The Los Angeles Clippers lost their best player this summer in point guard Chris Paul and bouncing back from a major loss like that is going to be tough. The good news for the Clips is that they got a decent package in return for him instead of having him walk away for nothing in free agency.
Despite CP3 being their leader and floor general for several years now, Clippers head coach Doc Rivers is looking at the positive aspects of Paul moving on. When asked about his thoughts on the trade, Rivers expressed his belief that the team will now have better ball movement and a more fluid offense, something Paul supposedly restricted the team from having. Following from Fox Sports West on Twitter:
Biggest difference in style of play with Chris Paul gone … 'We'll have ball movement' — @DocRivers @LAClippers @HoopsonFOX pic.twitter.com/ICowfwyAG6
— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) July 18, 2017
While Paul is a ball dominant point guard and loves to have the rock in his hands, to say their ball movement will take a turn for the better isn’t particularly true. Paul has built a reputation for himself as one of the premier passers the league has ever seen and his assist numbers over recent seasons have backed that up, making him one of the last remaining true point guards.
Paul’s assumed replacement in the starting lineup comes in the form of Patrick Beverley, who isn’t typically the primary ball handler and is more of a 3-and-D type player.
Though the Clips won’t have a true facilitator, they could have more ball movement due to the simple fact that their lineup lacks a ball-dominant guard, unless Austin Rivers or Lou Williams is inserted as a starter.
