Clippers' Paul endures heat of championship expectations

[mkwest]

Chris Paul is one of my favorite players. I've spent the past month wondering how he's dealing with the championship expectations no one saw coming. James knew what he was stepping into when he signed with Miami. Plus, he'd already dealt with championship expectations in Cleveland. Dr. J, Bird, Jordan, Shaq, Dirk and I all went into multiple seasons knowing our ultimate goal was hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

Paul is one of the best point guards in the game today because he plays from the neck up and not the neck down. He is not the fastest player in the game nor is he the highest jumper. When you have mastered the study of movement and patterns -- termed offense and defense -- regardless of size or weight you can control the game. Every action causes a reaction. When the ball is in Paul's hands he controls the movement of the nine other players on the court. Only when the ball is in his hands does he have that power!

I have watched Paul's journey through the NBA from his early years in New Orleans to present day with the Clippers. I remember when my childhood friend Darrell Walker, who is now an NBA assistant coach in New York and was formerly an assistant in New Orleans, called me and said these words: "Chris Paul has it. I don't know what 'it' is, but he has it. He sees everything that is happening on the court."

There are certain phrases and words when spoken that I hear louder than others. "He sees everything" is one of those phrases. It is impossible to see everything on the court unless you have eyes in the back of your head. I have not seen nor played against this four-eyed monster. However,if you can acquire and apply the basketball science of defensive movement and offensive patterns, not only can you predict the outcome but you can control the outcome in your basketball laboratory -- the court. You can't control your teammates' shot making, but you can always lead them to a good shot. If you do a little homework and find out what your teammate's favorite spot to shoot from is, you can get him in a position to shoot from there every time.

Isiah Thomas, NBA.com

[og15]

Interesting article by Isaiah Thomas, CP is a great student of the game, spends a lot of time on Synergy sports. Hopefully this season continues to be successful al the way till June.

[Don Tommy]

This reminded me of the beginning of Bill Simmons "The Book of Basketball". He talked about what made Isiah great and said it was "The Secret". Sounds like CP3 knows the secret!