Chris Paul is so effin' smart, one of the smartest players I've ever seen. That's what he gives us that Harden doesn't. No knock on Harden, who's a very intelligent player himself, but whereas James is brilliant at reading a play in the moment (especially a defense), CP3 sees things on a game level, which Harden never has. James is too easily rattled and loses sight of the big picture, but CP3 never does. Example: Last night against the Jazz we started strong, then quickly lost our focus and energy. Next thing you know, the Jazz are up by double digits early in the second quarter and are threatening to blow it wide open. While Harden is busy playing in the moment to fight our way back, CP3 understands that the momentum is dangerously in the Jazz's favor and the way to get back into the game is to change that immediately. We can work toward lowering the deficit afterward, but the Jazz-momentum needs to stop ASAP. So he purposely manufactures a hard foul on a screen, with the intention of pitching a fit to the ref and drawing a tech. We've all seen coaches draw techs on purpose to kill momentum or to light a fire under their own players, but CP3 is making that call from the court. He knows he can't wait and see if MDA gets around to doing this because something needs to happen now. He steps into a hard screen, takes a shoulder to the jaw (probably harder that he expected), then rushes at the ref like a madman. Even though the ref didn't give him the tech he wanted, the game stopped as the crew took a few minutes to review the play, and the Jazz momentum died a peaceful death while the refs were talking to Secaucus. That play was no accident. It happened with just under 8 minutes left in the second quarter, and the Jazz up by 13. CP3 takes the hit, embellishes a little, then pitches a fit. From that point on, the Rox outscored Utah by 24 points. That was the key play in the entire game. Luc's inspired fourth quarter was awesome to watch, but I credit CP3 with the win. Sure, he's got a multitude of other assets and abilities, and Harden might be the most difficult player in the league to guard, but if we win a title this year, CP3's brain is going to play a major role. TL;DR: Chris Paul is a smart, smart player who will do whatever it takes to win.
I can't wait to watch CP3 and Harden eliminating teams from the playoffs one by one in crunch time. Different team this year. Different vibe and a Different gear. They have already showed on several occasions that they will coast through a game and either take a big lead or decide to put the clamps on and run away from a team. It happens without fail, every game.
Chris Paul and James Harden compliment each other perfectly. The greatest back court ever! The best offensive team of all time!
This is why CP3 is known as Point God. He understands the game at a molecular level and because of that, is able to succeed despite his physical advantages.
It was CP3's brain that schemed his way onto this team in the first place. He saw the potential of pairing up with Harden well before anyone else did, and knew this was where he needed to be. He truly was wasted under Doc. Basketball Reasons really altered the basketball universe and changed the trajectory of several teams.
Interesting take. I also love CP3's game, but my sense is that rather than him having some cunning plan in that moment he took that screen, he had maintained a bulldog-like intensity in the face of what was developing into an ugly road loss. With that fire in the belly, when he got thumped, he bounced up ready to kick someone's @$$. His motor runs high, and it's a great fit for this team, and complement to Harden's energy.
One thing you notice every game is CP3 and his brain knows exactly the foul situation and that’s when he goes into contact and uses savvy moves away from the hoop just to get two free throws. BBIQ off the charts
CP3 is not just smart, he is clever. I always feel more confident when he comes on the floor. If can just keep Harden out of the clubs during the playoffs.
There was another game where it was close and the Rockets seemed to be a little scatter-brained. So CP grabs the ball from a make of the opponent, holds it til the offense is set in place(because the defense is pressuring the in bounds), then passes it to the ref. Who then passes it to, I believe Tucker, to inbounds the pass back to CP. The whole thing took no more than 5 seconds but the awareness to know that the full court pressure was coming for the in bounds and grabbing the ball so that everyone could get set for an easier in bound pass was amazing and incredibly smart. Chris was exactly what this team was missing and thats a floor leader/general.
