Chris Paul brings excitement to a Clippers organization best known for failed draft picks, injured players and front office gaffes. The acquisition of Paul turns the punch line of the NBA into a legitimate playoff contender. But can he make the Clippers a title contender?
The combination of the best pure point guard in the league and the most explosive forward, Blake Griffin, surely will result in an entertaining brand of high-flying basketball. But Griffin still needs to mature for the Clippers to produce not just highlight-reel plays but victories.
Last year as a rookie, Griffin averaged 22.5 points and 12.1 rebounds a game. But those impressive numbers resulted in a 32-50 season. To truly become one of the best forwards in the league, he needs to improve his shot selection, free throw shooting (64.2 percent) and defense.
Paul should help create some easy scoring opportunities, but Griffin can’t rely solely on alley-oops. On paper, they form the best pick-and-roll duo in the league. They need to live up to those expectations.
Also, teams need more than just two All-Stars to win a championship. Role players must embrace their new duties. Trading for Paul wasn’t the only move the Clippers made. They re-signed DeAndre Jordan, claimed Chauncey Billups off waivers and signed Caron Butler to a three-year deal.
Jordan, who blocked 1.8 shots a game last year, needs to be even more of a force defensively. Billups, who has spent his entire career playing point guard, will be asked to shift over to shooting guard at times. He’s a career 38.9 percent 3-point shooter and will be expected to hit outside shots to space the floor for Griffin and Paul. And Butler needs to emerge as the No. 3 scoring option and likely will be asked to guard the opposing team’s top perimeter scorer.
And the Clippers have one more move they need to make. They are loaded in the backcourt with Paul, Billups, Mo Williams, Randy Foye and Eric Bledsoe but lack size. With this compacted season, depth is even more critical. L.A. needs to sign another big man or trade one of its guards for a forward/center.
If things fall into place, the Clippers could compete not only for a playoff spot but for the Western Conference title.
– Jeffrey Tomik
