Quote:
Originally Posted by Seadood228
In what world is Paul a top 15 player this year? His numbers across the board are barely above average for a starter. I know he was like top 30 perhaps last year, but he's gotten to the point imo where he is ridiculously overrated...
What makes him top 15?
In the world of context and eyetests. Since the breakup of the Hill/Hibbert/West teams (when he was universally regarded as a top at least 20 player, if not top 10), he has had to carry an insane burden, being the only player on his team capable of volume scoring while always checking the opponent's top wing. Last year, for instance, his 2nd best player was low-usage/elite roleplayer George Hill (who definitely gets over-rated by some people ITT). Hill highly lacks creation, and PG spent hist minutes with rookie Turner, lolnetnegative Monta, ultrachucker CJ Miles, et al. My point in mentioning all this is that PG simply HAS to chuck up a bunch of middling-poor efficiency jumpers. Nobody else on the team is even capable of holding a high usage. He does this all while clearly being a + defender.
Really, it's as simple as that he's playing a role he's not really made for. He should be more of a mega-elite 3+D type guy, but his team needs a lot more.
I agree that he has not had a top 15 year, no doubt. But he's capable of being a top 10 player for significant stretches. He's highly inconsistent, he goes through long emo stretches where his confidence disappears. He and Boogie are the two most emo stars I've ever seen. He also coasts through large stretches of every regular season. But he has a peak that can only be touched by a small handful of guys.
For something more quantifiable, here were his stats vs. Toronto in the playoffs last year. 46/42/95 shooting, 27.5PER, 63TS. (while absolutely STONING DeRozan on the other end, but I don't know how to separate individual series on bballref). He was BRILLIANT. I refuse to believe that more than 10 players in the world are capable of his play in those 7 games.
13-14 playoffs he had 20.5PER, 58TS while being guarded by LeBron for 7 of his 19 games.
Wake me up when Covington ever, in his life, remotely approaches these numbers (to say nothing of the defensive end) against playoffs teams while being his teams' undisputed #1 option. Or even George Hill. Or, hell, even Gordon Hayward, of whom I'm a big fan.
Oh, fwiw, PG leads the league this year in FT% (mitigated by the fact he doesn't get to the line much, but there you go)
Last edited by Ready4abattle?; 03-22-2017 at 05:30 PM.