(No) Chips On Their Shoulders: NBA stars with legacies to defend in the second round of the playoffs

NBA Houston Rockets Chris Paul (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
NBA Houston Rockets Chris Paul (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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NBA Houston Rockets Chris Paul (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

Chris Paul, Houston Rockets

With Father Time finally coming to collect for the rest of the banana boat crew (its already taken both Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade), there’s no denying that Chris Paul has a shadow looming ominously over his shoulder.

CP3 has become the new face of the beloved NBA star who makes All-NBA nearly every year, puts up eye-popping numbers (FIRST in Offensive Rating All-Time?! ), but is just never able to push his team over the hump.

He may well be the best active player without a ring (legacy-wise; obviously not at this stage in his career). Ill-timed injuries are enough to explain most of these shortcomings, but the fact remains, for Paul the stakes are as high as they get: championship or bust.