Clippers coming to brutal Chris Paul realization they should've known all along

Clippers Face Reality with Chris Paul

After decades of NBA history, the Los Angeles Clippers should have realized that the league rarely sees 40-year-olds perform consistently at an elite level — aside from LeBron James. Still, they chose to sign Chris Paul, believing they could manage his minutes through the regular season and expect playoff flashes of brilliance.

However, by the fourth game of the 2025–26 season, it became apparent that these hopes were unrealistic. From his debut performance in Salt Lake City, where he scored four points and delivered four assists while shooting just 1-for-5 from the field, it was clear consistency would pose the biggest challenge.

“Paul's veteran voice and high IQ will be needed, but consistency will be his biggest challenge over the Clippers’ next 78 games.”

Rotation and Lineup Challenges

When the Clippers’ full rotation was available, coach Tyronn Lue used Bogdan Bogdanovic to fill an open DNP slot. But when Bradley Beal missed games three and four, the ten-man rotation — featuring four veteran guards — was stretched to its limit.

Now, with all eleven players reportedly available again, the team anticipates returning to a full lineup, meaning future DNPs will result from tactical decisions rather than roster shortages.

Author’s Summary

The Clippers are slowly realizing that expecting peak performance from 40-year-old Chris Paul every night is unrealistic, though his leadership remains valuable.

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Clipperholics Clipperholics — 2025-11-01

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