Monstrous in the regular season every year, Chris Paul seems to be a black cat when it comes to the playoffs. The leader of the Suns has indeed a lot of pots in postseason to his credit. Asked about the subject, his future opponent LeBron James was as frank as possible towards CP3.
If he has always been an excellent player since his draft in 2005, Chris Paul has never been further than the conference finals (in 2018 with the Rockets). A real black spot in the career of the former Clipper, who has been carrying around for quite some time a not very shining cap of looser when starting the postseason.
Among his “feats of arms”, there is in particular a 3-1 lead wasted in 2014 against Houston, while he was playing for LA. For LeBron James, however, this in no way defines the level of Point God. In a video interview with several reporters, the Lakers winger, who will face Phoenix in the first round, explained that he did not judge his opponents by their trophy cabinet:
I think you know me now. I think it’s not in my character traits. I’m not really talking about my exploits, or what I was able to do. And our friendship is beyond that. So I am not one of those who talk about what I have. I think it’s very superficial. It’s unworthy of me, personally. So I don’t get involved in it.
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The four-time NBA champion could hardly be clearer on the matter. Each season is different from the last, and there is therefore no point in trying to compare them with each other. LeBron also adds a layer by citing two other of his opponents in the league, whose basketball IQ is similar to that of Paul, whom he respects enormously:
Whenever I have faced Rondo in the past, I knew I had to be not only on top of my game, but also of my mind. And it’s the same with Draymond, whenever you face these Warriors teams. So I had experiences with these two guys which will definitely help me measure up against CP as I know the competitor and IQ of the basketball player that he is.
Indeed, there is no denying the fact that the Suns point guard has a simply phenomenal basketball brain, which means that he is also capable of learning from his mistakes. We will therefore have to be wary of the Cacti on the Los Angeles side, CP3 also forming an extremely dangerous backckourt with Devin Booker. If Phoenix finished second in the West this season, the former Clipper has a lot to do with it.
Chess in the playoffs or not, Chris Paul remains a superb player in the eyes of LeBron James. A beautiful mark of friendship towards the leader of the Suns, who should not however give him a gift on this series. We are sure that LBJ expects nothing less.
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