NFL
By: Edwin Duodu
The wait is finally over for Chris Paul. After a long 16-year career, which was filled with doubts by fans and analysts on whether or not he was overrated, Paul proved the nay-sayers wrong. For a veteran who has endured some significant level of success with every team he’s played for, it was only a matter of time before the point guard would reap his hard work and dedication to the game. However, by no means necessary was this close to an easy task throughout Paul’s career, which was getting to an NBA Finals.
In New Orleans, it was always the case of Chris Paul not being able to make it past the second round of the playoffs. His closest at the time came against the Santonio Spurs during the 2007-2008 season. In Los Angeles, there was a notion that he could make it to the Western Conference Finals, blowing multiple leads in playoff series. Finally, in Houston, Paul suffered an injury and would miss crucial games that saw the Rockets as favorites to represent the Western Conference at that period.
People questioned his reliability and whether or not he was the right person to rise to the pressure. Analysts labeled him as outstanding in the regular season and a player that teams shouldn’t regard as much of a threat come crunch time.
Now, in his first full season with the Phoenix Suns, not only has Paul once again elevated the play of his teammates, but he has led the Suns to their first Finals appearance since 1993. Once confirmed that he would be a Suns player, fans knew that this team would be good enough to compete for a playoff spot. However, to finish second in a crowded Western Conference and to make it to the finals was a phenomenal accomplishment that not many people expected. This achievement is better because Paul led this young group and a few journeymen to the promised land.
His closeout performances down the stretch of this postseason have also been masterclasses, as he is the oldest (36) to score 35-plus in consecutive closeout games. It’s always a great feeling to pass Michael Jordan on any list of accomplishments. Chris Paul scored 37 in the Game 4 win against the Denver Nuggets. His recent outing against his former team, the Los Angeles Clippers, saw him erupt for 41 points and eight assists. All of this happened without him committing a single turnover throughout the whole game.
“Just a lot of emotion,” Paul said after the 130-103 Game 6 win.
This year has already been remarkable for the 16-year veteran. For him, he has climbed the first rock to greatness by making it to the NBA Finals. Everything is set up nicely. The Suns are playing with confidence and are being led by an inspired head coach, Monty Williams.
Whether it’s the Milwaukee Bucks or the Atlanta Hawks, the Phoenix Suns will have home-court advantage throughout the entire matchup. They also get to rest while these two teams fight it out in the Eastern Conference. Chris Paul has a chance to solidify his place as one of the greatest-ever point guards to step foot on the court by winning a ring. Even if you’re rooting against him and Phoenix, you at least have to respect the journey it took to reach this spectacular moment.
