Chris Paul did make history on Tuesday night, but not for the best reasons. The Phoenix Suns point guard missed his biggest chance to win the NBA championship after the Milwaukee Bucks sealed the deal, winning the NBA Finals in six games.
With this result, CP3 became the first player in NBA history to blow four 2-0 leads in the playoffs. After a terrific start from the Suns, the Milwaukee Bucks rallied to win the Finals in an extraordinary fashion. Paul was tied with Blake Griffin with three 2-0 leads blown until Giannis Antetokounmpo added another one to CP3’s career.
This record started in 2008 when he faced the San Antonio Spurs as part of the New Orleans Hornets. They held a 2-0 series lead in the 2008 Western Conference Semifinals before the Spurs won it all in seven games.
Five years later, he’d lose in the Western Conference first-round against the Memphis Grizzlies as part of the Los Angeles Clippers. Three years later, they would have the same fate against the Portland Trail Blazers in the same round.
CP3 completed this undesired record after the Bucks took care of business and destroyed his chances of becoming an NBA champion for the first time. He’s made it clear he’s not retiring, but it’s hard to see how he can get another shot at the championship.
Perhaps teaming up with LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the Lakers would help him achieve this feat, but time will tell if that’s an appealing idea for Paul.
Before the NBA Finals, fans worried about his inability to close out prior series, and that’s exactly what happened here. The Suns couldn’t get the job done in Game 5 at home, leaving the door open for the Bucks to win it all.
This team did a lot for a squad with little playoff experience, but once the Finals arrived, the Bucks rose to the challenge, winning their first NBA title in 50 years. Paul will finish his career as a top-10 point guard of all time, but this defeat and record surely hurt his legacy.
