Rowan Kavner
This weekly series from Clippers.com features a Q&A with Clippers players, coaches, alumni or those tied somehow to the Clippers’ organization. The next edition features point guard Chris Paul.
PLAYA VISTA, Calif. – Chris Paul earned the Clippers’ first Western Conference Player of the Week honors this season after averaging 23.7 points, 12.3 assists, 5.3 rebounds and two steals per game last week.
Head coach Doc Rivers said Paul spearheaded the Clippers to their 3-0 mark last week, stretching the winning streak to nine games overall. Paul’s played a major role in that happening, averaging 21.5 points, 12.8 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game in January.
Paul talked Tuesday about his honors, his teammates, how the team’s playing and the upcoming matchup against the Heat.
What does Western Conference Player of the Week honors mean to you?
CP – “In order to do that, that means you’re winning games. I don’t think they ever gave it to somebody that went defeated during the week.”
Is Austin Rivers better and more comfortable defensively than he was last year?
CP – “A whole lot better. I think Austin does a great job now watching film and learning his opponents and stuff like that and understanding on different nights what we need from him changes.”
Do you feel you guys need a win against an elite team to solidify how you guys have been playing?
CP – “We just need to win in general, no matter who we’re playing against. One thing you learn about in this league is you’re trying to get playoff position, but if you beat a team four times in the regular season it means absolutely nothing if you don’t beat them in the postseason. So the answer to that is kind of two parts, yes and no.”
You and Dwayne Wade have had a great friendship. Have you been watching him play?
CP – “He’s been amazing. D’s been playing with an unbelievable bounce. Obviously, we talk all the time. I watched their game the other night and just hit him and was like, ‘Good to see you out there moving the way you’re moving.’ It looks like he’s having fun…Me, (LeBron James), (Carmelo Anthony), D-Wade, we’ve got our little group chat. We talk all season long. We talk, just me and D. I’ll probably see him today. That’s my family.”
