What’s in a Shot Chart: The Clippers Starters

Chris Paul

Balance has always been the key with Chris Paul.

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Sir Charles In Charge

An underrated scorer and shooter throughout his career, Paul is coming off another balanced season. What automatically sticks out in the photo above is Paul’s ability to knock down mid-range jump shots. With Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan as his pick-and-roll partners, they’re ability to dive aggressively toward the basket opens up the middle of the floor for Paul to flourish, with him only needing to knock down the available jump shots.

And that he does.

For his size, Paul continues to be an excellent finisher at the rim. In the paint, Paul resorts to craftiness–floaters, runner, scoop layups, etc.–and it’s paid dividends.

Despite his effectiveness inside the arch, all eyes draw towards three-point shooting–Paul’s biggest weakness as well as his biggest inconsistency. Take a look at how Paul’s three-point percentages have jumped since joining the Clippers:

2011-12: 37%
2012-13: 32%
2013-14: 36%

Considering Paul is a 35% three shooter for his career and the 2012-13 seasons produced the lowest three shooting output since his rookie season, is it fair to mark it off as an anomaly? Possibly so. Another recent anomaly is Paul’s postseason three shooting, hitting 45% of his threes on 5.4 attempts per game. That’s Stephen Curry excellent.

If Paul can find middle ground between the last seasons % and his postseason % (shooting more corner threes may be the answer), CP3 will find himself as the most well-rounded offensive point guard in the NBA… again.