Empty the Bench

David West deserves a ton of credit for knocking down this stone-cold, game-winning shot last night. Still, I’m more impressed by Chris Paul creating that open look. I can’t help but notice West was wide open because three Cavaliers were forced to collapse when Paul penetrated to the middle of the lane against a double-team with a killer crossover, then athletically leaped and spun in mid-air to find the open West, seemingly with eyes in the back of his head. The final of his 20 assists last night.

These kinds of plays have become routine for Paul this season; this one was just dramatic because of the situation. That’s the strongest argument for Chris Paul as NBA MVP: nobody creates more opportunities for their teammates and nobody in the league makes those teammates look good night in, night out like CP3 — coupled with the fact that he may be the best defensive point guard in the league. He deserves all the credit in the world for getting the most out of everybody on the roster, especially Tyson Chandler and David West.

Tags: Chris Paul, David West