5 rebuttals to use on your friends with bad Chris Paul takes

2. He’s losing to good teams

There is the idea of being in the wrong place at the wrong time as well. There is some luck involved in NBA playoffs and winning championships. A lot of it has to do with health. A lot of it has to do with how well your superstars can convince ring-chasers to play and play hard for you throughout the playoffs. There is also running into steam rollers at the wrong time. In his six seasons with the Clippers, Paul has lost against the fifth-seeded Jazz (in 7), the fifth-seeded Trail Blazers (in 4), the second-seeded Rockets (in 7), the second-seeded Thunder (in 6), the fifth-seeded Grizzlies (in 6), and the first-seeded Spurs (in 4).

So, in six seasons, Paul has lost to no less than a fifth seed, and he has pushed to six games four of the six years. It’s not like Paul is a first seed losing to an eight seed or even a second seed losing to a seven. Paul has run up against some monsters in each of these years, and it’s no doubt that he has been unlucky. He should shoulder some of the blame, there is no doubt that the Clippers should have won more playoff series. But, it’s not like their getting blown out by doormats.