guard, not a superstar scorer. If your idea of CP3 "choking" is failing to average 30 against the Rockets, then you might as well call Harden a choker for not magically transforming out of his role to become a premier shot blocker this series.

Maybe I am confused, but I could have SWORN that Paul played in the 4th quarter last Thursday when HIS team got outscored at HOME by 40 to 15 and HE ONLY HAD 5 points!!!!!!!

Smitty77

[Beat LA]

Now they both have MORE time to commit to their real love---KIA and ALL STATE commercials.

There needs to be a new rule - once your team is out of the playoffs (if you're even there in the first place, lol ), your stupid commercials should be taken off the air.  If I have to see Chris Paul with that great p0rn 'stache one more time...haha .

[Eja117]

I have no doubt whatsoever that if you trade CBS for Doc straight up the Clippers get better immediately and we get worse immediately. I thought Doc was supposed to be some great coach.  But fair weather coaches usually aren't.