In spite of how hard it is to watch your favorite team lose every night, there is a certain pride in watching former OKC Thunder players succeed.
Witnessing the success of Chris Paul with Phoenix is a prime example. It can’t help but have Thunder Nation reflect on the magical season of 2019-20 and just how close the overachieving club came to advancing to the second round of the postseason.
Perspective is important – but again, it’s a bitter pill to swallow. By the same token, Intentions is happy for the Point God’s success and hopes he gets real consideration for Most Valuable Player as he displays what the award is meant to embody.
Former OKC Thunder captain Chris Paul could be 2020-21 MVP
While many top players have suffered an injury this season or sat for rest Chris Paul has played in all but one game. So much for that tag of CP3 being injury prone.
Statistically, Paul leads the Suns in assists (8.7) and steals (1.4). He’s second in scoring (16.2) and third in rebounding (4.6).
Yet, the Point God’s true strength is his leadership. OKC Thunder got to see it first hand and the effect it had on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander specifically but also on Darius Bazley and Lu Dort.
This season that tutelage is paying massive dividends for Booker and the other young Suns. Big man Deandre Ayton has progressively improved throughout the year while Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson are both seemingly improving each game they play beside Paul.
The other big factor replicated by Paul with Phoenix is his clutch time prowess. If you’ve caught any of the Suns’ matches aside from the Thunder contests a common theme is Paul gets everyone rolling but when the game reaches clutch time he imparts his will on the game.
Paul has legitimate competition to win the MVP award. The main challengers are Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, Donovan Mitchell, LeBron James, or one of the Nets.
In a shortened season missing double-digit games won’t help individual efforts. For that reason, it’s likely Joel Embiid (19), James (21), and Mitchell (15 and counting) won’t make the final cut.
Likewise, each of the Nets Big 3 have missed games and likely cancel each other out.
Therefore, the most likely challenger to Paul is Nikola Jokic whose Nuggets are continuing to win in spite of losing Jamal Murray to a season-ending torn ACL.
While CP3 has Devin Booker, Jokic doesn’t have a comparable star although Michael Porter Jr. is proving to have star potential. Plus, Jokic has the benefit of roster constancy.
One area Paul put his imprint on last season in OKC was clutch time when he became the most lethal in that section of games and subsequently, the Thunder definitive led the league in clutch time. Although the Suns aren’t dominating like the Thunder squad they still rank third in clutch time win percentage and fourth in clutch victories. Last season the Suns ranked 19th in both categories so it’s not a reach to say this is Chris Paul’s effect.
Ultimately, records should factor and the team’s improvement over last season. That bodes well for Paul given a win today will push the Suns back to the top rung while they failed to make the postseason in 2019-20.
The Nuggets hold the third seed trailing Phoenix by 2.5 games. A Phoenix victory today will push that lead to three games and move them back to first.
Its disappointing Gilgeous-Alexander won’t play in this match just to see the mentor and student go at each other. SGA showed off his skills versus his mentor in that first meeting with 21 points, seven rebounds, eight assists, two steals, and two blocks – powering OKC to the victory.
Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait for next season to witness the rematch. And maybe, just maybe — be lauding the return of the 2020-21 MVP!