LA Clippers: Why Chris Paul faces lighter workload in 2016-17
By Tom West
Defensive changes
As for the team’s defense, Mbah a Moute guarding point guards at times or Austin Rivers checking in as the Clippers’ option to guard the opponent’s point guard (if they happen to be a team with a athletic, talented scorer) also helps take some of the load off Paul. He can’t be at his absolute best if he has to endure such drastic offensive responsibility and guard their opponent’s best guard, too.
Raymond Felton helps in this regard. As good as Pablo Prigioni was at racking up steals with 2.3 per 36 minutes last season, he wasn’t a strong on-ball defender as a declining 38-year-old. Felton isn’t in his physical prime at 32, but he’s a solid enough defender, he’s energetic, has aggressive bursts of play, and can give Paul some defensive rest when the Clippers aren’t facing an explosive monster or All-Star level point guard.
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Then there’s the role of Austin Rivers, the Clippers’ most improved defensive player last season. Doc has said he may be using Austin at small forward in certain situational lineups against smaller teams, and there’s no doubt that he should be utilized (in addition to Felton) as an option to help prevent Paul from guarding their opponent’s top point or backcourt threat when necessary.
Combine these adjustments, helped by Rivers’ defensive improvement and Felton’s impressive play with the team in preseason, and it’s clear how the pressure on Chris Paul can be removed somewhat.
The question at hand is whether we will see Griffin receive more touches at the elbows and from the post, continuing the extremely aggressive scoring and passing from double teams that he’s showcased in preseason. If that’s the case, even slightly more, and he anchors the second unit from time to time, Paul is forced to do less yet again.
We need to see what happens, but Felton and Rivers to help defensively and the return of Griffin can help Paul after one of the most demanding regular seasons of his career.
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More than anything else, it’s what the LA Clippers need to help in the build up to the playoffs. Because if they face the Golden State Warriors, they need all the help and rest they can get.