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Portland Trail Blazers: Ranking the top five point guards in the NBA

By Stevie Cozens

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 16: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on during a preseason game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on October 16, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 16: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on during a preseason game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on October 16, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Number three – Chris Paul, Oklahoma City Thunder

They don’t call Chris Paul the ‘ Point God ‘ for nothing. At age 35 for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Paul has had a massive bounce-back year.

Not only has he put the Thunder on his back with some amazing performances this season, he was traded to Oklahoma in the first place in what looked like a rebuild as Paul George and Westbrook were both moved to Western Conference contenders. In Paul’s case he was traded with multiple first round picks from the Rockets in a straight swap with Westbrook.

After injuries and then fit concerns with Harden on the Rockets, Paul has bounced back with a vintage season this year.

Not only has he had multiple career highs this season, he has been one of the best clutch performers in the league.

The Thunder this season have a 40 – 24 record, definitely a surprise considering the offseason trades last summer.

Paul himself has career highs this year in effective field goal percentage, two-point percentage, rim percentage and midrange percentage. He also has one of the best on / off differentials in the league this season, rivalling some of his epic years on the LA Clippers.

It’s remarkable that the Thunder have the same record as the Rockets who unceremoniously dumped Paul last summer.

He will have a point to prove in the playoffs as well. But we know how good he has been in the past, even if his teams have never had the post-season success that he would have liked.