POLL: Clippers' Playoffs MVP

[Ranma]

UPDATE: I added DeAndre Jordan as an option, which reset the poll. Sorry, I didn't know that would happen, however, you can also change your vote any time as we approach the postseason. Blake was the runaway winner before the reset.

ESPN Hot Button: Paul vs. Griffin

Andy Kamenetzky, ESPN Los Angeles

CP3 isn't just the Clippers' best, most accomplished player. He's often the best player on the floor whenever they play. In an evenly matched series, a transcendent talent typically breaks the tie. Plus, he's the Clippers' unquestioned leader, the player whose cues are taken most frequently, whose personality shapes the collective.

Brian Kamenetzky, ESPN Los Angeles

The Clippers will (barring injury) be boosted by the presence of J.J. Redick. DeAndre Jordan needs to be a force. Jamal Crawford has to be dynamic. But teams don't win in the postseason unless superstars are superstars. CP3 will be CP3. Meaning for the Clippers to advance deep -- they were my preseason pick for the Finals -- Griffin has to ... wait for it ... elevate.

[Forte IV]

I chose Blake. Let's face it, he's been horrid the last two years. Even with his small injuries and the fact we went up against two defensive teams in the Grizzlies and Spurs, he still must play at the level he is now for us to succeed.

[DLaren]

-If- Blake does what he's being doing since January not only will he be the Clippers MVP, he'll be the NBA Finals MVP.

Notice how big that "if" is...

There's no doubt in my mind that CP3 will do what CP3 does; come-up big when we need him most.

I'm more concerned about Crawford, DJ, Reddick, & Blake; the core that we've built around CP3 are all career playoff under-performers. If the trend continues, CP3 will be our playoff MVP, the other guys will under-perform, and our season will be over early in the 2nd round.

Gonna be interesting to see who steps up...and who doesn't.

[Ranma]

The playoffs are where unexpected heroes make names for themselves. Sam Casell made his mark with Houston. Robert Horry became a postseason legend with his clutch shots for the Rockets and Lakers. Dennis Rodman and John Salley became Bad Boys in Detroit. J.J. Barea came up big for Dallas. Kahwi Leonard stepped up as a rookie with the Spurs.

The Clipper have plenty of players capable of breaking out in the postseason. J.J. Redick seemed to feed off pressure situations during his time at Duke and Orlando. Crawford was neutralized by both Vinny and Memphis during last postseason, but hopefully, Doc will produce different results with him. Who knows about DJ but he'll need to be more physical. Can Jared Dudley wake up from his funk during the playoffs? Maybe Collison will be the one to show everyone that he's capable of more than expected.

It will be an opportunity for not only Paul and Griffin to shine, but the team as a whole. That has to be the mindset we have in order for the team to thrive.

[TheNewEra]

Think JJ will be a huge x factor if he can stay healthy and gel with starters.

[Neddy]

can i pick DJ?

i expect CP3 to be CP3 come playoff time, and i expect blake to carry a huge load, although during the playoffs he won't be allowed jump over others and dunk without consequences and that could mean injuries, unless blake picks and chooses his spot for the glory.

but without DJ's constant presence on rebounding, blockshots, and timely free throw makes when being hacked, will determine how far we go imo.

[mkwest]

Blake, because we can safely assume that Paul is going to handle his business.

I've mentioned this numerous times and I'm going to mention it again. Coming into this season, I was happy with the way the roster was shaping up. We have more role players now than in previous seasons. In the past, we had former stars that were adapting to new roles and the hierarchy wasn't as clear-cut as it is now. Right now it's CP3, BG that are in a class of their own, then there's Crawford and then everyone else who know their role/game. This puts more of a pressure on the top-level guys to play to their highest level.

With the team we had in place last year with blowing teams out, our guys didn't have to exert as much. BG scored 30+ points 3 times last season. He's done it 12 times this year with 2 of those being 40+ games. Part of the reason he didn't do it as much last year is that he wasn't getting the minutes, but the primary reason is that there wasn't a need. It's a problem come playoff time because that's when he needs to bring it the most.

Paul has a switch that he flips and knows how to turn it on. He can afford to coast during the regular season, because he's going all out in the playoffs. Blake was young and clearly not at that level yet. We needed him to do something he basically never did in the regular season. This season, we've needed for him to step up and he has answered that call. When you can't look to your left or your right but only at yourself. That's why the CP3 injury was a blessing in disguise imo.

In the playoffs, it's all about Blake and CP period. You're in trouble if you're relying on Dudley, Barnes, Collison or even Redick to get you points on a consistent basis. They are complements or side orders. If they give you something, you gladly take it, but you don't bank on it. If we lose, nobody is going to point the finger at a Barnes, Dudley or any of the other guys. It's on the stars and the people paid to produce. I believe that Blake and Paul need to average a minimum of 55 combined points early on and may need to take it even higher than that depending on how far we get. As a whole, defense and rebounding is on everybody and an absolute necessity. Typically, you won't go far if you don't have those things.

[Neddy]

i just hope blake doesn't do too much of his high flying act come playoff time and get himself hurt. we cannot do without any one of our big 3. (well big 2 plus 1)

[Ranma]

can i pick DJ?

Since I was the only Paul voter, I went ahead and added DeAndre Jordan as an option. However, the poll reset, which I didn't know would happen. Also, you can change your vote at any time.

[Neddy]

thanks, made my vote.

but i want to be clear that I expect CP3 to perform at his best and blake to make his impact and possibly be that team MVP now. i just think that DJ's performance maybe the difference maker. if DJ performs poorly, we lose our lone low post defender and 14 rebounds per game that we cannot recover from anywhere on our roster. different shooters can get hot at different times, and superstars should play like superstars as they are getting paid the max, but DJ must play like DJ of the regular season, otherwise we will falter easily in post season.

[azncorruptedo17]

We should add bench in there lol.

I expect top play from our 2 max players. DJ/Redick/Jcross and even the Dud need to be x-factors.

[mkwest]

Unless we end up with an additional impact big in the next week or so, DJ really has to bring it. I agree with Neddy that he needs to at least be his regular season self. There cannot be a repeat of the last postseason for him if this team hopes to advance.

[mttwlsn16]

i voted blake

im confident CP will be CP, so no worries there

DJ needs to be a factor rebounding and blocking/altering shots

JJ's 3 point shooting will be key also

but to me if Blake keeps playing the way he has played since CP went out just after new years, then that is a huge help for us. hopefully we can climb up to the 2 seed.

[azncorruptedo17]

i think a big diff from pre-cp3 injury to post-cp3 injury is that in pre injury, blake wasn't looking to shoot the jumper that cp3 was giving him... post injury, he had no hesitation and finally got confidence.

now that cp3 is back, i'm hoping he now hits those shots.

[Ranma]

Given the recent play, I'm probably going to change my vote from Paul to Griffin but a couple of SI writers are currently leaning towards Paul.

Rob Mahoney & Ben Golliver, Sports Illustrated (3/13/14)

We know the MVP award is a two-man competition, but who deserves to be No. 3 in the voting?

Mahoney: Chris Paul. Honestly, this frequency with which I’ve seen this topic discussed confuses me. The third-best player in the NBA has apparently slipped out of focus, due in part to injury and the development of Clipper teammate Blake Griffin. Through it all, Paul remains both the best point guard in the game and a deserving bronze. So few players can shape a game like he can, and fewer still can exert such a profound influence on both ends of the floor.

I can understand the temptation to reward one of the game’s many other outstanding superstars, but let’s not use Paul’s injury as a vehicle for the unheralded. At this point Paul has played in over 70 percent of the Clippers’ games this season and counting. Los Angeles fared well enough in his absence, but when Paul plays the Clips outscore their opponents by 10.9 points per 100 possessions — a mark that would lead the league by a mile. He is the ingredient that elevates L.A. from very good to very dangerous, and for that he rarely receives enough credit.

We can piece together why that’s been the case. Griffin has had a great year, and true to narrative has taken on greater creative responsibility over the course of this season. DeAndre Jordan is more productive than ever, and has been under the microscope in his first season under Doc Rivers. J.J. Redick, Darren Collison, Glen Davis and Danny Granger have all made ripples as new acquisitions this season, stealing a headline or two from Paul along the way. Even beyond that, Paul George, Stephen Curry, Kevin Love, and Joakim Noah have all had their moment in the sun, while the biggest story line of Paul’s season came from injury.

I just don’t see any reason to demerit the work of a great player who, in my mind, well surpasses the conditions of overall impact necessary to qualify for MVP consideration. Paul is the best player in the league not named LeBron or Durant in the midst of a season that befits that standing. Let’s not make the No. 3 slot on the MVP ballot any more difficult than that.

Golliver: Paul George...

While I think Griffin’s season (24.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists) is worthy of serious praise, I still see Paul as the more indispensable piece for the Clippers. Indeed, if Paul maintains good health for the rest of the season and the Clippers continue their winning ways, he would leapfrog over George for the No. 3 spot on my ballot.

Give and Go: MVP race, NBA’s third-best player, fake titles and more awards debates

[Ranma]

Bill Simmons, Grantland (3/12/14)

Q: The NBA has to start over and you are building a team from scratch. Which power forward do you take to build this team around? Love or Griffin?
—George B, London

SG: Let’s see one Kevin Love team finish over .500 before we compare him to the league’s no. 3 MVP choice and breakout superstar.

NBA Bag: The Phil Jackson–to-the-Knicks Theory

[okpistolpete]

I'd like to add Doc Rivers into the conversation.

- No VDN collapses.

- No struggles/confusion when it transitions to a half-court game.

- No lack of motivation/confidence building (especially for DJ).

- Expert out-of-timeout plays, which are crucial in close playoff games.

- Not letting the team get too high after big wins or too low after big losses.

[Ranma]

I'd like to add Doc Rivers into the conversation.

If more people call for it, I can add Doc to the poll and whomever else, but that would reset the results again.

[Ranma]

[Neddy]

we are the only team with 2 guys in top 10 MVP race list. hell we have 2 of the top 5. we are a legitimate candidate to win it all this year. blake needs to not shrink or get injured in the limelight of the playoffs. CP3 also needs to act like he's been there before. but i like our chances.