Chris Paul has made a difference this season for the Oklahoma City Thunder, a team that has exceeded preseason expectations.
While Paul has always been a premier floor general, his scoring ability is an underrated facet of his game. Paul, who has averaged 18.5 points for his career, has recently set the tone for the Thunder with his scoring. According to the Thunder’s Twitter account, Paul has averaged 24.0 points in the first halves of the team’s previous two games.
During the Thunder’s win Monday against the Houston Rockets, Paul scored 27 of his 28 points in the first half. When the Thunder defeated the Portland Trail Blazers last Saturday, Paul scored 21 of his 30 points in the first half.
Paul’s scoring tear has helped the Thunder win five of their last eight. In each of those wins, Paul scored in double figures, with his lowest point total being 10 against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
As the oldest player on the Thunder, Paul has provided veteran leadership that’s vaulted the Thunder into seventh place in the Western Conference.
In his 15th season, Paul ranks fourth on the Thunder in scoring, and he is averaging 17.0 points per game on 48.1% shooting from the field and 37.2% from the 3-point line.
