The San Antonio Spurs are off to an impressive start this season, driven by the play of Steph Castle and Dylan Harper. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Clippers are just beginning to understand a critical limitation in point guard Chris Paul—something the Spurs recognized during his tenure with them.
Paul spent one season in San Antonio, where his leadership and playmaking helped guide a young roster. However, one significant issue emerged: his hesitance or inability to attack the paint. This shortcoming limited San Antonio’s rim pressure and offensive flow whenever he was on the court.
“Having a point guard who can’t touch the paint limits their impact both as a scorer and as a passer.”
Now, the Clippers are facing the same problem. Without a primary ball-handler capable of collapsing defenses, the offense struggles to create open looks or finish at the rim. A player who can penetrate the lane is crucial for generating open threes and connecting with the roll man in pick-and-roll sets.
When the Spurs signed Paul, expectations were high that he would elevate Victor Wembanyama as a lob target, but that partnership never fully developed. As San Antonio moves forward, they anticipate adding De'Aaron Fox to complement Harper and Castle—three guards adept at attacking the rim, a skill that defines modern offensive success.
The Clippers are discovering a key flaw in Chris Paul’s game—his reluctance to drive inside—a limitation that Spurs coaches noticed long before his move to Los Angeles.