At The Break

Paul Pierce’s return home to Los Angeles and his reunion with long-time coach Doc Rivers has been a fruitful one for the 18-year veteran through the season’s first 53 games.

The Clippers hit the All-Star break 17 games over .500, sitting fourth in the Western Conference with a record of 35-18, which positions LA in the thick of the playoff picture. But aspirations in Tinseltown are much higher than just another appearance in the playoffs. The Truth, Doc and the Clips are chasing a championship and they’ve laid a foundation for that chase in the first half of the season.

Despite spending last season with the Washington Wizards, Paul has quickly settled into the Clippers’ system thanks to his relationship with Rivers. The two helped lead the Boston Celtics to an NBA title in 2008, and they’re confident they can do the same with the Clippers. Although the future Hall-of-Famer occupies a different role with Los Angeles than he had in Boston, where he was the Most Valuable Player in the ‘08 Finals, he is plenty comfortable with what’s been asked of him by the Clips this season.

“I’m a veteran,” said the future Hall-of-Famer. “I could be another voice for the locker room, and I could just pretty much fill any role they need me to play, whether it’s in the locker room, on the court, as three-man, four-man, team leader…I feel I can just be that, kind of like, a glue guy.”

Paul has participated in 48 of 53 games played by the Clippers so far this season, including starts in the last 19 that he’s played. But Rivers has mixed in some off days and purposefully kept The Truth’s minutes and usage rate down. He’s averaging a career-low 17.7 minutes per game in the first half of the 15-16 season, something the Clippers hope will payoff by keeping No. 34 fresh for the stretch run, a place The Truth feels he will be most valuable. Paul went into his union with the Clippers fully understanding his role and the ultimate goal: winning another championship.

“I think what’s harder for me with Paul is trying to figure out the right amount of minutes,” Rivers said. “We’re doing the Kevin Garnett thing with the minutes, even more so with Paul. He’s been great, though. He tells me ‘tomorrow I need a day off’ and things like that. But we still haven’t figured out the right amount of minutes for him. He’s been fantastic for us.”

Still, it’s been an adjustment for the a player who has averaged over 20 points per game for his career. As a result of the early-season limitations implemented by LA, and his lesser role in the team’s offense, Paul is also averaging a career low in points per game at 5.7. However, his contributions extend beyond his minutes and production on the hardwood.

The team’s franchise point guard has loved having No. 34 around. Clippers star point guard Chris Paul is in the midst of another terrific campaign in his 11th season in the NBA and he noted that The Truth has alleviated a lot of pressure on CP3 as the vocal presence in the locker room.

“Paul’s been great,” CP3 said. “He’s given me an opportunity to be quiet a lot of times because Paul’s always talking. It’s been fun having another veteran like that, that extra voice in the locker room, and just the confidence that comes with Paul.”

And while Paul’s role with the Clippers hasn’t been as a primary source of offense, he’s picked his spots well to do the things necessary to make sure his squad comes out on top. In LA’s season-opening win over the Sacramento Kings on Oct. 28, No. 34 scored the go-ahead basket en route to a 111-104 victory.

“That’s what he’s here for,” point guard CP3 said after The Truth’s crunch-time performance. “When you put me and Paul in that one-three pick and roll, they have to make a choice. If you switch, you have a smaller guy on Paul. What are you going to do?”

Paul proved to be an asset, as LAC started the season with a 4-0 mark. The Clippers hit a rough patch, dropping eight of their next 11 games in November, but started rolling again in December. Then in the middle of the final month of 2015, Paul hit an all-time milestone few other NBA players have reached.

On Dec. 16, Paul became just the 16th player in NBA history to hit the 26,000-point mark during the Clippers’ 103-90 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.

“Paul’s just special,” Rivers said. “He frustrated me when I coached against him because I didn’t see the athleticism. It used to drive me crazy. You think, this slow guy, how is he scoring? Then, when you coach him, you realize he’s not slow. He’s got a great first step, and he’s a better athlete than you think, and he’s strong as heck. But I think Paul has scored most of his points from fundamentals. Every kid should watch his footwork. He’s still beating guys off the dribble, and it’s amazing.”

No. 34 flaunted his fundamentals when he scored a season-high 20 points in LA’s 109-104 victory over the Utah Jazz on Dec. 26. That victory represented something of a turning point in the season for Paul and for his team. It marked Los Angeles’ first game without power forward Blake Griffin, who has yet to play since tearing his left quadriceps tendon in a Christmas Day matchup with the Lakers.

Prior to Griffin’s injury, No. 34 had played sparingly for the Clippers, often logging less than 10 minutes of action in games, a rare occurrence over his 18 seasons in the league. But when Griffin down, Paul immediately saw his role increased. The Truth ability to step into the new assignment at a moment’s notice and take on a larger role was vital for the Clippers, and his performance showed that Paul was ready to take on heavier load in Los Angeles.

“There’s a lot of things I can still do,” he said. “When I’m given the opportunity, playing within the offense. I’m not the go-to scorer I was years back when they would give it to me in isolation. I do a good job really playing off our stars, and that’s what I was able to do today. I’m out there with JJ (Redick) and Chris Paul and (DeAndre Jordan), and they’re going to take most of the attention, and I was able to take advantage of it.”

Two nights after his 20-point performance in that win over Utah, The Truth returned to the starting lineup for the first time since mid-November, to take on his former team the Wizards in on of his former haunts Washington D.C., where he reflected on his time in the Nation’s Capital.

“I had a lot of fun here, man, truthfully,” Paul said. “Being around the young guys, teaching them every day, talking to them. This was one of my funnest years. Even though it was for one year, I had a lot of fun being around these guys. They welcomed me with open arms. I embraced the city, they embraced me back and I really enjoyed my time here.”

In his first start in over a month, No. 34 totaled nine points and four rebounds in a 108-91 win Dec. 28 in D.C., which came as the third on a five-game road that LA kept. Their total win streak carried out to 10 before meeting its end and by that time, The Truth was entrenched as a Clippers starter. With Griffin down, LA has leaned on Paul to anchor the four spot in the starting lineup, and but for a handful of off days granted by Rivers to keep him fresh, he hasn’t left the starting five.

In the midst of that win-streak, Paul played an important role in keeping that run going. He had a 13-point night to help LA beat Charlotte and a 17-point outburst to outpace the fast, young Portland Trail Blazers. Then, at the end of the streak, Paul punctuated it against an old adversary. He posted 15 points and nine rebounds to help his team drop Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat, 104-90.

 

LAC has shown its depth in other ways, with the bench coming through for major minutes as well.

The Clippers won eight of their last 11 games heading into the All-Star Break, starting with a blowout win over the Knicks at Madison Square Gardenm behind 13 points from No. 34. L.A. won four straight shortly thereafter, beating the Indiana Pacers, Atlanta Hawks, Lakers and Chicago Bulls. After a brief setback against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Clips reeled off three more wins, all on the road.

After winning eight of 10, including six road wins, L.A.’s first half ended where it all began for Paul: in Boston. The Celtics drafted Paul out of Kansas at No. 10 overall in 1998 and No. 34 spent his formative  years calling TD Garden in Boston home while evolving into one of the game’s all-time greats.

“When you see a guy like Paul, who’s going to be a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer, all that he meant to this franchise, and continues to mean to this franchise,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. “It’s amazing, and it’s fun to see the reception

[he and Rivers] get.”

Paul and Rivers reflected on fond memories when they returned to Boston, but in what could be his last game at the Boston Garden, The Truth played 21-and-a-half minutes, tallied six points, pulled down three rebounds and added and assist and a block in a thrilling 139-134 overtime loss to the Celtics. But despite his status as an opponent, Paul heard cheers throughout the night. He left such a stamp on the city that loyal fans still appreciate him, even when he’s not sporting their shamrock green.

“It’s always special to step into the Garden,” Paul said prior to game Feb. 10. “This was the bulk of my career; I spent 15 years here, provided so many memories, won a championship here… special floor, special fans, special building. I always savor the moments that I can step on this court.”

BY THE NUMBERS

Though his statistics have been modest, No. 34’s presence has been immeasurable for LA.

Los Angeles brought The Truth on for his veteran leadership and clutch performances, and it hasn’t taken long for them to reap the benefits of that decision. Here are some of the most important numbers for Paul and the Clippers during the first half of the 2015-16 season.

4 — LAC ranks fourth in the West, 4.5 games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder. Being in the top half will give them home-court advantage in the first round.
5 — Paul has drained a season-high five triples twice this season, once against the Utah Jazz on Dec. 26 and again versus the Portland Trailblazers on Jan. 6.
10 — The Clippers enjoyed a 10-game winning streak from Dec. 25 to Jan. 13.
17 — The Clippers sit 17 games above .500 at the All-Star Break.
20 — The Truth totaled a season-high 20 points in the Clippers’ 109-104 win over the Jazz on Dec. 26 as part of their longest winning streak of the season thus far.
26,172 — Paul has scored 26,172 points over his career, 16th most in the NBA and fifth among active players.

IN THEIR WORDS

In building an 18-year NBA career as one of the game’s active legends, Paul has garnered a great deal of respect from his peers, opponents, coaches and others. And they’ve had plenty of great things to say about The Truth.

Rivers shared his outlook on Paul’s style of play, having spent nine years with him in Boston.

“That’s why he’s so good. Paul’s never used his athleticism, that’s been his secret to me. He uses timing, and he outsmarts people. He uses his angles; he uses fundamentals,” Rivers said in an interview with NBC Sports in March 2015. “I said years ago Paul can play forever; he can play until he decides he doesn’t want to play because he’ll always be effective. I watched him in our gym this summer, playing with all these young guys in a pickup game, and he dominated the game. These guys are going a thousand miles an hour and here comes Paul. It’s just funny to watch. I’ve seen it up close, and obviously I’m watching it from afar now.”

Rivers wouldn’t have to watch from afar for long, as Paul signed with the Clippers four months later in July. Teammates can now admire his skills on the hardwood, as well as his leadership.

“(Paul) has given me an opportunity to be quiet a lot of times because he’s always talking,” CP3 said. “It’s been fun having another veteran like that, that extra voice in the locker room, and just the confidence that comes with Paul.”

Rivers was quick to attest to Paul’s ability to inspire a team.

“He gives us leadership, he gives us truth,” Rivers said. “Instead of me using my voice, I can use Paul’s voice, and that’s been really nice for me.”

GAME OF THE YEAR

A perfect blend of talent and leadership allowed Paul to steer the Clippers to a 104-90 come-from-behind win against the Miami Heat on Jan. 13. No. 34 nearly recorded a double-double with 15 points and a season-high nine rebounds to fuel LAC’s 10th consecutive victory.

After watching his team fall behind by 16 points in the first half, Paul sparked a comeback by scoring eight straight points as part of a 14-5 run to end the second stanza. While taking a chunk out of the lead helped the Clips’ cause, LA was still down seven points at the break and The Truth knew they needed to keep pushing, so he kept the momentum rolling in the locker room.

“Paul was great at halftime,” Rivers said. “He kept saying, ‘We’re going to win this game, guys. I’m telling you, we’re going to win this game.’ And I thought it was really good for our guys.”

After switching gears at halftime, the Clippers kept their foot on the gas and dominated the third quarter, posting a 34-17 advantage to take control of the contest. After the team jumped ahead by 10 entering the final frame, No. 34 was no longer needed on the court. But his veteran leadership continued to inspire.

“It’s great to have Paul and Chris and all these guys that have years and years of experience,” said reserve center Cole Aldrich, who totaled a career-high 19 points. “The big thing for us is that we’re believing that we can win these games, and we know that we’re going to win these games because it’s just getting through that adversity.”

The comeback win over a strong Miami squad was particularly impressive, considering the Clippers did it without their leading scorer and second-leading rebounder, Blake Griffin. The five-time All-Star power forward has yet to play in the new year after tearing his left quadriceps tendon in December and breaking his hand a month later. No. 34 has tallied 19 starts in that span.

Still, the Clippers have proven their adaptability, going 18-5 in Griffin’s absence. Paul has been particularly valuable, scoring a season-high 20 points off the bench in his first game out. Including that 20-point performance, The Truth has scored in double figures seven times since Griffin’s injury.

WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS – AT THE BREAK

1. Golden State Warriors (48-4)
2. San Antonio Spurs (45-8) – 3 GB
3. Oklahoma City Thunder (40-14) 9 GB
4. Los Angeles Clippers (35-18) 13.5 GB
5. Memphis Grizzlies (31-22) 17.5 GB
6. Dallas Mavericks (29-26) 20.5 GB
7. Portland Trail Blazers (27-27) 22 GB
8. Utah Jazz (26-26) 22 GB

SECOND-HALF OUTLOOK

With the playoffs quickly approaching, the Clippers (35-18) enter the stretch run with 29 games remaining and a chance in front of them to improve their standing, or at the very least maintain their strong spot in the ultra-competitive Western Conference.

They enter the second half 4.5 games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder for the third spot in the West, and holding a four-game cushion over fifth place Memphis. But keeping their momentum going and perhaps improving their position in the playoff picture will be a tough task.

Their first two games out of the All-Star Break are against the west’s most elite teams. On Thursday night, the Clippers host the San Antonio Spurs (45-8), who currently hold the No. 2 spot in the West. That game tips at 7:30 p.m. PT on TNT. Then just two days later, LA welcomes the reigning NBA champion and current West leaders, the Golden State Warriors to the Staples Center. That showdown is scheduled for a 4:30 p.m. PT tipoff in front of another national audience on ABC.

Those tilts are just two of a whopping 16 games against teams that are currently at or above the .500 mark, so it’s going to be tough sledding for The Truth and his teammate s in the second half.

After LAC faces the top two teams in the West, February eases to an end with four straight games against sub-500 teams: the Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets, Sacramento Kings and Brooklyn Nets. But none of those games are to be taken lightly, as each contest matters in terms of seedings, as well as confidence.

The month of March opens with a battle against the team directly in front of Los Angeles in the standings, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the two West rivals meet three times during the month, a series which could tilt the standings in favor of or against the Clippers. Notching wins against Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Co. could effectively knock them out of third place, priming the Clippers to climb up the standings.

April will bring some time at home in L.A. before the regular season ends on the road. The final month of the regular season tips off with a Sunday afternoon meeting against Paul’s former team, the Wizards. Then comes a back-to-back with the Lakers at the Staples Center on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 5 and 6. The Clips then travel east for a meeting against a playoff hopeful in Utah. Next two more playoff contenders will come to Staples: the Dallas Mavericks and Memphis Grizzlies. Then finally, the Clips hit the road to end the regular season on April 13 against the Suns, three days before playoffs are scheduled to begin.

The Clippers have shown they are talented enough to compete with the best, and after a flux of injuries, have shown they are deep enough to withstand the pressures of the postseason. With Paul’s veteran leadership there to guide the Clippers, their goals are still well within reach.

IN HIS WORDS

It’s those goals that are at the forefront of Paul’s mind entering the homestretch of the regular season, goals that prompted him to head home to Los Angeles for one last run at a possible championship.

“I’m here with the same goal in mind that everybody else’s goal is, and that’s to win the championship,” Paul said. “Truthfully, if I didn’t think the Clippers were close, then no matter home or not, I probably wouldn’t have made this decision.”