Chris Paul: 'Don't really see growth in a loss'; Rivers says heartbreak 'worth it'

It's becoming exceedingly difficult to not feel bad for Chris Paul.

The NBA's best point guard over the last decade was once again eliminated from the playoffs unceremoniously Sunday, with his Los Angeles Clippers coughing up a 3-1 series lead to the Houston Rockets.

The consistent disappointments sound as if they're wearing on Paul, who has more All-Star appearances without a Conference Final than any player ever, other than Dominique Wilkins.

"Like Ricky Bobby said, 'If you're not first, you're last,'" Paul said after the game. "So close. I don't even know what that means anymore. Getting close ain't good enough ... I'm sorry but I don't really see growth in a loss. It's a long time until you get to the playoffs again."

Paul didn't go down without a fight Sunday, scoring 26 points with five rebounds, 10 assists and four steals, but once again depth and poor fortune reared their head.

That makes it 10 seasons and seven playoff trips that have ended short of the Conference Finals for Paul, who really can't shoulder the blame after this long drought. He's an incredible talent and the game's best two-way point man, earning every letter of his Point God nickname, and he's consistently been done in by a lack of high-end teammates, lack of depth, or just plain bad timing, depending on the season.

The Clippers drew the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the playoffs thanks to the league's antiquated seeding of division winners. San Antonio wore L.A. down over seven incredibly hard-fought games, and the Clippers seemed to run out of gas sometime after Game 5 of their series against the Rockets.

With far more assists and steals than any player in basketball since entering the league in 2005-06 and career averages of 18.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 9.9 assists and 2.3 steals, Paul could rightfully be at a loss for what else he needs to do.

At the very least, Paul has someone who understands in head coach Doc Rivers who played 13 seasons without a championship - he ultimately won one as a coach. Rivers told his team following the loss that the heartbreak is worth it in the big picture:

I told them I was a player for 13 years, and I had my heart broken for 13-straight years. I told them, every night I prayed, every single night, my only goal was to win a world championship. Every year, I'd give my heart completely to the team, and every year, it got completely broken. I told them it was worth it. I told them it's so worth it to buy in and give yourself to a team.

There's no telling if Paul feels the same way in the immediacy of the loss, but he'd be forgiven for needing a few days to get back to that mental state. There's always next year, and a team with Paul will always be a favorite for a deep playoff run.