Clippers are a happier team without CP3

[Quake Griffin]

LMAO...we wouldn't even have Doc if this dude didn't pressure our organization into bettering itself and making a move to get him so he could re-sign here.

^We wouldn't have Doc is we didn't have CP either just to add on to that.

did we just say the same thing?

[og15]

LMAO...we wouldn't even have Doc if this dude didn't pressure our organization into bettering itself and making a move to get him so he could re-sign here.

^We wouldn't have Doc is we didn't have CP either just to add on to that.

did we just say the same thing?

haha, for some reason, I thought you meant if a Doc didn't pressure the organization which actually makes no sense. Reading comprehension fail on my part

[illastrate]

This thread is hilarious. Yes, we're 8-3 since CP3 injured his shoulder. Yes, the ball is moving. But also, look at our losses...2 out of the 3 were blowouts vs the Spurs and Pacers. Without CP, we can handle below to above average teams with ease, but we don't stand a chance vs the elite teams.

If you don't recall, Blake was beasting in the few games before CP's injury. He was already looking for his shot. And also, Redick came back right after CP went down. CP will have all these weapons at his disposal when he returns. And we may be playing our best ball in March and April.

So if we're a "happier team without CP3", how happy will this team be if and when we're playing late into the postseason WITH CP3?

[og15]

Well, look at our wins too.

Dallas (good win)
Raptors (usually good, but lost DeRozan and Patterson during the game)
Pistons
Bulls (not bad, something like 13-6 post Deng trade, didn't check opponent strength, but still, okay, I checked and a lot of bad teams, but still)
Knicks
Lakers
Celtics
Magic

Yes, you want to beat the bad teams, but let's not be those fans who get carried away and take more than is implied from that. We were 10-4 (.714, 59 win pace) in the 14 games before Paul got injured and that was without Redick and with some losses we all were not pleased with. Paul also did have 19 pts in 21 minutes on 8 FGA in the Dallas game, that certainly helped in winning the game. The schedule was more balanced in terms of opponent strength with a good mix of very good (#2 SAS and #3 POR in the West), good (GSW, MIN, DAL, PHO), mediocre (WAS, DEN, NOP) and poor (CHA, UTA, BOS, PHI, BKN).

Paul was averaging:
21.1 pts, 4.4 rebs, 10.1 assists, 2.6 stls, 49.3% FG, 45.5% 3PT, 2.3 tov, .597 TS%, 34.4 mins

Blake was averaging:
24.4 pts, 10.5 rebs, 3.0 assists, 51.7% FG, 75.6% FT, .590 TS%, 36.6 mins

Team lost to: Phoenix, Portland, GS, Brooklyn
Good wins vs: SA, Denver, Minnesota

This was without Redick. So now insert Redick into that mix and that could have been the difference in the 2 pts loss to GS and 4 pt loss to Portland and a team that could have been 12-2 in Paul's last 14 games against a pretty balanced set of opponents.

...in the end though, they could be happier

[Ranma]

Aaron Fischman, ClipperBlog (2/8/14)

The fourth-year forward’s shooting efficiency did not only maintain itself when Chris Paul got injured; it improved.

In the 18 games since, he’s averaged 27.0 points per game (up from 22.1), but those additional 4.9 points per game came from just two more field-goal attempts per contest. That’s because Griffin made 55.4 percent of his shots over the 18-game stretch, while going to line nearly 11 times each game. He also rarely had an off-shooting night, shooting below 50 percent just twice (once was against Indiana; the other was 47 percent against Utah).

But don’t get it twisted. Just because Paul is coming back, that doesn’t mean Griffin’s “crazy basketball” will cease. Paul was watching this torrid stretch just like we were. If anyone knows how to feed the hot hand, it’s that guy.

Last Call: Los Angeles Clippers 118, Toronto Raptors 105

This topic is worth revisiting. The silver lining of Paul's absence allowed other players, particularly Griffin, to step up. BG's elevated level of excellence has even reached the point where he's at the top edge periphery of MVP discussions even as it's really a two-man race between Durant and LeBron this season.

However, there are slight--albeit legitimate--concerns of how CP3 will integrate back into the lineup. I'm not saying the team will be worse off with Chris Paul than not, but given both Paul and Griffin's affinity for playmaking, I think both players need to either be more aggressive (CP3) or continue to be assertive (BG) in looking for their shots. I love unselfish playmakers but a tendency to overly defer to others can be a detriment when the opposing defense knows that is your preference.

It's a great problem to have when we have two unselfish superstars capable of scoring on their own, but I can kind of see that mindset getting in the way of each other as they get used to playing together again.

With that said, I have little concern that things won't work themselves out eventually and soon. Paul has echoed Doc's sentiments on multiple occasions that for the Clippers to be true contenders, Blake would have to be the more dominant player. At the same time, I think the consensus in this forum is that Paul himself also needs to look for his shot more, especially early in the game, in trying to recapture his previous MVP-like form. Will Blake be comfortable in playing the role of a more dynamic David West for Paul? Will Paul embrace the role of D-Wade to Griffin's LeBron?

With two league-MVP worthy players surrounded by excellent complimentary role players like Redick, Jordan, and Crawford, this team can then start to talk about successfully emulating the Heat's championship form even without the the third of the "Big 3".

[mttwlsn16]

Starting tomorrow: Our team will be depressed.

[Verballer]

And judging by my sig,they will be a worse team also.

Chris Paul sucks doesn't he,can't believe Sterling traded for him,he should've let the Lakers sign him a rot away Kobe's last few good years

[og15]

Starting tomorrow: Our team will be depressed.

I was thinking the same thing, made me sad

[mttwlsn16]

Starting tomorrow: Our team will be depressed.

I was thinking the same thing, made me sad

The guys are probably crying in the corner in the fetal position

[Neddy]

Yo matt, i have a cousin named Elaine living in your town of Charlotte, NC who i haven't seen for over 3 decades. i think i was like, 6? the last time i saw her. and i miss her but i don't know how to reconnect, since she is half white and half korean, married to a full white guy and haven't revisited us over that same span, and i am a full blooded korean, that she may think i am just some crazed stalker she doesn't know. i have her children's photo from my mother and damn i want to say hello since my kids are close to their age and i want her kids and my kids to communicate.

damn i don't have a point other than i need to sober up. **** me.

[mttwlsn16]

[Ranma]

[TheNewEra]

They looked very happy tonight lol

[mttwlsn16]

They looked very happy tonight lol

Deep down they were mad. That's why they took out their frustration on Philly

[Ranma]

J.A. Adande, ESPN (2/10/14)

The pregame curiosity didn’t stem from if it would work so much as how it would work with Paul running the show again after Griffin had grown accustomed to occupying whatever spot on the court he wanted during Paul's absence. All parties insisted it wouldn’t be a problem, with coach Doc Rivers saying the only noticeable difference would be more outlet passes directly to Griffin, which had been a thing lately. We saw some of those, in addition to times when CP3 gave the ball to Griffin on the fast break much earlier than he usually does.

“We just kind of let it happen,” Griffin said. “If he’s out ahead, I’m going to give him the ball 99 percent of the time. But if I’m out ahead or on the side and we’ve got runners, why not. That’s something we kind of learned throughout this stretch.”

So Paul trusts Griffin with the ball in transition, while Griffin was content to return to playing off the ball in the half-court offense. It took just a couple of minutes to get that point across.

Chris Paul returns with offensive fireworks