BOSTON – The numbers that Chris Paul delivers for the Los Angeles Clippers on a nightly basis are impressive.
He came into Sunday’s game against Boston which ended with the Clippers winning 119-106, averaging more than 18 points and 10 assists per game.
If he maintains that for the season, it would be the fifth time he has finished with numbers that good, joining Magic Johnson (seven times) and Oscar Robertson (five times) as the only other players to do so in NBA history.
But as Celtics head coach Brad Stevens watched more and more of the Clippers in preparation for Sunday’s game, it was clear to him that Paul’s leadership – more than his stats – was vital to both his individual success and that of the Clippers.
“The more you watch him the more impressive he is in doing multiple things,” Stevens said. “But the biggest thing for me is just the way he manages the game. His late-game management is ridiculous. He makes the right decisions, he makes the right reads.”
Paul and company built up an enormous lead on Sunday to where late-game execution didn’t appear to be something the Clippers would need on this night.
But Boston opened the fourth quarter with a 21-6 run against the Clippers reserves to make it a 111-97 game with 4:02 to play.
Boston Celtics
Paul as well as the rest of the starters were brought back in, and were able to play the Celtics relatively even (Boston outscored Los Angeles 9-8 during the final 4:02 of play) the rest of the night and come away with the victory.
Paul had a stealth-like dominance to his game with 21 points on just 5-for-9 shooting. He also had 10 assists to lead all players.
“Paul was in charge the whole game,” Stevens said.
And that ability to produce and lead when needed is one of the many reasons why the Clippers are among the teams considered legitimate title contenders.
“If you look around the league, most of the teams right now are gearing up, playing well, finding that rhythm going into the playoffs,” said Paul whose Clippers have now won seven in a row which is the longest current winning streak in the NBA. “I think we’re playing pretty well right now.”