DeAndre Jordan played ‘a Picasso’ against the Suns, Doc Rivers says

Chris Paul finished with a game-high 32 points and nine assists in the Clippers’ 120-107 win over the Phoenix Suns on Saturday evening.

But Clippers’ Coach Doc Rivers didn’t think Paul was the MVP of the night. He was more focused on what DeAndre Jordan did on the defensive end.

Jordan finished with 18 rebounds and seven blocked shots to go with his 12 points on four-for-four shooting.

“I thought he was the star of the game,” Rivers said. “I thought DJ not only gets the boards, he changed shots, he was everywhere. His energy tonight was amazing. He was a one-man wrecking crew.”

Rivers said it felt as though Jordan had 30 blocked shots.

“Even the ones he didn’t block, he changed,” Rivers said. “I mean, they were throwing things all over the place because of him. I thought -- and he’s been good all year defensively -- but I thought this was a Picasso.”

Rivers then chuckled and said he couldn’t think of a better comparison.

At this point, Jordan has to take whatever credit he can get. Though his team has been arguing that he’s the best defensive player in the league, he hasn’t gotten much recognition.

In an anonymous survey released last month of the league’s 30 general managers, Jordan was not given any nods in the defensive categories. Last season, Jordan led the NBA in rebounding (13.6 a game), finished third in blocked shots (2.5 a game) and led the NBA in field-goal percentage (67.6%). Despite his success on the defensive end last season, he finished third in voting for defensive player of the year, trailing Joakim Noah and Roy Hibbert, and didn’t make the all-defensive team.

Before this season, Jordan said he’s using such slights as motivation.

And Saturday he showed just how dominant he can be.

“I almost couldn’t imagine him not out there because he covers up so much up on the defensive end,” Paul said. “When guys blow by us, they know that now you got to see DJ when you get into the lane.”