LOS ANGELES - Just one win away from the NBA Finals, Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul said he wouldn't allow himself to consider it possible to compete on basketball's biggest stage for the first time in his 16-year career . .
"Not until the job's done. Not until the job's done," Paul said on Saturday after the Sons' gritty 84-80 win over the LA Clippers to lead 3-1 in the Western Conference Finals. "We can talk about all of that, but right now, it's just laser focus.
"Three wins isn't a series win, so right now, we did what we came to do. We wanted to get one of these, & now we have to stay focused & ready to get back in our crowd."
Of course, Paul has been here before. In 2018, his Houston Rockets were up 3-2 in the Western Conference Finals against the Golden State Warriors before the defending champions came back to win the final two games, with Paul suffering a hamstring injury.
"Everything happens for a reason," said Paul, looking back at the despair of three years ago. "Ignore things, you always remember, but I'm here right now, excited about this opportunity, & right now I can only worry about Game 5."
Paul played all 12 minutes of the fourth quarter to guide Phoenix to victory in Game 4, when he scored seven of his 18 points & two of his seven assists, despite struggling to shoot the ball.
Paul was 1-for-7 off the field in fourth - & just 6-for-22 for the game - though he went 5-for-6 from the free throw line in the closing period.
Paul, 36, said of his journey, "I was crazy, I missed those [midrange shots] that could have extended us to five or seven, but when I got to the free throw line I thought of my son." " Patti with 3.9 seconds remaining, & Sun above two, when she split the pair of attempts. "I talk to my son about the importance of shooting free throws all the time.
"I seriously went to the free throw line & I was like, 'How am I going to tell him to be ready if I don't do it myself?
Paul's son appears to be learning just fine from his father, seeing as how Paul's younger peers set the example for him.
Deandre Ayton, who lived up to his "Dominaton" nickname in Game 4 with 19 points, 22 rebounds, four blocks & three assists, praised the man who is 14 years older than him.
"I love CP," said Ayton, 22. "It's really the only teammate who really pushed me. Kind of big brother-type push.
"I think she was the best thing in my career. I can say that every day."
Ayton said he wanted to repay Paul's investment by helping Phoenix to win at least one more this post season so that Paul could get a taste of the finals.
"I'm going to do my best," Ayton said. "I'm going to try my best. ... I know what it's like as an older player & in the league & things like that. So, when you have an opportunity like that, you take it." Can't take it lightly. & he told us. He told us, & we know the work that is at hand."
Devin Booker, who dropped the face mask protecting his broken nose to score a team-high 25 points before being fouled out, said he grew up watching Paul.
"I've been a fan of his for a long time, & I have learned a lot from him this year, & I always talk off the court about how he plays himself, & he's a true professional at every level. Times," said 24-year-old Booker. "I have a lot of respect for him as a man, not even as a basketball player, just understanding how bad he wants it & how much time he put into it... 16 years, that's a long time.
"We know how badly he wants it. ... We definitely have his back."
Sons coach Monty Williams, who coached Paul to the playoffs with New Orleans a decade earlier, praised him from the highest order when asked how he felt about Paul controlling action down the stretch. is.
"He's not afraid of those moments," Williams said. "It's about winning for Chris."
One more win. One more win & Paul will experience victory in a way he has never done before.
"We just have to balance a lot with our emotions & handle it the right way, not get too carried away," Williams said. "Yes, we're a win away from where we want to go, but we got the chance to watch the movie, prepare even better, &, step by step, pound the rock over the next few days so we can get better when Let's play this team again, because we know we're going to see a desperate team."