NBA: 5 reasons the Los Angeles Clippers are for real

5 reasons the Los Angeles Clippers are for real

By John Buhler | Nov 16, 2016

Nov 12, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) celebrates in the third quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Los Angeles Clippers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 119-105. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /

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Nov 12, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) dribbles in the first quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Chris Paul is playing like an MVP

Through mid-November, the 2016-17 NBA MVP has to go to Clippers starting point guard Chris Paul. This guy is absolutely crushing it on both ends of the floor for arguably the best team in the NBA. If Stephen Curry can win a unanimous MVP, does that mean the award is in the bag if Paul keeps up this ridiculous pace of his?

Paul is leading the league in PER (33.6), Defensive Win Shares (0.9), Win Shares (2.9), and Win Shares/48 (.425). He is also leading the league in steals per game (2.9), offensive rating (136), and defensive rating (91).

Interestingly, Paul isn’t averaging over 10 assists per game. That doesn’t really matter, as he is playing floor general better than just about everybody else in basketball. His nagging on-court demeanor isn’t rubbing teammates the wrong way anymore. Frankly, one could argue that it is galvanizing the 2016-17 Clippers.

For the Clippers to be a serious NBA Championship caliber team, their best player has to play at an MVP level. Blake Griffin could be that guy, but with the way that Paul is playing, he’s elevating a frustrated basketball culture in Los Angeles and making the case that the Clippers can win it all.

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