PHOENIX – First, Chris Paul heard his former teammate and coach Willie Green instruct his New Orleans Pelicans players to dare to shoot. Then, after Paul gutted the strategy, he informed his old friend.
Paul, who will turn 37 in three weeks, became the oldest player to score 30 points and 10 assists in a playoff game, displaying just those numbers to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 110-99 victory in Game 1. from their match. series of the first round on Sunday.
He overtook Steve Nash, who did the same as a 36-year-old Suns member in 2010. Paul is now one of five players in history to have 10 playoff games with 30 points and 10 assists. LeBron James has the most with 22 such games, followed by Michael Jordan with 15.
1 Related
Much of it came in a fierce race in the fourth quarter when Paul scored 17 points in five minutes to shatter an attempt to return the Pelicans. Green’s choice to get his defenders to give Paul a place by playing pick-and-roll failed when Paul made three consecutive three points while attacking a switching defense that repeatedly left him against the slower Larry Nance. junior.
“It’s like inviting me [to] shoot, “said Paul, who looked at Green several times after the shots.” I know Willie, this is my man. It’s all part of the game. “
Green, who was Suns’ assistant last season and played with Paul in the LA Clippers and then-New Orleans Hornets, used a heavy-duty squad that reduced Phoenix’s lead by 23 points to just six at the start of the quarter. .
But Paul disrupted the strategy by repeatedly calling on center Deandre Ayton to adjust the screen and force Nance to switch. In the end, Green had to pull Nance, who was very effective with Paul on the bench, out of the game.
“We went under a few screens and he just stood in the back and shot the three-ball,” Green said. “The confusion was on our part, on my part as a coach. I need to do better with this coverage. Chris, that’s exactly what he’s doing.”
PlayerAgeTeamSun.Chris Paul36 (34) -346 (d) PHX2010Steve Nash36 (y) -85 (d) PHX2020LeBron James35 (y) -271 (d) LAL– ESPN statistics and information
Paul scored or assisted on 23 of the Suns’ 31 points in the fourth quarter. His 19 points in the frame were the second highest in the last quarter of his career.
“This man is a real racer and a real winner,” said Suns star Devin Booker, who had 25 points. “When he wants it so badly, you can see it in his behavior and see it in his gait, so you shouldn’t surprise anyone. He’s made for those moments.”
The Suns held the Pelicans up to 22 percent in the first half as Michal Bridges, who was named Defender of the Year finalist, strangled Pelicans guard CJ McCollum. The Pelicans shot just two of 16 in the game when Bridges was the main defender, according to ESPN statistics and information. McCollum finished with 25 points but missed 16 shots and was 0-for-9 with Bridges on him.
Paul also played an excellent defense, leading to three stolen thefts.
“It’s just his ability to know he has to take the game,” said Suns coach Monty Williams. “I don’t think I’ve been around anyone like Chris who has this innate feeling about that time.”
ESPN’s Andrew Lopez contributed to this report.
Add Comment