A closer look at Paul's playoff resume
Chris Paul has been a Western Conference mainstay for 15 years, but only once did he face the Thunder in the playoffs.
That 2014 second- round series between the Thunder and Clippers was an early knock against Paul's playoff resume. With the series tied 2-2, the Clippers held a seven-point lead with less than a minute left in Game 5 at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Two turnovers from Paul in the final minute, and a controversial foul call against Paul on a Russell Westbrook 3- pointer, doomed the Clippers, who went on to lose the series.
Now a member of the Thunder, Paul is set to begin his 12 th post season and 18th playoff series when the Thunder and Rockets tip off Tuesday night in the bubble. Paul led the NBA in clutch points this season, but crunchtime heroics haven't defined his playoff career.
Paul, one of the best point guards of his generation, has advanced to the conference finals one time — in 2018 with the Rockets. Before then, Paul had the title of most career playoff games without a conference finals appearance.
But the perception of Paul underperforming in the playoffs is overblown. He ranks sixth all-time in NBA playoff player efficiency rating. The five players ahead of him? Michael Jordan, George Mikan, Le B ron James, Sh aquil le O'Neal and Hakeem Olajuwon.
The players just behind Paul are Kevin Durant and Tim Duncan.
In 102 playoff games, Paul has averaged 20.9 points, 8.5 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game. Those numbers are in line, or better, with his career regular season averages of 18.5 points, 9.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds.
Paul is a career 47.1% shooter in the regular season. In the playoffs? 47.7%.
Paul's lack of deep playoff runs are no doubt one of the few holes on his hall of fame resume, but not all losses are equal.
The Donald Sterling saga understandably affected the Clippers in 2014.
In 2015, Paul hit the winning shot in Game 7 against the Spurs. The Clippers then collapsed in the second round, blowing a 3-1 lead against the Rockets.
Paul missed Games 5 and 6 in a 2016 first-round loss to the Trail Blazers.
In 2017, Paul shot just 6-of19 in Game 7 against the Jazz — Paul's final game with the Clippers.
The Warriors eliminated the Rockets during Paul's two seasons in Houston.
If Paul hadn't suffered a hamstring injury in Game 5 of the 2018 Western Conference Finals, maybe the Warriors dynasty ends a year early. Maybe Paul, James Harden and the Rockets beat the Cavaliers to win the title.
Now though, it's another “what if” in NBA history.
This postseason, aside from being played in a bubble, will be unique for Paul. The pressure he faced on loaded Clippers and Rockets teams isn't looming over the Thunder.
Much of his supporting cast is young, and will no doubt follow his lead.
“The best teacher is experience,” Paul said. “We can talk about it as much as we want to, but we just gotta go out there and play now. No one expected us to be here. We're gonna continue to have fun, continue to play together and go out here and hoop.”