For ten years now, DNA of Sports has been offering you its Top 5 candidates for the “Most Valuable Player (MVP)” trophy every Tuesday. And behind the Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid or other Ja Morants, who have been talking about them for a few days now, there is a name that should not be omitted: that of Chris Paul.
Read also: The golden hands of the stainless Chris Paul
Because, even at 36, and as he slowly approaches his 37th birthday, “CP3” continues to shine with the Suns, holders of the best record in the NBA (40 wins – 9 losses). This is evidenced, in particular, by its 10.3 assists and 1.9 interceptions average, which makes him the best passer and the second best interceptor in the league.
Figures that perfectly complement his 14.8 points and 4.6 rebounds on average, especially as he displays them by shooting 49% on shots, 35% on 3-pts and 85% on free throws. All without ever having been absent and committing only 2.3 ball losses per game.
And it is ultimately this aspect of Chris Paul’s game that impresses the most, as since the start of his career, since he shows almost no waste on the floor. While he is, as always, the main depository of the game of his team.
The cream of organizers
Already holder of the NBA record for the most games (49) with 10+ assists and 0 ball loss, the “Point God” has the best “pass/ball loss ratio” in history (3.94), among 13 eligible players who have at least 7,500 career assists. Which means that, since his league debut in November 2005, the Phoenix point guard has delivered almost 4 assists before losing a ball. A striking feat!
For comparison to some of the other best passers in history, John Stockton’s pass to ball loss ratio is just 3.72, Jason Kidd’s is just 3.02, Steve Nash’s is n is only 2.97, Mark Jackson’s is only 3.28, Magic Johnson’s is only 2.89 and LeBron James’s is only 2.11.
On the other hand, if we expand the sample to the 59 eligible players who total at least 5,000 career assists, we notice that someone explodes the figure of Chris Paul. It is indeed the sprite Muggsy Bogues, whose “ratio pass/ball loss” is… 4.69! But, except the former pocket leader (1m60) of the Hornets, nobody does better than “CP3″.
Moreover, it is hardly surprising to also learn that, among the players who have already averaged 10+ assists over a season, Muggsy Bogues and especially Chris Paul monopolize the Top 10 of the best “pass/pass ratio”. loss of ball” in history, on a single exercise. And that the 2021/22 campaign of the current Sun (4.45 of “ratio pass / loss of ball”) is on track to integrate this same Top 10, at the gates of the Top 5…
Top 10 of the best assist-to-turnover ratio” over a season
(minimum 10 assists on average)
5.94 — Muggsy Bugs (1989/90)
4.65 — John Lucas (1983/84)
4.65 —Chris Paul (2013/14)
4.64 —Chris Paul (2007/08)
4.59 —Muggsy Bugs (1993/94)
4.45 — Chris Paul (2021/22)
4.43 —Chris Paul (2014/15)
4.31 — John Stockton (1987/88)
4.28 —Chris Paul (2009/10)
4.14 — John Stockton (1989/90)
Top 10 of the best assist-to-turnover ratio” in career
(minimum 5,000 assists)
4.69 —Muggsy Bugs
3.94—Chris Paul
3.84 — Jose Calderon
3.72 —John Stockton
3.58 — John Lucas
3.34 —Avery Johnson
3.29 — Rickey Green
3.28 —Mark Jackson
3.26 —Maurice Cheeks
3.12 —Nick Van Exel
Top 10 of the best assist-to-turnover ratio” in 2021/22
5.46 — Tyus Jones (MEM)
4.88 — Blake Griffin (BKN)
4.45 —Chris Paul (PHX)
4.35 —Patrick Beverley (MIN)
4.22 — Andre Iguodala (GSW)
4.17 — Tre Jones (SAS)
3.95 — Jaylen Nowell (MIN)
3.78 —Tyrese Maxey (PHI)
3.78 — Amir Coffey (LAC)
3.75 —Monte Morris (DEN)
A killer in hot times
But, beyond the aspect of assists and lost balls, there is another area in which Chris Paul excels with the Suns this season. This is the “clutch-time”, understand there the last five minutes of a match where the gap between the two teams is equal to or less than 5 points.
This is usually when the great players come out of their box to win theirs. And Phoenix, under the leadership of its “Point God”, now takes pleasure in finishing off its opponents at this precise moment, since the Arizona franchise has an incredible record of 19 wins and 3 losses (i.e. 86.4% of success!), when the fate of a meeting is decided in this famous “clutch-time”.
Both suffocating (“ Defensive Rating of 90.3) and surgical (“ Offensive Rating ” of 135.1) at this point in the game, since the start of this 2021/22 fiscal year, the Suns clearly have no equivalent in the league, when it comes to folding the deal and winning. As for Chris Paul, like a diesel, he has now become accustomed to shining mainly in the last quarters. Both in scoring and creation.
Chris Paul’s stats, quarter by quarter
QT1 : 1.9 pt, 3.0 pds and 0.5 pdb in 8 min, at 42% on shots and 22% at 3-pts.
QT2 : 4.2 pts, 2.5 pds and 0.7 pdb in 9 min, 51% on shots and 39% at 3-pts.
QT3 : 3.2 pts, 2.1 pds and 0.5 pdb in 8 min, 47% on shots and 28% at 3-pts.
QT4: 5.7 pts, 2.9 pds and 0.7 pdb in 9 min, 53% on shots and 42% at 3-pts.
Confirmed by the figures above, the impression of a killer that emerges from “CP3” has also been verified on several occasions in recent days, since the future Hall of Famer delivered very good last 12 minutes against Jazz (January 24), Utah (January 26), against Wolves (January 28) then against Spurs (January 30). And his recent overall performances have also earned him the title of “Player of the Week” in the West for the first time since December 2017.
But to come back to the “clutch-time”, we also see that Chris Paul has a considerable iNFLuence on the game of Phoenix, he who displays in these conditions an incredible +/- of +81 (the NBA No. 1) and a ” Net Rating” from +47.5 (the NBA No. 2), to go with his 60 points (in 69 minutes) and his 23 assists (against 4 ball losses), 56% on shots and 82% on free throws.
Total efficiency (sum of everything an individual player contributes), compared to the “Net Rating” in the “clutch-time”, this season
Like a surgeon, Chris Paul therefore operates in the opposing defenses with crazy precision, showering his teammates with balls, generally on “pick-and-roll” or on “pick-and-pop”, while making the difference himself. , mostly mid-range. A real boss, who definitely seems to get better with the years.
If his candidacy for the MVP trophy is perhaps not the most high-sounding of all, the leader of the Suns nevertheless has serious arguments to put forward as a conductor of the best team in the league. Especially since Phoenix has, let’s remember, changed in size since its arrival in Arizona in November 2020…
1 – Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)
Assessment: 28 wins, 21 losses – 5th in the West.
Matches: 44 contested out of 49 possible.
Statistics: 26.0 pts, 13.7 reb, 7.8 pds, 1.4 int, 0.8 ctr and 3.5 pdb in 33 min.
Percentages: 57% on shots, 38% at 3-pts and 81% on throws.
2 – Joel Embiid (Sixers)
Assessment: 31 wins, 19 losses – 3rd in the East.
Matches: 38 disputed out of 50 possible.
Statistics: 29.1 pts, 10.8 reb, 4.4 pds, 0.9 int, 1.4 ctr and 3.0 pdb in 33 min.
Percentages: 50% on shots, 37% on 3-pts and 81% on throws.
3 – Chris Paul (Suns)
Assessment: 40 wins, 9 losses – 1st in the West.
Matches: 49 disputed out of 49 possible.
Statistics: 14.8 pts, 4.6 reb, 10.3 pds, 1.9 int, 0.3 ctr and 2.3 pdb in 33 min.
Percentages: 49% shooting, 35% 3-pt and 85% throwing.
4 – Stephen Curry (Warriors)
Assessment: 38 wins, 13 losses – 2nd in the West.
Matches: 47 disputed out of 51 possible.
Statistics: 26.0 pts, 5.5 reb, 6.3 pds, 1.5 int, 0.4 ctr and 3.2 pdb in 35 min.
Percentages: 42% on shots, 38% at 3-pts and 91% on throws.
5 – DeMar DeRozan (Bulls)
Assessment: 31 wins, 18 losses – 1st in the East.
Matches: 45 disputed out of 49 possible.
Statistics: 26.4 pts, 5.0 reb, 5.0 pds, 0.8 int, 0.3 ctr and 2.2 pdb in 35 min.
Percentages: 50% on shots, 35% on 3-pts and 86% on throws.
Mentions : Ja Morant (Grizzlies), Kevin Durant (Nets), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks), Rudy Gobert (Jazz), LeBron James (Lakers), Jimmy Butler (Heat), Devin Booker (Suns), Luka Doncic (Mavericks)…
Net Rating : the difference between the number of points scored and the number of points conceded by a player or a team, out of 100 possessions.
Offensive Rating : the number of points scored by a player or a team, out of 100 possessions.
Defensive Rating : the number of points collected by a player or a team, out of 100 possessions.
