Advertisement

Should Chris Paul or Blake Griffin take the shot with game on the line?

All-Stars Blake Griffin and Chris Paul talk before the Clippers played the Portland Trail Blazers on Nov. 8.
(Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)
Share

Chris Paul is unequivocally one of the top point guards in the league, and when the game is on the line, the ball is going to be in his hands.

Should it stay there? It’s a question that came up Monday when the Clippers played the San Antonio Spurs.

With 2.9 seconds left and the Spurs up, 87-85, Paul attempted a contested layup, but missed.

Advertisement

After the game, Paul said he asked Coach Doc Rivers to design a play for him to take the final shot.

Said Paul: “I missed. I mean, great play. Told Coach I wanted the ball. I threw it up and I missed.”

It happens to everyone. But it raises an interesting question.

The Clippers have two superstars -- Paul and Blake Griffin -- and when the game is on the line, who should be taking the final shot?

Griffin is averaging 24.3 points on 47.1% shooting this season. Paul is averaging 16 points on 44.3% shooting. Both players are excellent at drawing fouls.

Grififn recently added a much-improved jump shot to his already skilled repertoire of inside moves. Paul is one of the toughest-to-guard point guards in the league.

There’s no obvious answer here, but it’s a question that Rivers must have pondered before. And on Monday, he made his choice clear.

Advertisement
Advertisement