Monty Williams paying no mind to Pat Beverley’s comments on Chris Paul
May 17, 2022, 7:49 AM
Head coach Monty Williams of the Phoenix Suns hugs Chris Paul #3 in the final seconds of the team's win against the LA Clippers during the second half in Game Six of the Western Conference Finals at Staples Center on June 30, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. The Suns advance to the NBA Finals.(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Patrick Beverley made news on Monday, but not for anything he did on the court.
Instead, it’s what he said about Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul following the team’s 123-90 defeat to the Dallas Mavericks in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals on Sunday.
Beverley — who infamously shoved Paul in the back when the two played against each other in the playoffs last year — said on ESPN that the Suns PG should have been benched in Game 7 and that he is like a traffic cone defensively.
Phoenix head coach Monty Williams took the high road when speaking on Beverley’s comments during his exit interview on Monday.
“I could say some things, but we’re chasing after other things, bigger things,” Williams told reporters. “So I’m not going to wrestle in that mud. That’s not what we’re trying to win.
Suns head coach Monty Williams on the comments made by Patrick Beverley this morning about Chris Paul. #NBAPlayoffs #NBA pic.twitter.com/mzj0VuKgXA
— 98.7 Arizona Sports (@AZSports) May 16, 2022
“Chris is one of the best basketball players in the history of the game. And so you’re gonna have people taking shots at him that aren’t even in that class. Why would I even comment?”
The Suns head coach wasn’t the only one defending Paul against Beverley, however, as Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard and former NBA wing Matt Barnes also fired back at Beverley.
Dame not holding back against Pat Bev 😳 pic.twitter.com/QMmbQuhdlV
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 16, 2022
Barnes wanted to point out the “thin line between being critical and disrespecting,” which he said Beverley completely crossed in a “disrespectful and out-of-the-line” manner.
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“Pat Beverley is talking like he’s that guy. You’re not that guy. Plain and simple,” Barnes said on ESPN. “Chris Paul played terrible this series and his numbers are still better than your career numbers have ever been. …
“Pat Bev and I were similar type role players. They’re not going to talk about us when we go. They’re going to talk about CP3 when he’s done. And I just think the disrespect earlier today needs to be checked because he was way out of pocket.”
Barnes also made sure to note that Paul is a 12-time All-Star and nine-time All-Defensive player, with seven of those being First-Team All-Defense.
“All he needed was the red clown nose because he was out there talking like a clown today,” Barnes added. “CP is a legend in this game. We were role players in this game, so have some respect for guys.
“He did play terrible, he’d be the first one to tell you that. But the shots that Bev took today were just out of pocket and I know nobody is going to tell him that, so I’m going to tell him that.”
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