Chris Paul 21-22 Thread

[ardee]

I am one of the many bandwagoning for CP3 title the rest of the playoffs

one of my biggest hot takes is that prime chris paul is comparable to curry as a player

he creates comparable offense results, is a bit better defender and even in impact metrics (like RAPM) that absolutely adore curry paul is up there with him

the rings will always make that argument a non starter with most people tho

Absolutely when considering 2008 and 2009 Paul, bigger question is whether Clippers one is still comparable, maybe. Curry/Paul is similar to Duncan/KG and will most likely split ringz people from advanced stats ones well in the future.

I think in 2015 Chris Paul was the best player in the league, so he was comparable to Curry that year.

I think after that though Curry upped his volume while maintaining efficiency and pulled away a bit. 2016 and 2017 Curry was in the ballpark of peak LeBron impact wise, and I don't see CP3 as THAT good.

It's Paul's longevity that makes him comparable to Curry.

Curious, where do you have the two of them in your ATL?

[Dr Positivity]

Curious, where do you have the two of them in your ATL?

I think around 14-17 range for both. I'd have Paul slightly ahead of Curry for now.

[ardee]

Curious, where do you have the two of them in your ATL?

I think around 14-17 range for both. I'd have Paul slightly ahead of Curry for now.

Could you actually share your top 20? Curious as to where it's at after all these years.

[LukaTheGOAT]

CP3 is shooting 59% on 10-16 ft this year. That has to be some kind of record I feel for high-volume guys for that group.

[tsherkin]

CP3 is shooting 59% on 10-16 ft this year. That has to be some kind of record I feel for high-volume guys for that group.

He is also finishing at 72% inside 3 feet and banging away at 48.2% from 16-23 feet.

[Lost92Bricks]

Watch on YouTube

This early Clippers version of him is when he was at his best (post-knee injury in 2010).

These years never get talked about. He didn't have to rely on jumpshots, he could get by defenders and get to the paint. And his defense was at it's peak. And he could play heavy minutes.

His 2012 year especially is extremely underrated and he was clearly better than he was in 2015.

Imagine that era of him on this current Suns team instead of him currently as an old man.

[Colbinii]

Watch on YouTube

This early Clippers version of him is when he was at his best (post-knee injury in 2010).

These years never get talked about. He didn't have to rely on jumpshots, he could get by defenders and get to the paint. And his defense was at it's peak. And he could play heavy minutes.

His 2012 year especially is extremely underrated and he was clearly better than he was in 2015.

Imagine that era of him on this current Suns team instead of him currently as an old man.

Its actually crazy how much Ayton has followed Chris Paul's leadership. Many big men of his talent level wouldn't be as efficient but he is like a big man Chris Paul.

[DirtyDez]

After that legacy performance I just moved him above Parker all time (subject to change on Friday).

[HeartBreakKid]

Good thing the Suns didn't lose or this was about to become a legacy series for CP3.

[tsherkin]

Good thing the Suns didn't lose or this was about to become a legacy series for CP3.

I mean, it's becoming a legacy series anyway. That's 4 games now across these playoffs where he's authored some major magic. Two games with 19 points in the fourth, then a 14/14 game. Then this.

Paul's final lines:

On the game: 28 points, 6 boards, 8 assists, 3 turnovers, 11/16 FG, 1/2 3P, 5/5 FT

In the fourth:

14 points, 6/7 shooting, a steal, a rebound and two assists.

Just another masterful performance.

[Jaivl]

Typical Paul to only perform decently when the pressure is off (because they dominated, because Paul played so good).

[Gooner]

Paul's longevity is something I would have never expected. He always had so many injuries, but now he is playing maybe his best basketball at the age of 37. The whole paradigm in sports has changed now, athletes in their 30's aren't considered old anymore, they are just more experienced, and it gives them the advantage over younger players.

[ShotCreator]

Paul's longevity is something I would have never expected. He always had so many injuries, but now he is playing maybe his best basketball at the age of 37. The whole paradigm in sports has changed now, athletes in their 30's aren't considered old anymore, they are just more experienced, and it gives them the advantage over younger players.

There are barely any players 35+ years old.

It is definitely still old and CP3 is definitely post-prime.

Phoenix is the best fit of his career and they’re facing the worst teams of his career.

[TroubleS0me]

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

[falcolombardi]

can we take a moment to appreciate that chris has declined less at 37 than harden at 33?

hell he is arguably declining less than -curry- at 34 although that still is more arguable

[parsnips33]

can we take a moment to appreciate that chris has declined less at 37 than harden at 33?

hell he is arguably declining less than -curry- at 34 although that still is more arguable

I'm not ready to bury Harden yet, I really think what we're seeing from him is more lingering effect of his hamstring than natural decline, although it's not necessarily easy to separate the two

CP was viewed as a negative contract at 33 a year after his hamstring injury

[trex_8063]

Paul's longevity is something I would have never expected. He always had so many injuries, but now he is playing maybe his best basketball at the age of 37. The whole paradigm in sports has changed now, athletes in their 30's aren't considered old anymore, they are just more experienced, and it gives them the advantage over younger players.

There are barely any players 35+ years old.

It is definitely still old and CP3 is definitely post-prime.

To be precise: of the 605 players who played at least 1 game this season, only 22 of them [3.64%] were 35+ years of age this year (and only 12 [1.98%] were 36+ years of age [the category Paul falls into]).

Of the 22 players 35+ years old, only fifteen of them managed to play 40 games and/or 700 total minutes this season.
Only about FIVE of them are still managing to play at what might be called a high(ish) level at this age: Lebron, CP3, Al Horford, Kyle Lowry, +/- LaMarcus Aldridge???

Only two are still playing at a legitimately elite or near-elite level: Lebron and Chris Paul.

[HeartBreakKid]

Yeah I mean like look at CP3's draft class...ain't too many of them doing much these days.

Certainly not an era where 37 year olds are supposed to be as good as CP.

[Gooner]

Paul's longevity is something I would have never expected. He always had so many injuries, but now he is playing maybe his best basketball at the age of 37. The whole paradigm in sports has changed now, athletes in their 30's aren't considered old anymore, they are just more experienced, and it gives them the advantage over younger players.

There are barely any players 35+ years old.

It is definitely still old and CP3 is definitely post-prime.

To be precise: of the 605 players who played at least 1 game this season, only 22 of them [3.64%] were 35+ years of age this year (and only 12 [1.98%] were 36+ years of age [the category Paul falls into]).

Of the 22 players 35+ years old, only fifteen of them managed to play 40 games and/or 700 total minutes this season.
Only about FIVE of them are still managing to play at what might be called a high(ish) level at this age: Lebron, CP3, Al Horford, Kyle Lowry, +/- LaMarcus Aldridge???

Only two are still playing at a legitimately elite or near-elite level: Lebron and Chris Paul.

My point is that CP3 is the best example of how longevity has increased in basketball and throughout sports in general. There are many players in their 30's now that aren't showing any signs of decline. Curry is 34, and he is still doint his thing. KD is 33 coming off of achilles injury, and he still carried his team throughout the season without showing a visible decline. Jimmy Butler is 32 and he is as good as ever. But to do what CP does at the age of 37 is something that nobody else has done in a long time. Maybe we will see it in the future, but right now, CP stands out.

[frica]

There are barely any players 35+ years old.

It is definitely still old and CP3 is definitely post-prime.

To be precise: of the 605 players who played at least 1 game this season, only 22 of them [3.64%] were 35+ years of age this year (and only 12 [1.98%] were 36+ years of age [the category Paul falls into]).

Of the 22 players 35+ years old, only fifteen of them managed to play 40 games and/or 700 total minutes this season.
Only about FIVE of them are still managing to play at what might be called a high(ish) level at this age: Lebron, CP3, Al Horford, Kyle Lowry, +/- LaMarcus Aldridge???

Only two are still playing at a legitimately elite or near-elite level: Lebron and Chris Paul.

My point is that CP3 is the best example of how longevity has increased in basketball and throughout sports in general. There are many players in their 30's now that aren't showing any signs of decline. Curry is 34, and he is still doint his thing. KD is 33 coming off of achilles injury, and he still carried his team throughout the season without showing a visible decline. Jimmy Butler is 32 and he is as good as ever. But to do what CP does at the age of 37 is something that nobody else has done in a long time. Maybe we will see it in the future, but right now, CP stands out.

You shouldn't use a few outliers to support your argument, outliers will always be outliers.
The data doesn't support what you're saying about "increased longevity"

Modern NBA is a young man's game.





Also Curry is clearly declined.
KD... Dominique Wilkins also tore his achilles and came back very strong.

What CP3 is doing at 37 is pretty much unprecented, and looking at the data it's even more unprecedented relative to era.