2016 NBA All-Star

nbaplatformservices

chris-paul-all-star-game-highlights

Chris Paul All-Star Game Highlights

jj-redick-3-point-practice-02-13-16

JJ Redick 3-Point Practice - 02/13/16

Marcus Fong

Rowan Kavner  Digital Content Coordinator

PLAYA VISTA, Calif. – Clippers point guard Chris Paul is an All-Star for the ninth straight year.

The 2013 All-Star MVP was voted in by the coaches as one of the West’s reserves for the game in Toronto, along with Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, James Harden and LaMarcus Aldridge.

Paul owns the highest assist average (12.9) and steal average (3.1) in All-Star Game history, and he’s not slowing down in either department during the 2015-16 regular season. Paul’s in the top five in the NBA this year in assists per game (9.6), assist-to-turnover ratio (3.43) and steals per game (2.07).

Even before the news he’d be going to his ninth All-Star Game, Paul said it was an honor and a privilege to already have eight appearances under his belt. This time, he’ll be heading to Toronto, which he said was always one of his favorite NBA cities.

Paul’s gone via the fan vote and the coaches’ vote before, and he said they both have their perks.

“Being voted in by the fans and by the coaches really makes it special, because when it’s the coaches, it’s your peers and stuff like that,” Paul said. “They’re both cool.”

Kobe Bryant, Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry, Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant were voted in by the fans as the West’s All-Star starters late last week.

Paul, who’s averaging 18.6 points per game this year, will now be joining them, saving his best for this month.

After averaging 18.4 points and 9.9 assists per game in December, Paul’s increased his averages to 20.8 points and 11 assists per game in January, leading all Western Conference players in assists this month. Paul’s also one of just two players, along with Westbrook, averaging at least 20 points and 10 assists in January.

“He’s been great,” said head coach Doc Rivers. “But he’s been a leader all the time. I mean, he just is.”

In the process of helping guide the Clippers to back-to-back wins in Indiana and Atlanta, Paul passed Magic Johnson for No. 19 on the all-time steals list, now just nine behind teammate Paul Pierce. This season, Paul’s also moved up to No. 12 all-time in assists.

Paul also became the fourth fastest player in NBA history to 7,000 career assists, behind only Johnson, John Stockton and Oscar Robertson.

“I’ve coached against Chris Paul in Olympic Games, and I’ve coached him in All-Star Games,” said 76ers head coach Brett Brown. “I’m always blown away. You put a bunch of really good players in a room, he’s one of those Alpha dogs. His personality and his swagger and his talent and his toughness all stand out. You step back and you’re just sort of blown away at the package.”

Here’s more of what coaches around the league have said this year about the Clippers’ All-Star point guard:

New Orleans head coach Alvin Gentry: “One of the top three point guards in the league, for sure. I’ve been around him, the most competitive guy I think I’ve ever been around. He’s all about winning.”

Toronto head coach Dwane Casey – “Chris Paul is invoking his will on the game”

Portland head coach Terry Stotts – “I haven’t really been surprised (at the Clippers’ success shorthanded), because I have that much respect for Chris Paul. If anything, this gives him more responsibility, and he’s great at orchestrating an offense.”

Denver head coach Mike Malone – “He has a passion for the game of basketball, a true student of the game, always watching. Whether it’s NBATV, Synergy, the guy is a student of the game and takes his craft very, very seriously, because he loves it.”

chris-paul-going-to-ninth-all-star-game

Chris Paul Going To Ninth All-Star Game

Robyn Dixon

The NBA announced today that Chris Paul has been voted by the coaches to the Western Conference All-Star team as a reserve for the 2016 NBA All-Star Game in Toronto.

This will be Paul’s ninth All-Star game selection. He owns the highest per game assist average (12.9) and steal average (3.1) in All-Star Game history. Paul has been a starter four times, a reserve three times and missed the game in 2010 due to injury.

"I am truly humbled to be selected by the coaches to play in the All-Star Game," Paul said. "I am excited to represent the Clippers in Toronto and once again be a part of NBA All-Star Weekend and compete alongside so many great players."

Paul was the All-Star MVP at the 2013 All-Star Game in Houston after posting 20 points, 15 assists and four steals in a 143-138 win over the Eastern Conference. It marked the first time Paul and a Clipper have received the honor.

This season Paul is averaging 18.6 points, 9.6 assists and 2.1 steals per game in 41 games (all starts). He ranks 4th in assist-to-turnover ratio, 4th in assists, 5th in steals and 12th in free throw percentage (.882) in the NBA this season.

The Clippers franchise has now been represented in the All-Star Game a total of 26 times by 11 different players (Blake Griffin- 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015; Chris Paul - 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016; Chris Kaman - 2010, Elton Brand - 2002, 2006; Danny Manning - 1993,1994; Marques Johnson - 1986, Norm Nixon - 1985, World B. Free - 1980, Randy Smith - 1976, 1978; Bob McAdoo - 1974, 1975, 1976 and Bob Kauffman - 1971, 1972, 1973).

Joining Paul as reserves for the Western Conference are: LaMarcus Aldridge (San Antonio), DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento), Anthony Davis (New Orleans), Draymond Green (Golden State), James Harden (Houston) and Klay Thompson (Golden State).

chris-paul-selected-as-western-conference-all-star-for-ninth-time

Chris Paul Selected As Western Conference All-star For Ninth Time

the-coalition-of-slams-and-jams

The Coalition of Slams and Jams

brian-mcknights-all-star-message

Brian McKnight's All-Star Message

Angelica Yaghoubi

HOUSTON – Even six seasons into his career, Blake Griffin hasn’t stopped adding to his offensive arsenal.

Last year, Griffin’s assists per game jumped to 5.3. This year, that mark still hovers near five (4.9), the most per game of any player standing at least 6-10, while he’s shooting a career-best 40.8 percent on jump shots.

“I’ve said it all year, he’s on a different level,” said Doc Rivers. “He’s played, he’s led, he’s defended, he’s done about anything you can do.”

No one’s made more two-point shots this year than Griffin, who’s averaging 24 points and 8.6 rebounds per game in another All-Star worthy season, all while shooting the second-highest field goal percentage among players with at least 400 field goal attempts this season.

“I have the ultimate confidence in Blake,” Jamal Crawford said earlier this year. “Blake’s been at an MVP level now for a couple years, he really has. He’s top shelf in the league.”

Friday against the Spurs, Griffin scored in double-figures in the first half an NBA-leading 22nd time this season. By the end of the game, he had stepped back and gone 2-for-2 from 3-point range, though he said that’s not something he practices and may not be featured going forward.

The Clippers know well about Griffin’s versatility, but it might mean more when opposing coaches notice.
They’ve been doing that.

This year, Griffin’s shooting two percentage points better on jump shots than he did last year, and he’s hitting 41.1 percent of his shots between 16 feet and the 3-point line.

“Blake has really elevated his game,” said Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry. “He’s shooting the ball extremely well, he’s facilitating, he’s just doing a lot of things.”

When the Pacers came to Los Angeles, Indiana head coach Frank Vogel said one of the aspects of Griffin’s game which makes him so difficult is he forces guards to pick him up because of the way he can handle the ball and operate out of the pick-and-roll, which means bigs then have to chase shooters around the perimeter.

“We start big against elite power forwards, and he’s arguably the best in the game, so it creates a big challenge for our guys up front,” Vogel said.

Perhaps no praise was greater for Griffin than from Detroit head coach Stan Van Gundy, who called him “easily” the best passing true big in the league. When asked about Draymond Green, he clarified that he meant among back-to-the-basket power forwards.

“I think the difference with Blake is he can pick-and-pop…but he can also be down in the low post going to work,” Van Gundy said. “There are just not many guys that play down there that are going to average nearly five assists per game.”
What makes Griffin particularly special with his passing, according to Van Gundy, is how willing he is to do it when a second defender is thrown at him.

That came back to bite Van Gundy in Detroit, as he sent a second defender to double Griffin at the top of the key in overtime. Griffin then found a wide-open Crawford for a go-ahead 3-pointer in a Clippers win.

“I think he and Chris Paul, guys like that, they create an unselfish atmosphere around your team, and it gets contagious with everybody else,” Van Gundy said. “They’ve got two of the best passers in the league, and I think that’s what makes their offense go.”

2016 NBA All‑Star