NBA Season Preview: 5 best off-the-dribble creators

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These five NBA players are a cut above the rest in creating scoring opportunities off the dribble for others and themselves. Good luck guarding these guys.

Playing great team defense is only going to take an NBA franchise so far. At the end of the day, wins and losses often come down to star power. Those dynamic off-the-dribble creator who can single-handedly break a defense can be the different between being very good and being the best. These engines for their team’s offense can move the defense, find seams, and often conjuring scoring opportunities out of thing air.

These five dynamic playmakers have an elite ability to create shots for themselves, as well as others.

Oct 10, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) drives the ball defended by Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) during the first quarter at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers PG

There is not a better pure point guard in the NBA today than the Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul — a nine-time NBA All-Star, an eight-time all-defensive player, a seven-time All-NBA selection, and a four-time NBA assists leader.

In his 11-year NBA career, Paul has nearly averaged a double-double with 18.5 points and 9.9 assists per game. He’s so gifted at distributing the basketball to his Clippers’ teammates that we tend to forget that he’s an adept shooter as well. Paul has shot 47.3 percent from the field, 36.5 percent from beyond the arc, and 86.4 percent at the charity stripe.

Paul’s handle and quickness make him incredibly difficult to defend. He can score in the paint and from three off the dribble with the best point guards in the league. Where he separates himself from most of his contemporaries is his ability to get his teammates, with varying offensive skill sets, involved in the game.

Shooting guard J.J. Redick is lethal from three coming off ball-screens. Power forward Blake Griffin is an alley-oop dynamo with an improved mid-range game. Sixth man Jamal Crawford does his best work in isolation, but still needs Paul to feed him the rock. Even defensive-minded center DeAndre Jordan can get involved in the offense as a low-post garbage man.

The Clippers are a championship-contending team under head coach Doc Rivers because they have the best all-around point guard in the game in Paul. Paul makes all of his teammates look and play better as one of the best offensive threats in the game.