Chris Paul Ranked Second Best in the NBA by ESPN
On Monday, ESPN began counting down their top 3 players in the NBA based on their ESPN Forecast Panel’s scores, which started with Anthony Davis at number three. ESPN has been counting down from 500 since September 22.
Chris Paul followed Davis as the second best player in the NBA, according to ESPN’s Forecast Panel.
Paul, who is generally regarded as the best point guard in the NBA, received a score of 9.34 out of 10 by the 210 members of ESPN’s Forecast Panel.
#NBArank 2: Chris Paul (@CP3). http://t.co/5uYuCDthlG pic.twitter.com/Fhf6CAO2cS
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) October 28, 2014
Chris Paul led the entire NBA in points off of pick and rolls last season, with 8.8 points off of pick and rolls. Paul also led the league in assists per game (10.7) and steals per game (2.5).
Durability has always been an issue with Paul, as he’s missed at least 10 games in the three seasons that he has spent in Los Angeles.
With a rejuvenated Clippers roster due to their enthusiastic new owner, this could finally be the year where Chris Paul and Blake Griffin bring a championship to the Clippers and make the team the official kings of Los Angeles.
Chris Paul’s teammate, all-star power forward Blake Griffin, ranked as the fifth best player in the NBA, according to ESPN, receiving a score of 9.02 out of 10.
#NBArank 5: Blake Griffin (@blakegriffin32). http://t.co/Jt0GmeN2C6 pic.twitter.com/ZVjRiSyFNL
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) October 27, 2014
With two of the top five players in the NBA and an improving big man in DeAndre Jordan, the Clippers are one of three favorites to win the western conference this season along with the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder.
Chris Paul and Blake Griffin led the Clippers to the western conference semi-finals last season, where they lost in 6 games to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Before the Clippers were bought by Steve Ballmer, Chris Paul and head coach Doc Rivers threatened to sit out for the entire 2014-2015 NBA season if former Clippers owner Donald Sterling remained the team’s owner.
“Sitting out is something that both Doc and I have talked about. Something has to happen, and something needs to happen soon. Sooner rather than later.”
As the Clippers season opener is set to take place on October 30 in Los Angeles against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Clippers have released a video reminding everyone that Donald Sterling is no longer the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEmUyb5lqG4
Chris Paul, who will not sit out this season thanks to new ownership, averaged 19.1 points, 10.7 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.5 steals while making first team all-defense and first team all-NBA last season.
Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and the rest of the Clippers open their season tomorrow night at 10:30 p.m. eastern time on TNT.
[Image via Kelley L Cox/USA Today Sports]
