Is it just me or CP3
He's always been like that. If you look at his career average, he shoots 13.9 shots a game. This season, he's shooting 13.8.
This is exactly who Chris Paul is, and if you watch Clippers games (which I'm assuming you only watch nationally televised ones), in the fourth quarter he always takes over. He always closes out games. He may have to score a bit more now that Billups is out but this is exactly who Chris Paul is. A highly-efficient, pass first point guard that can get you 15 assists in a game just as easy as he can get you 30 points.
"he take games off it seems and only show up when he has something to prove"
He never takes games off. You're talking about one of the most competitive guys in the league. He's on the same level as Kobe Bryant when it comes to competitiveness and the Black Mamba doesn't disagree:
Kobe:
"The game just gets easier with Chris Paul," Bryant said before comparing himself to Paul. "He's a dog. He's going to fight to win, and not too many teams can deal with him."
"Chris Paul is really the only other guy in the league, other than Derrick Rose, who also has that competitive edge."
I've never seen Chris Paul take a play off, much less an entire game off. He doesn't average 18.5 and 9apg while leading his team to the second best record in the West by taking games off.
So to answer your question, it's just you. This is exactly who Chris Paul is.
First off, thank you for actually replying back with an educated statement... BUT here's the problem with majority of what you just said... Those aren't MVP numbers... And I've actually felt this way for about 3 years now... Last 2 is understandable because he's been injured and its seemed as if he lost a step...
Now, to me he's a little passive unless its LeBron, D12, or Kobe on the other team... (FYI I live in L.A. I see all the games bro...) Maybe he's pacing himself who knows... But he is next to ungaurdable... Those 2 years where he was averaging 22 and 11 ESPECIALLY his MVP caliber season is what I mean where he has shown he's able to do it...
Before this season started A LOT of people were saying Chris Paul haven't been Chris Paul for years... Yeah he will show up for the Playoffs but you could tell he was missing a step, maybe 2 last year... I see the explosiveness back in his legs now, just wondering if he is going to go back to that MVP caliber season...
I agree with you that at times it seems as if he's lost a step and he's not as explosive as he was in his MVP-like seasons. Remember, his 2nd-option scorer was David West, then Peja, then Rasual Butler. Now he's on a team full of scorers, a lot of them don't need to be set up because they can already create for themselves. You're talking about Griffin, who proved he can score without a quality point guard last season. Chauncey and Mo Williams, two premier combo-guards when it comes to shooting the ball. Caron Butler is a perfect piece that any team would love to have because of his toughness, aggressiveness, defense, and ability to create for himself.
With all that said, Chris Paul doesn't need to average 22ppg because of all the scorers. For that same reason, he doesn't need to set up everyone because they can all create for themselves. Not to mention, they have brilliant passers on that team already. Caron Butler is an underrated passer (Nearly 3apg for his career). Billups is a PG/SG (4apg). Blake Griffin is also underrated when it comes to passing (Nearly 4apg last season, 3 this season). Mo Williams is even averaging a couple of assists this season (4apg)
To answer your question completely, this is Chris Paul, he had those exceptional season because he was forced to. He had no other option. It was either lose or average 22/11. Now he's on a team where he can average 18.5 / 9 and still win. Just like when you compare Kobe from last season when he had tons of help compared to 05-06 Kobe -- 25ppg is a lot different than 35ppg. If CP3 needs to score, he will. If he doesn't, he won't.
One this is for sure though, now with Billups out, Chris Paul has to bump up his scoring and assists. I wouldn't be surprised if he finishes averaging 20.5ppg and 10apg simply because 15ppg/4apg came off the board.
Tounge-Out, I belive that Career acerages are skewed, cause guys usually fall of in their waning years, or in Paul's case, his first two seasons.
And Tuck, I agree that Paul doesn't shoot much, adn I understand your point about the Clippers possibly being better off if he looked to shoot more, however I feel that they are fine with him shooting as much as he does.
One of the reasons I would rather have Paul as my point than anyoneelse is because he looks to get his teamates involved yet at the same time, is talented and quick enough to still get his own. You have to be on your toes as a defender, cause he can beat you with either his passing or his scoring. And scoring wise, he can beat you with his Jumpshot, and he can blow by you, he is so hard to gameplan for.
But the main reason I believe that he doesn't need to shoot more, is the Clips, or any team for that matter is better off when their point man looks to get everyone involved, which I feel would be better for a team, and plus with guys like Griffin and Jordan, and Billups until now, 13 shtos a game was fine.
But now that Billups is hurt, I would like to see his points per game go up by about 3 or 4, cuase with Bullups our, he'll need to up his scoring, but with his distributing and court vision, I'll leave it up to him about when to decide pass or shoot, but I don't think it's a problem about whether he's agresive enough, cause I think he penetrates the paint well enough.
need to shoot the ball more? Some of the Clippers losses (or wins) I come away thinking why he hasn't shot the ball really? Then I go look at his stats and he's shooting over 50% FG and almost 50% from 3... They have yet to lose a game when he shoots over 15 times... Is he too passive? That's why I don't agree that he's the MVP, he take games off it seems and only show up when he has something to prove... I f with him stepping up in close games but at least do it in regular games, because he scores at will... I have no doubt in my mind he couldn't average 25 PPG with ease...