Jose Alvarado in his first season in the NBA is going toe to toe against one of the greatest point guards of all time, Chris Paul.
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The Suns are already in trouble line-up-wise with Devin Booker out for at least 2-3 weeks with a hamstring injury in the Suns’ Game 2 loss. But Chris Paul certainly looked like he could take the Suns past the Pelicans, losing a game or two on the way.
Chris Paul was INCREDIBLE in Game 3, he spent the first 3 quarters setting up his teammates before DOMINATING the fourth quarter with 19 points to push the @Suns to the 2-1 series lead! @CP3: 28 PTS, 4 REB, 14 AST
Game 4: SUNS/PELICANS, Sun. 9:30pm/et on TNT pic.twitter.com/qWfoqH7Q7S
— NBA (@NBA) April 23, 2022
In the first 3 games, he averaged over 25 points, 12 assists, 4 rebounds, and a steal alongside some explicit words for Alvarado when the young guard was trying to do his thing on the point savant. They had a hilarious moment in the game where a Pelicans guard was trying his signature steal move on the 6x NBA steals leader.
Chris Paul not messing around with Jose Alvarado. 😂💀
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 20, 2022
Jose Alvarado finally makes Chris Paul his bunny
Alvarado caused enough trouble for Paul in Game 2 where he shot just 5/16 in the game and had 17 points in a 125-114 win for the Pels. But he couldn’t make his already famous and one-of-a-kind move on CP3 in Game 2, Paul outsmarted him that time.
But what we have seen from the undrafted rookie this season, he never backs down. On Sunday in Game 4, he got what he wanted.
Jose Alvarado on his come from behind steal on Chris Paul:
“Couldn’t wave me off for that one”#PHXvsNOP pic.twitter.com/ERYKk3cFYs
— Isaac Garcia (@Isaac2Garcia) April 25, 2022
Not only did he do that, but he also forced an 8-second violation on arguably the player with the best IQ in the game. That turnover in possession which was Paul’s 3rd in the game started a run for New Orleans that would see them run with it. Alvarado bullied Chris throughout the game, limiting him to maybe his poorest Playoffs game.
Paul fell way short of his scoring responsibility while Book watched the game sitting courtside, witnessing his partner guard score just 4 points in the game.
With a rookie coach, multiple rookie players, and some newly joined veterans dominating in their 1st year at the franchise, they certainly do not have any fear or pressure unlike the best team in the league they are facing.
Suns would have to win the next two games straight because if it goes down to the wire, the pesky Pelicans will be the likely team that comes out as the winner.