IT’S HIS TIME
One of the greatest point guards in history is just four wins away from his first NBA Finals
One of the game’s greats, Chris Paul has his best chance at his first NBA Finals.
CP3 was doing this before any of them.
James Harden and Kevin Durant. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
Chris Paul took over games. Owned the hardwood as a one-man show. Absolutely dominated (while infuriating) his opponents, doing things with a basketball that normally aren’t humanly impossible.
The NBA saw the triumphant return of the old wow’em-with-everything CP3 as Paul propelled his new team into the Western Conference finals for just the second time since 1997.
The Rockets are going to need more of the same against the overloaded Golden State Warriors, the only thing standing in the way of Paul’s first NBA Finals appearance.
“Couldn’t happen for a better guy; he’s been working all year for this,” said Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni after Paul poured in a playoff career-high 41 points, sank eight 3-pointers, dished out 10 assists and recorded seven rebounds during the Rockets’ series-clinching win against Utah on Tuesday. “We’re halfway home, and we know we haven’t done anything yet, but this was huge for us.”
A mentor of Curry
Game 1 of the conference finals Monday night at Toyota Center will represent a high point in Paul’s otherwise magical 13-year career, which should end up honored in the Basketball Hall of Fame. It’s also a reminder that Paul, like D’Antoni, deserves to reach the NBA’s final stage at least once in his career. Since 2005, few have meant more to the league.
Eight years ago, Deron Williams or CP3 was a real NBA conversation.
A decade ago, Paul made his first All-Star team with New Orleans, leading the NBA in assists and steals and reaching an elite level that has been limited only by his team’s shortcomings in the playoffs.
Before Curry became a twotime league MVP, the former Davidson guard honed his work ethic by learning from Paul. As Golden State prepared for its fourth consecutive conference finals, the Warriors superstar referred to Paul as an ideal mentor.
"He demonstrated firsthand what it takes to be great in this league," Curry told reporters.
The No. 4 overall pick of the 2005 draft has been an ambassador for the NBA on and off the court. He embraced Houston’s community while still honoring his Los Angeles ties. And the best regular season in Rockets history was ultimately set up by Paul’s seamless pairing with Harden as the star duo shared positions, leadership roles, national TV commercials … and the same ball.
Game 4 against the Jazz — defense and half-court grit capturing the night; the Rockets winning back-to-back contests in Salt Lake City — highlighted Paul’s importance to the Rockets, which has only grown as his one-year anniversary in red has approached. Game 5 was the ultimate proof. On a night when Harden was noticeably ill and off-target, CP3 reached back to his NBA youth and reminded the basketball world why he’s long been one of the league’s most-fascinating athletes with the ball in hand.
“Unbelievable. He went out there and took over the game,” Harden said. “Especially for an opportunity that he’s never had before, he went to go get it. He put it all on his back and said, ‘Listen, I got us.’ That’s big time right there. He got in his bag, he called everybody off, he said, ‘You get out the way.’ ”
Paul became the first player in the NBA playoffs to record at least 40 points and 10 assists without committing a turnover since that last category became an official state in 1977-78.
With the win — the Rockets’ 73rd this year, combining the 82-game season and playoffs — Paul’s team moved to 27-3 when he scored at least 20 points. ‘One of his best’ games
Harden is the expected league MVP and had his best regular season. Paul has been a perfect counterpart and can still own the court when the spotlight calls his name.
“That fourth quarter, he just took over,” Luc Mbah A Moute said. “I’ve seen it in his eyes before, and I saw it again. … That’s probably one of his best performances I’ve seen.”
Toyota Center roared, with the Warriors and conference finals finally in sight after a seven-month build up.
“CP3! CP3! CP3!” Another 3, another Rockets W.
“Whatever it took to win,” said Paul, who seemingly can’t sit behind a postgame playoff stage without Harden, his friend and teammate, nearby.
The questions were silly at the start. Now they just look lost. Did Daryl Morey give up too much for an aging point guard? Would Paul drag Harden down?
CP3 carried the Rockets into the Western Conference finals.
One of the greatest point guards in NBA history is now four wins away from reaching the real Finals.
Paul belongs on basketball’s grandest stage.