Chris Paul impact is paying huge dividends on young core!
Here’s the thing about Chris Paul – he single handedly brought back the OKC Thunder from the 26 point deficit to beat the Bulls. So with the Thunder down 21 in this match the thinking would be – okay so give the ball to CP3 and get out of the way.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhh, but there is the value of Paul. It may be an overstep to say we expect what Danilo Gallinari and Steven Adams did because of their veteran savvy although it was no less important to the win (as the grades detailed).
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What isn’t a given was how Dennis Schroder and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stepped up with both being vital to the comeback. Schroder was the primary scorer but SGA made some critical plays and scores during the comeback as well.
It could be argued this is because they witnessed first hand how to take over a game and although I wasn’t in the locker room I’d bet Paul’s message after the Bulls win was okay – so if we do this as a team it will make our job easier and the opponents’ job more difficult.
That Gilgeous-Alexander and Schroder delivered only speaks to the value of Paul’s leadership and influence.
And, of course, CP3 still was crucial in the comeback but it’s his patience, calming effect and game management which are the most noteworthy. Each is tied to his leadership and based on the efforts made last night it’s rubbing off on both his understudies!
Charles Barkley has often referred to Paul as the best leader in the NBA. OKC Thunder fans are getting to witness that character trait up close.
Although it takes the entire team there really is no denying Paul’s effect on this team and perhaps ‘the best’ can be argued but based on how this team contends and who stirs the drink I’d say Sir Charles has a point.