3-time NBA All-Defensive Team member Patrick Beverley didn’t hold back when he had the chance to discuss 12-time All-Star Chris Paul.
The Phoenix Suns finished the season with the best record in the league but that didn’t prevent them from suffering a Game 7 conference semi-final mauling at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks.
The Suns were obliterated in the first half 57-27 with Mavericks star Luka Doncic equalling Phoenix with 27 points. Phoenix’s Chris Paul and Devin Booker combined to score 3 points on 0-11 shooting.
The Suns were booed by their home fans after what was possibly the worst first-half playoff performance of all-time. Ultimately the deficit was too large to overcome and star point guard Chris Paul had a night to forget.
He was eventually pulled from the game early in the fourth quarter with the Suns down by 40. Paul was later seen limping towards the locker room. Incredibly Timberwolves guard Patrick Beverley predicted that a player would fake an injury.
Chris Paul should have been benched
The next day Beverley appeared on ESPN to double down on what he seemingly believes is the demise of Chris Paul.
Coach the game, not the player
Beverley said Ty Lue would have benched Chris Paul
Beverley made the bold claim that Phoenix head coach Monty Williams should have benched Paul instead of center DeAndre Ayton. Paul tallied 10 points and 4 assists on the night but didn’t sink his first field goal until the third quarter. By that stage the Suns were already down 40 points and the game was essentially over.
CP3 can’t guard anyone
Paul struggled defensively in the series against Dallas. Mavericks guards Luka Doncic and Jalen Brunson targeted Paul on every offensive possession and were able to get past him with ease.
Beverley left ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith speechless by comparing Paul to a traffic cone before saying he deserves the “Ben Simmons slander”.
CP can’t guard nobody, man. Everybody in the NBA knows that. Everybody knows that. What do we call him? “Cone.”
Beverley believes Chris Paul is a defensive liability
No one is afraid of Phoenix
The Timberwolves guard revealed players in the association weren’t too phased about playing Chris Paul and the Suns.
“Do guys in the NBA go to sleep early the night before playing the Phoenix Suns? Hell no. No. I’m going to Steak 44 over there in Phoenix, I’m gonna have me a nice little wine, probably sweat it out in the pregame shootaround and get ready for Chris Paul. Steph Curry? I’m going to bed at 8 o’clock. Mom, don’t call me. My girl, don’t call me. I’m locked in right now.”
Beverley went on to explain how teams across the NBA weren’t afraid of Phoenix. He even mentioned calling former Clippers teammate Paul George to discuss how nobody in the league was scared of the Suns.
For what it’s worth, Paul George didn’t mind getting dragged into the debate. He liked a SportsCenter clip on Instagram where Beverley mentions him.
Damian Lillard & Matt Barnes disagree
Chris Paul didn’t respond to any of Beverley’s critcism but Blazers star Damian Lillard and former player Matt Barnes spoke out against Beverley.
One fan tweeted that Beverley’s stats aren’t too bad only for Lillard to quickly shut him down by saying it’s because nobody guards him.
Matt Barnes appeared later in the day on ESPN to share his thoughts on the drama.
“I feel like what Pat Beverley did today to Chris Paul was completely disrespectful and out of the line,” said Barnes. “Pat Beverley’s talking like he’s that guy. You’re not that guy. Plain and simple. Chris Paul played terrible this series, and his numbers are still better than your career numbers have ever been.”
Chris Paul played terrible this series, and his numbers are still better than your career numbers have ever been.
Matt Barnes shuts down Patrick Beverley
Barnes wrapped up by calling Beverley a clown, “All he needed was the red clown nose, ’cause he was out there talking like a clown today. … I know no one else is gonna tell him that, so I’m gonna tell him that.”
Given all the attention Beverley is gaining on our screens, don’t be surprised to see him back on ESPN sooner than later.
