Clippers come to brutal Chris Paul realization the Spurs have known all along

Clippers Discover Chris Paul's Limitation Known by Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs have started the season strong, powered by standout performances from Steph Castle and Dylan Harper. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Clippers are confronting a significant weakness in their key free agency acquisition, point guard Chris Paul.

Chris Paul's Tenure with the Spurs

Chris Paul spent one season with the Spurs, playing a crucial role in guiding the young team. His leadership and playmaking helped several young Spurs players develop, but a critical shortcoming was evident: Paul struggled to aggressively attack the paint.

Impact of Paul’s Attack Limitation

Due to his reluctance or inability to drive to the basket, the Spurs ranked low in rim drives while Paul was on the court. This limited his effectiveness not only in scoring but also as a facilitator, especially in pick-and-roll situations where attacking the basket opens scoring opportunities.

Spurs’ Future with De'Aaron Fox

The Spurs are optimistic about adding De'Aaron Fox, who excels at driving to the rim, to their backcourt alongside Harper and Castle. This trio’s ability to attack inside should vastly improve San Antonio's offense compared to Paul's more perimeter-oriented style.

Challenges for the Clippers

The Clippers are now grappling with the reality that having a point guard unable to consistently penetrate the defense limits offensive options, including collapsing defenses to create open three-point shots or delivering passes for easy dunk opportunities.

"Having a point guard who can't touch the paint on offense dramatically limits their effectiveness as a scorer and especially as a passer."

"When the Spurs signed Paul, many expected him to turn Victor Wembanyama into a lob threat, but that never really happened."

Conclusion

The Clippers are learning the hard way that a point guard’s ability to attack the basket is essential, a fact the Spurs recognized long ago.

Author's summary: The Clippers are realizing Chris Paul's inability to attack the basket hampers their offense, a flaw the Spurs identified during his tenure and are addressing with more aggressive players.

Air Alamo — 2025-11-04