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Milwaukee Bucks Game Preview: March 3 vs Los Angeles Clippers

By Ti Windisch

Dec 16, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) and forward Paul Pierce (34) battle for the ball with Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during an NBA basketball game at Staples Center. The Clippers defeated the Bucks 103-90. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) and forward Paul Pierce (34) battle for the ball with Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during an NBA basketball game at Staples Center. The Clippers defeated the Bucks 103-90. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 16, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; LA Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) dribbles the ball against the Miami Heat during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; LA Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) dribbles the ball against the Miami Heat during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Player To Watch: Chris Paul

The NBA community’s obsession with the idea of the Clippers blowing it up has warped the perception of this team in a big way. Although it’s true that Los Angeles hasn’t lived up to their lofty standards this season, the reason has more to do with injuries than anything else.

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Blake Griffin has missed 20 games and Chris Paul has missed 21 so far. DeAndre Jordan has been the workhorse in Los Angeles–he hasn’t missed a single game this season. Still, although Jordan adds a lot on defense he needs some help to propel Los Angeles to wins.

CP3 is the most important Clipper. Los Angeles is 28-11 in the 39 games he has played in this season, a truer indication of the talent here than their overall 36-24 record in 2016-17. Paul is a perennial MVP candidate for a reason, after all.

He’s averaging 17.4 points, 9.8 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 2.2 steals in 31.3 minutes per game and shooting 45.8 percent from the field, 39.9 percent from three-point territory and 87.4 percent from the charity stripe. This would be the first season since 2012-13 for Paul to not average at least 10.0 assists per game, if that trend holds.

If the Clippers are going to make a push here and finally make a splash in the playoffs, it will be because of Chris Paul. The Bucks will have their hands full trying to deal with him on Friday night.

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