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Chris Paul Claims that Utah Jazz Center Rudy Gobert “Talks A Lot”

Jared Woodcox|
Dec 4, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) reacts to a foul call in the second half of the game against the Indiana Pacers at Staples Center. Pacers won 111-102. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 4, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) reacts to a foul call in the second half of the game against the Indiana Pacers at Staples Center. Pacers won 111-102. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Paul sounded off on Rudy Gobert in a rather hypocritical way following the Los Angeles Clippers loss to the Utah Jazz last night.

Last night’s win over the Los Angeles Clippers was one of the most exciting, and perhaps one of the most important, of the entire season for the Utah Jazz. After a less than encouraging first half, the Jazz managed to turn things around after halftime and gritted out an impressive 114-108 victory.

This game was very likely a first-round playoff preview and based on how physical and downright chippy the game got, it wasn’t hard to tell that both teams knew it. And in the thick of both of the game’s major squabbles was none other than Utah’s defensive behemoth Rudy Gobert.

The first incident involved an inadvertent elbow from Gobert to J.J. Redick’s neck, followed by what I thought was an uncalled-for shove and words on the part of Redick. However, much to the disdain of the Jazz faithful at Vivint Smart Home Arena, Rudy was called for a technical while J.J. got off scot-free.

Yet, the next time around, justice was served for Gobert. Near the end of the game once it was becoming quite clear that the Jazz would indeed come away with the victory, Clippers guard Chris Paul unleashed a shot to Gobert’s throat, followed by a shove after which a few words were exchanged.

This time, though, it was Paul who was assessed with the technical.

In a game of so much importance such as this one that naturally carried with it a playoff feel, it wasn’t all that surprising to see emotions running high and the physicality picking up. What was surprising, however, were Chris Paul’s post-game remarks.

According to the OC Register’s Bill Oram, Paul was quoted after the game saying, “He talks a lot. He can play, but he just talks a lot.”

Given the well-known reputation of the Los Angeles Clippers, largely including Chris Paul himself, as a team of smack-talkers, whiners and floppers, naturally Twitter broke into hysteria following his comments. I’ve included some of the best reactions below:

If anything, I was glad to see that my sentiment about Chris Paul and his comments were very much echoed by fans across the league.

But regardless of your take on either Paul’s comments or the minor arguments that took place during the game, it’s good to see the Jazz play with a little more edge and even get a little bit nasty. While I never condone dirty play, Utah will need that extra toughness and fight if they’re to match wits with the likes of the Clippers come playoff time.

The fact of the matter is that the Jazz were able to noticeably fluster the Clippers in the second half and whatever their methods were, they paid enormous dividends.

And regardless of what Paul has to say about Rudy, I’m confident that he’s going to take it in stride:

In fact, as long as Rudy continues to play like he did last night, then I say he ought to keep talking even (and perhaps especially) if it’s to Chris Paul’s apparent dismay.

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The Jazz play the Clippers for the fourth and final time of the regular season in a mere 12 days and if the squabbles on the court and the chirping in post-game comments are any indication, it’s bound to be a good one.

And it could very well be Part 2 of the prologue of an impending first-round playoff match-up.

If that’s the case, then I can hardly wait for what lies ahead between these two teams.

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