Cp3 finals or bust

[TheMarkMadsen]

His 3rd straight year with an extremely talented team, this year the team is more talented than ever, BG is a legit MVP candidate.

Has yet to win a game in the 2nd round as a Clipper

if he's a top 3-5 player in the league (and has been for years) like so many on ISH claim he is, then if he doesn't take this team to a finals then imo he's overrated.

Any top 5 player playing with a legit MVP candidate should be expected to take his team to the finals.

this guy gets so many passes/excuses made for him that it would make you think he's a multiple time champion..

9 years in the league, hasn't made a conference finals, is playing on one of the most talented teams in the league with a championship caliber coach, it's time to put up or shut up if Cp3 is truly a superstar

[ImKobe]

Finals or bust? Let him win ONE game in the 2nd round first. Though him coming to the Lakers got vetoed, we have at least won a 2nd round game since then.

[ArbitraryWater]

His 3rd straight year with an extremely talented team, this year the team is more talented than ever, BG is a legit MVP candidate.

Has yet to win a game in the 2nd round as a Clipper

if he's a top 3-5 player in the league (and has been for years) like so many on ISH claim he is, then if he doesn't take this team to a finals then imo he's overrated.

Any top 5 player playing with a legit MVP candidate should be expected to take his team to the finals.

this guy gets so many passes/excuses made for him that it would make you think he's a multiple time champion..

9 years in the league, hasn't made a conference finals, is playing on one of the most talented teams in the league with a championship caliber coach, it's time to put up or shut up if Cp3 is truly a superstar


5 Superstars should make the Finals every Year :coleman:


I thought the West was super stacked, Mark Mad son? (It is.) Why does CP3 HAVE to make the Finals, and not a Durant? Isn't he held to higher standarts?

The Thunder are an abject failure if they don't win it all this year. Simple as that.

Edit: They should make the Conference Finals. Win the 1st Round and go ahead to rip Thunder apart in R2... if OKC makes it there

[fpliii]

As long as he and BG are healthy, no excuses.

[red1]

Agreed if he's healthy. The guy needs to make the wcf at least. His team is too good especially considering that blake is playing like a legit mvp candidate

[IncarceratedBob]

They don't have any blatant weakness, but for some reason I just can't see them making the finals

[red1]

As long as he and BG are healthy, no excuses.
yeah

[STATUTORY]

when has CP3 ever delivered in the playoffs? :confusedshrug:

[TheMarkMadsen]

Finals or bust? Let him win ONE game in the 2nd round first. Though him coming to the Lakers got vetoed, we have at least won a 2nd round game since then.


if you don't expect him to lead a deep, talented team with a championship caliber coach and a MVP candidate further than the 2nd round then how can you consider him a top 3-5 player :confusedshrug:

[Solefade]

can't call him a top 5 player this year if he fails to make it past the 2nd round again

[red1]

when has CP3 ever delivered in the playoffs? :confusedshrug:
I think he will this year. Maybe not championship but a deep run at least

[ImKobe]

if you don't expect him to lead a deep, talented team with a championship caliber coach and a MVP candidate further than the 2nd round then how can you consider him a top 3-5 player :confusedshrug:

They are deep, but if they go up against a healthy OKC/Spurs squad, I don't really see them having a chance. The Clips have been a 4th seed since CP3 joined them(3rd this year), they've been the 3rd or 4th best team in the West, so I don't expect them to make the Finals, ever.

But winning 0 games in the 2nd round/losing in the 1st round is pathetic, they should at least be a tough outing in the Playoffs with the depth they have. I think Doc will be the difference this year & they'll push OKC/SA to 6-7 games if everyone's healthy.

[Sheik1287]

Finals or bust? Let him win ONE game in the 2nd round first. Though him coming to the Lakers got vetoed, we have at least won a 2nd round game since then.
He got to game 7 vs. the Spurs in 2nd round in 2008. Still has yet to make the conference finals though.

[Black and White]

WCF at least for me, CP3, Blake, Doc Rivers and the rest of the lineup including, DeAndre, Granger, Crawford, JJ, Dudley, Davis etc???

[All Net]

HUH?

How is it finals or bust when OKC and Spurs would be favoured over them in a series with HCA? if spurs fall off next year then NEXT YEAR WCF or bust would be right.

[ImKobe]

He got to game 7 vs. the Spurs in 2nd round in 2008. Still has yet to make the conference finals though.

I meant with the Clippers, forgot to put that in :facepalm

I guess CP3's best years are behind him & he needs Blake Griffin to step up when it matters the most. I don't think Blake is that type of a player.

[Kblaze8855]

Its finals or....first ballot hall of famer anyway.

The clippers are a top 5-6 team in the NBA. The Heat, Spurs, Thunder, Pacers, Clippers and maybe even the Rockets if they pull it together t the right time...any of them loses to any of the others its not newsworthy in any kinda "____ should be hated on for this loss" kinda way.

[ArbitraryWater]

Its finals or....first ballot hall of famer anyway.

The clippers are a top 5-6 team in the NBA. The Heat, Spurs, Thunder, Pacers, Clippers and maybe even the Rockets if they pull it together t the right time...any of them loses to any of the others its not newsworthy in any kinda "____ should be hated on for this loss" kinda way.

This. Too many great teams right now... some top team could bounce in the 1st Round in the West, wouldnt mean they failed or some kind of ish, but the other team was strong and got hot.

[Legends66NBA7]

Clippers not winning a title might be considered a disappointment for their fans. As for Paul himself, he has to perform at or above his level. No room for under performing, otherwise he will get a lot of back lash.

[Purch]

5 Superstars should make the Finals every Year :coleman:


I thought the West was super stacked, Mark Mad son? (It is.) Why does CP3 HAVE to make the Finals, and not a Durant? Isn't he held to higher standarts?

The Thunder are an abject failure if they don't win it all this year. Simple as that.

Edit: They should make the Conference Finals. Win the 1st Round and go ahead to rip Thunder apart in R2... if OKC makes it there
Well considering Durant has made both the conference finals, and the finals, and Paul has made neither..

[Rocketswin2013]

It's this in a nutshell: this season will be a failure if they lose to anybody not named OKC or San Antonio.

[All Net]

even GS are damn good and could finish 6th and lose in round one.

[red1]

HUH?

How is it finals or bust when OKC and Spurs would be favoured over them in a series with HCA? if spurs fall off next year then NEXT YEAR WCF or bust would be right.
Realistically we won't criticize him if he plays well and loses to the better team ie okc or spurs but if he really wants that god-tier top-three pointguard of all time status then he really needs to make some noise in the playoffs. He has the stats the skills and everything else to back it up but he is just missing that final piece and this is as good an opportunity as ever to show what he can do

[D-FENS]

The Clipps will get smashed when the game slows down. They'll have to play half court basketball, and you'll probably see them throwing this line-up out in the 4th quarter:
Griffin, Granger, Crawford/Barnes, Redick, Paul

[All Net]

Realistically we won't criticize him if he plays well and loses to the better team ie okc or spurs but if he really wants that god-tier top-three pointguard of all time status then he really needs to make some noise in the playoffs. He has the stats the skills and everything else to back it up but he is just missing that final piece and this is as good an opportunity as ever to show what he can do

True but Clippers have a young team and They will have chances to win the west certainly with Spurs getting older but as it stands now the Thunder and Clippers would meet in the 2nd round so Clips losing to them would be no disgrace and it would be expected certainly when most will have OKC winning the west and maybe it all.

[TheMarkMadsen]

even GS are damn good and could finish 6th and lose in round one.

but GSW don't have two top 5 players on their team

So many people claim that Cp3 impacts the game as much as a Lebron/Durant/Kobe, yet for some reason nobody holds Cp3 to the same expectations?

[SamuraiSWISH]

when has CP3 ever delivered in the playoffs? :confusedshrug:
2008
2011
2012
2013

It's usually the supporting cast letting him down.

[TheMarkMadsen]

Realistically we won't criticize him if he plays well and loses to the better team ie okc or spurs but if he really wants that god-tier top-three pointguard of all time status then he really needs to make some noise in the playoffs. He has the stats the skills and everything else to back it up but he is just missing that final piece and this is as good an opportunity as ever to show what he can do


he has the perfect opportunity this year, no more excuses for Cp3.

He's had one of the most talented teams the past 2 years but the excuse was always he didn't have a good coach

now not only does he have a great coach who is a proven winner, but he has a Blake Griffin who most (including myself) believe has improved enough to be in that top 5 player in the league discussion.

To even consider him a top 3 point guard off all time and to put him in the same sentence as Gary Payton, Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, Kidd and Frazier when Cp3 hasn't even made a conference finals in 9 years, is ridiculous

[navy]

but GSW don't have two top 5 players on their team

So many people claim that Cp3 impacts the game as much as a Lebron/Durant/Kobe, yet for some reason nobody holds Cp3 to the same expectations?

Nobody claims those those things. Besides those players have all had better supporting cast then CP3 has had. Outside of this year if you truly believe Blake Griffin has taken the next step.

[moe94]

West is super stacked and GOAT conference where anything can happen yet Paul is wack if he doesn't reach Finals. Can we pick a story please.

[navy]

Paul only has to play well. Nobody should care if he loses to OKC and the Spurs. Those are both better teams then he has.

[All Net]

but GSW don't have two top 5 players on their team

So many people claim that Cp3 impacts the game as much as a Lebron/Durant/Kobe, yet for some reason nobody holds Cp3 to the same expectations?

Nobody claims CP to be on those guys's level.

[Young X]

Realistically we won't criticize him if he plays wellThat's not true, because why do people still criticize his lack of playoff success when he raises his averages in the playoffs? If he plays well and his team loses because of his teammates injuries or them under performing people will just say those are excuses.

How he plays doesn't matter at all, it all depends on his teammates level of play - if his teammates play well, they'll win and he'll get respect, if they don't, they'll lose and he'll get criticism. How he plays has 0% to do with anything, no one looks at that, they just look at if he win or not.

[All Net]

Paul only has to play well. Nobody should care if he loses to OKC and the Spurs. Those are both better teams then he has.

Next year when Duncan/parker get even older Clips should be there with OKC and maybe beat them.Next year is when there should be no excuse to make the WCF.

[navy]

Next year when Duncan/parker get even older Clips should be there with OKC and maybe beat them.Next year is when there should be no excuse to make the WCF.
I hear that every year about the Spurs. THree straight 50-16 seasons later....

If the Clippers are the one or two seed then we'll talk about the WCF.

[Warfan]

2008
2011
2012
2013

It's usually the supporting cast letting him down.

No he played shit against the spurs iirc, but I think he did get hurt against Memphis in the series before though.

[JimmyMcAdocious]

That's not true, because why do people still criticize his lack of playoff success when he raises his averages in the playoffs? If he plays well and his team loses because of his teammates injuries or them under performing people will just say those are excuses.

How he plays doesn't matter at all, it all depends on his teammates level of play - if his teammates play well, they'll win and he'll get respect, if they don't, they'll lose and he'll get criticism. How he plays has 0% to do with anything, no one looks at that, they just look at if he win or not.

As what happens with all supposed star players. They win they get the glory. They lose to get the blame.

Barkley had a good comment on this in Open Court.

[TheMarkMadsen]

Nobody claims CP to be on those guys's level.


i constantly see people putting cp3 in their top 3-5 players in the league

Cp3 has been a 1st team all nba player the last 2 years.

the other 1st team all nba players during this time?

Lebron
Durant
Kobe
Duncan
Dwight

every single one of those players if switched with Cp3 would be expected to make the finals with these current clippers, especially (in Kobe & Duncans case) if they were 28-29.

I mean how many other players are still considered top 5 players in the league without making it past the 2nd round by the time they were 29. T Mac never got the kind of passes Cp3 gets for losing in the playoffs, and T Mac never had a team as good as the teams Cp3 has been playing on

[Kblaze8855]

To even consider him a top 3 point guard off all time and to put him in the same sentence as Gary Payton, Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, Kidd and Frazier when Cp3 hasn't even made a conference finals in 9 years, is ridiculous

I bet there was a 60s version of you saying you cant put Oscar next to much less above Bob Cousy when hes never won more than one round in the playoffs. I suspect the fans who judge basketball players by basketball playing ability laughed him out of the barbershop.

I bet the argument was very similar too.

"Hes got Jerry Lucas! A top 5 player and all NBA first team forward doing 20/20! Plus Wayne Embry. TWO all star bigmen. And Jack Twyman...one of the best scorers ever. Jack put up 31ppg before Oscar started dominating the ball his first year! Hes got 3 great players. Hes the best guard of all time? Its time to prove it! No more excuses!"

People have been dumbing down the game for easy mass consumption for too ****ing long.

[Micku]

I can see the Clips losing in the second round if they face the Spurs or OKC. They could beat them, but I think it's more likely that they would lose.

The Spurs have the Clips number. They are too polish offensively for the Clips to stop, and they are good enough defensively to slow the Clips down. I think OKC could defend CP3 well enough. In fact, CP3 had problems with these two two teams this year, but he did a good job at running the offense.

But if Blake Griffin continues to play at a high level, then it really depends on how well CP3 plays and how healthy they are. They shouldn't get swept or taken out in 5 games tho.

[All Net]

i constantly see people putting cp3 in their top 3-5 players in the league

Cp3 has been a 1st team all nba player the last 2 years.

the other 1st team all nba players during this time?

Lebron
Durant
Kobe
Duncan
Dwight

every single one of those players if switched with Cp3 would be expected to make the finals with these current clippers, especially (in Kobe & Duncans case) if they were 28-29.

I mean how many other players are still considered top 5 players in the league without making it past the 2nd round by the time they were 29. T Mac never got the kind of passes Cp3 gets for losing in the playoffs, and T Mac never had a team as good as the teams Cp3 has been playing on

who in this league is better outside of Lebron and Durant? what are other players doing to deserve to be ranked higher? are they leading their teams to the finals or CF? no....

[navy]

i constantly see people putting cp3 in their top 3-5 players in the league

Cp3 has been a 1st team all nba player the last 2 years.

the other 1st team all nba players during this time?

Lebron
Durant
Kobe
Duncan
Dwight

every single one of those players if switched with Cp3 would be expected to make the finals with these current clippers, especially (in Kobe & Duncans case) if they were 28-29.

I mean how many other players are still considered top 5 players in the league without making it past the 2nd round by the time they were 29. T Mac never got the kind of passes Cp3 gets for losing in the playoffs, and T Mac never had a team as good as the teams Cp3 has been playing on

Nonsense. CP3 is suppose to make the Finals with Blake Griffin over Durant the so called best player in the league? This is the first year anyone has given Blake Griffin any recognition.

Once again the playoffs are about teams. Even this year CP3 does not have a finals worthy team compared to others. Now if Chris Paul was playing like a scrub like he did vs San Antonio that one year and losing in rounds where he was the clear favorite, you would have a case. He hasnt been.

[TheMarkMadsen]

I bet there was a 60s version of you saying you cant put Oscar next to much less above Bob Cousy when hes never won more than one round in the playoffs. I suspect the fans who judge basketball players by basketball playing ability laughed him out of the barbershop.

I bet the argument was very similar too.

"Hes got Jerry Lucas! A top 5 player and all NBA first team forward doing 20/20! Plus Wayne Embry. TWO all star bigmen. And Jack Twyman...one of the best scorers ever. Jack put up 31ppg before Oscar started dominating the ball his first year! Hes got 3 great players. Hes the best guard of all time? Its time to prove it! No more excuses!"

People have been dumbing down the game for easy mass consumption for too ****ing long.

what are you even talking about? Nobody would be saying that about Cousy and Oscar because Oscar was so great/dominating in his own right and Cousy played on the fcking Celtics with possibly the greatest basketball player of all time.

Stop trying to go on your classic pseudo history lesson and actually address some of the points i've made

Cp3 is considered a top 3-5 player in the league

his team is one of the most deep/talented teams in the league

his 2nd best player is averaging 24 & 10 and is a legit MVP candidate who held the team together when Cp3 went out

Cp3 has been the league for 9 years and hasn't made it past the 2nd round

Cp3 is considered a top 3-5 player in the league..

If he he is a top 3-5 player in the league, it's finals or bust considered all of the above.

[All Net]

what are you even talking about? Nobody would be saying that about Cousy and Oscar because Oscar was so great/dominating in his own right and Cousy played on the fcking Celtics with possibly the greatest basketball player of all time.

Stop trying to go on your classic pseudo history lesson and actually address some of the points i've made

Cp3 is considered a top 3-5 player in the league

his team is one of the most deep/talented teams in the league

his 2nd best player is averaging 24 & 10 and is a legit MVP candidate who held the team together when Cp3 went out

Cp3 has been the league for 9 years and hasn't made it past the 2nd round

Cp3 is considered a top 3-5 player in the league..

If he he is a top 3-5 player in the league, it's finals or bust considered all of the above.

You aren't making any sense

there is no excuse for him as a top 3-5 to not make the finals but he has to beat A guy who alot consider the MVP and the 1st or 2nd best player? I

[TheMarkMadsen]

Nonsense. CP3 is suppose to make the Finals with Blake Griffin over Durant the so called best player in the league? This is the first year anyone has given Blake Griffin any recognition.

Once again the playoffs are about teams. Even this year CP3 does not have a finals worthy team compared to others. Now if Chris Paul was playing like a scrub like he did vs San Antonio that one year and losing in rounds where he was the clear favorite, you would have a case. He hasnt been.



Nonsense. CP3 is suppose to make the Finals with Blake Griffin over Durant the so called best player in the league?

He sure as hell better make the WCF and give OKC one hell of a series. BG is a top 5 player this year, who know's if WB will even be 100% through the entire playoffs


This is the first year anyone has given Blake Griffin any recognition.

:coleman:


Even this year CP3 does not have a finals worthy team compared to others..

How is his team not a "finals worthy" team compared to others?

BG is a top 5 player in the league

Cp3 according to most is a top 5 player in the league

Doc is one of the best coaches in the league

their team is one of the most talented/deep teams in the league. This team is more than finals worthy


Now if Chris Paul was playing like a scrub like he did vs San Antonio that one year and losing in rounds where he was the clear favorite, you would have a case. He hasnt been

that was 2012, what has he done since then to ward off the criticism?

[TheMarkMadsen]

[QUOTE=All Net]You aren't making any sense

there is no excuse for him as a top 3-5 to not make the finals but he has to beat A guy who alot consider the MVP and the 1st or 2nd best player? I

[navy]

He sure as hell better make the WCF and give OKC one hell of a series. BG is a top 5 player this year, who know's if WB will even be 100% through the entire playoffs

No the Spurs still have the best team in the League. The Thunder have the best player(or 2nd) in the NBA. The only expectation is second round an adequate performance against these two teams.




How is his team not a "finals worthy" team compared to others?

BG is a top 5 player in the league

Cp3 according to most is a top 5 player in the league

Doc is one of the best coaches in the league

their team is one of the most talented/deep teams in the league. This team is more than finals worthy

Spurs. Best Team in the nba.
Durant. MVP. Nobody with a brain thinks the Clippers are favotites.


that was 2012, what has he done since then to ward off the criticism?
That was one series. What did he do before or after that series to warrant criticism?

[All Net]

the Clippers are expected to make the WCF, at least they should..

if the meet OKC in the WCF and lose in a hard fought series, then ok.

if the meet OKC in the WCF and lose in 4 or 5, then the criticism is warranted (barring an injury to Cp3 or BG)

I mean is as it stands now...OKC and Clippers would meet in round two.

[Young X]

@TheMarkMadsen

Besides his injured '12 Spurs and '09 Nuggets series can you go through Paul's playoff career and tell us:

The series where he didn't play like a top 5 player?

What teams did he lose to that weren't better than his?

[Black Mamba's B]

but GSW don't have two top 5 players on their team

So many people claim that Cp3 impacts the game as much as a Lebron/Durant/Kobe, yet for some reason nobody holds Cp3 to the same expectations?
Exactly. With that said I have CP3 as the best pg in the game and he should be held accountable if he doesn't perform well

[Kblaze8855]

what are you even talking about? Nobody would be saying that about Cousy and Oscar because Oscar was so great/dominating in his own right and Cousy played on the fcking Celtics with possibly the greatest basketball player of all time.

Stop trying to go on your classic pseudo history lesson and actually address some of the points i've made

Cp3 is considered a top 3-5 player in the league

his team is one of the most deep/talented teams in the league

his 2nd best player is averaging 24 & 10 and is a legit MVP candidate who held the team together when Cp3 went out

Cp3 has been the league for 9 years and hasn't made it past the 2nd round

Cp3 is considered a top 3-5 player in the league..

If he he is a top 3-5 player in the league, it's finals or bust considered all of the above.


First...people did say it about cousy. And it wasnt just in the 60s. Ive read articles from when Cousy was Nate Archibalds coach when Nate was leading the league in scoring and assists...cousy himself says Nate is better than he was. Others were saying that till Tiny wins such and such he cant compare. Its an old stale argument that has been wrong since the first time it was used.


Second....better players than Chris Paul have not made the finals with better teams than he has.

If you are so inept when it comes to judging basketball playing ability that you cant tell how good someone is over hundreds of games and need to wait for a 2 week stretch to decide between 3-5 and 6-8 or whatever it is....I dont need to consider your points.

If you cant explain why Paul is not top...whatever....by explaining what his game lacks that others dont...or make up for in other ways...I dont much care what your conclusion is.

Just people tied up in arbitrary numbers(usually 3, 5 and 10 as if they are much different from 4, 6 and 11) looking for an easy out on point making.

If it makes you feel better to hear that hes the 6th best player in the league as opposed to the fifth....fine. Im not caught up in shit like that.

Hes one of the best players to ever dribble a ball.

Thats been painfully obvious since like 2008. If he never wins a thing hes going to the hall of fame the first year its possible and he like all the other greats will be gushed about for all time as people get further from the emotion and agendas of the moment and look at the big picture.

On here arguing about something as arbitrary as a damn top ___ ranking when even you probably put him so high his spot as one of the best to ever do it is clear.

Even if you put him behind Lebron, Durant, and somehow Westbrook, Curry, and...I dont know...Melo. You would be saying hes one of the worst sure fire hall of fame legends in the game.

Hating on greatness over some random ass number ranking when 5 generations of basketball fans will look back at highlights, the record books, and listen to his peers and wish they had a chance to see the great Chris Paul in his day just absurd to me.

The more I watch people do it the less I understand the point of things like this.

I did it myself some...10 years ago I did it quite a bit. Even more back in the day. I think ive outgrown it.

Id rather give history lessons on a subject im passionate about than fight over top 3 vs top 4 like it means anything significant.

One kid googles Jack Twyman and learns something id be happier about it than about convincing someone that someone I dont like should be 2 spots lower than someone else thinks.

[red1]

That's not true, because why do people still criticize his lack of playoff success when he raises his averages in the playoffs? If he plays well and his team loses because of his teammates injuries or them under performing people will just say those are excuses.

How he plays doesn't matter at all, it all depends on his teammates level of play - if his teammates play well, they'll win and he'll get respect, if they don't, they'll lose and he'll get criticism. How he plays has 0% to do with anything, no one looks at that, they just look at if he win or not.
No one who knows how to use their brain criticizes him up to now. He has played pretty well in the playoffs and if he plays well again and loses to the better team then once again its all good. But lets be real the guy is not exactly young anymore basketball-wise and if he retires without any meaningful post season success then it will be hard to compare him to someone like zeke who went all the way

[Rocketswin2013]

This whole thing is why Dwight is underrated IMO

[ArbitraryWater]

2008
2011
2012
2013

It's usually the supporting cast letting him down.

Exclude 2012 then I'd agree.


All Net and Kblaze have owned OP enough... he's one of those stans that lack knowledge of the game and proper analysis, therefore ALWAYS go back to basing everything off of team success/rings...

[smoovegittar]

He's too busy selling insurance...

[PsychoBe]

First...people did say it about cousy. And it wasnt just in the 60s. Ive read articles from when Cousy was Nate Archibalds coach when Nate was leading the league in scoring and assists...cousy himself says Nate is better than he was. Others were saying that till Tiny wins such and such he cant compare. Its an old stale argument that has been wrong since the first time it was used.


Second....better players than Chris Paul have not made the finals with better teams than he has.

If you are so inept when it comes to judging basketball playing ability that you cant tell how good someone is over hundreds of games and need to wait for a 2 week stretch to decide between 3-5 and 6-8 or whatever it is....I dont need to consider your points.

If you cant explain why Paul is not top...whatever....by explaining what his game lacks that others dont...or make up for in other ways...I dont much care what your conclusion is.

Just people tied up in arbitrary numbers(usually 3, 5 and 10 as if they are much different from 4, 6 and 11) looking for an easy out on point making.

If it makes you feel better to hear that hes the 6th best player in the league as opposed to the fifth....fine. Im not caught up in shit like that.

Hes one of the best players to ever dribble a ball.

Thats been painfully obvious since like 2008. If he never wins a thing hes going to the hall of fame the first year its possible and he like all the other greats will be gushed about for all time as people get further from the emotion and agendas of the moment and look at the big picture.

On here arguing about something as arbitrary as a damn top ___ ranking when even you probably put him so high his spot as one of the best to ever do it is clear.

Even if you put him behind Lebron, Durant, and somehow Westbrook, Curry, and...I dont know...Melo. You would be saying hes one of the worst sure fire hall of fame legends in the game.

Hating on greatness over some random ass number ranking when 5 generations of basketball fans will look back at highlights, the record books, and listen to his peers and wish they had a chance to see the great Chris Paul in his day just absurd to me.

The more I watch people do it the less I understand the point of things like this.

I did it myself some...10 years ago I did it quite a bit. Even more back in the day. I think ive outgrown it.

Id rather give history lessons on a subject im passionate about than fight over top 3 vs top 4 like it means anything significant.

One kid googles Jack Twyman and learns something id be happier about it than about convincing someone that someone I dont like should be 2 spots lower than someone else thinks.

are you seriously implying that cp3 would be a first ballot hall of famer when dennis rodman wasn't? if a few off the court escapades could stop a, what? 5 time nba champion, 1 time dpoy, and a record holder of 7 consecutive rebounding titles from being first ballot, then what about cp3? a player who has never made it past the second round beyond being swept and was backdoor swept in the first round last year?

do you even plan on holding him accountable? you can hide behind the "he's a first ballot hof" nonsense all you want, but you seem to forget that playoffs > regular season by a mile. that's when the lights are brightest and when the world is watching. you can average 50 points during the regular season for all i care, but if you "wilt" in the playoffs time after time, over and over again, then the common denominator is you.

hold him accountable. can truly be considered a great player with such marginal post season success (when it matters the most)?

can anyone seriously continue to overrate a player who cannot even deliver a deep playoff run to any team he has ever been on?

[Kblaze8855]

Hold him accountable for what exactly? Hes had a better career winning wise than plenty of people already in the HOF. And can he be considered a great player having only made the second round?

Please.

There is a list of undisputed great players a mile long who never won more than Paul already has(as a teams best player). With years to go.

The appreciation for greatness has never been lower it seems. The idea that you could even discuss if Chris Paul was a great player or not is cringe worthy and will be remembered as such.

[Darius]

CP3 will perform fine in the playoffs if he isn't injured.

I'm not even concerned about that... he is as mentally tough as they come.

That said, there is only 2 guys in the league that can get the a conference finals by themselves... CP3 may be number 3 behind them but it's a pretty big gap.

If he doesn't make it, it doesn't diminish him as a player... who goes ahead of him?

I think next year will be the year for the Clippers. Blake Griffin has gotten to a top 5-10 player level but if he can hit his jumper at a 45% clip instead of 40% (as he shoots now) I don't see how he will be guardable.

He will be the top 3 player (or 4 if Anthony Davis matures faster than I expect).

The question with CP3 is can he lead a great team? He has an incredible ability to lead a very good team but is he too ball dominant to allow a great team to develop? The jury is still out IMO.

[Fiasco]

His 3rd straight year with an extremely talented team

:facepalm

[TheMarkMadsen]

:facepalm

so the clippers havent been a talented team the past 3 years?

[joeyjoejoe]

Clipps will play spurs or okc in second round who both have better records and would be favourites against the clipps, if they get first round exit yea deserve criticism but not losing to one of those teams, if clipps do beat spurs or okc y'all haters gonna lose your minds throwing stuff at the tv, hell demons prob go on killing spree, imagine if clipps take out okc all the sudden durant not even top 10 player in the league hey

[joeyjoejoe]

what are you even talking about? Nobody would be saying that about Cousy and Oscar because Oscar was so great/dominating in his own right and Cousy played on the fcking Celtics with possibly the greatest basketball player of all time.

Stop trying to go on your classic pseudo history lesson and actually address some of the points i've made

Cp3 is considered a top 3-5 player in the league

his team is one of the most deep/talented teams in the league

his 2nd best player is averaging 24 & 10 and is a legit MVP candidate who held the team together when Cp3 went out

Cp3 has been the league for 9 years and hasn't made it past the 2nd round

Cp3 is considered a top 3-5 player in the league..

If he he is a top 3-5 player in the league, it's finals or bust considered all of the above.

Lol what a moron u are sir, so the 3rd best player should beat the best player coz let's be honest its all about the player not the team otherwise threads like this wouldn't exist, your dislike for cp3 has turned u into someone without reason haha but that's ok coz everyone here knows your a total loser, get a life bum

[longtime lurker]

Jesus christ why do you guys always act like the favorites can't lose a series. What's the point of even playing the game then if the favorites always win :rolleyes: it should be finals or bust for the Clippers. Let's stop the excuse train. If the Clippers lose in a tough WCF then that's just how it goes sometimes, but if they get blown out or don't even make it that far then its a big disappointment.

[FLDFSU]

i constantly see people putting cp3 in their top 3-5 players in the league

Cp3 has been a 1st team all nba player the last 2 years.

the other 1st team all nba players during this time?

Lebron
Durant
Kobe
Duncan
Dwight

every single one of those players if switched with Cp3 would be expected to make the finals with these current clippers, especially (in Kobe & Duncans case) if they were 28-29.

I mean how many other players are still considered top 5 players in the league without making it past the 2nd round by the time they were 29. T Mac never got the kind of passes Cp3 gets for losing in the playoffs, and T Mac never had a team as good as the teams Cp3 has been playing on

Steve Nash.

[qrich]

So you are saying the Clippers are the favorites in the West? Okay!

[DMAVS41]

You should always judge players most on how well they actually play...if a surefire elite player like Paul plays great and loses...to a player clearly better than him like Durant? What is to hate? All this does is keep Paul away from all time rankings range including the likes of guys clearly better than him like KG/Duncan/Kobe/Lebron/Wade/Dirk/Durant/Shaq of this era.

And he's not there on his play (to date at least) anyway...

And I don't see anyone arguing Paul is on that tier of players either. So this is all pointless.

I do like how people are finally learning to use context when it comes to titles. It's ****ing hard to win...and when you don't have the best team around you...it's even harder. It would be one thing if Paul had the clear cut best team in the league around him or something, but he has like one of the 6 best supporting casts or something...

So it matters what the player comparisons are...if it's just hating on Paul for being a top 5 player or whatever...it's pointless. But if someone were to make the claim that Paul is as good as Durant or something...then his lack of playoff success should be held against him. Same thing with Melo...although that isn't a great example because Melo gets demonstrably worse in the playoffs.