Paul's final dance is both a nostalgic journey and a celebration of joy.

When the news of Paul's confirmation to join the Clippers was announced, two storylines naturally sprang to mind. The "Lob City" duo rekindling their connection in Los Angeles, and the veteran Paul once again taking the helm of the Clippers.

14 years ago, after missing out on teaming up with Kobe, Paul landed in Los Angeles with another team, the Clippers. With peak Paul alongside the superstar rookie Griffin, the Clippers quickly became the new power in the West, earning the nickname "Lob City."

Over six years, they achieved 50+ wins in five consecutive seasons, but ultimately, they only left three first-round exits and three second-round finishes in six seasons. Before Embiid, it was Paul who was often mocked for not reaching the conference finals.

Eight years ago, the Clippers parted ways with Paul, who then moved to Houston. The "Lob City" duo emerged, as peak Paul encountered a soaring Harden. It’s not an exaggeration to say that was the closest Paul ever came to winning a championship, as that year’s narrative was that whoever won the Western Conference Finals would take the title, and Paul was just one game away from escaping the West.

The peak "Lob City" met the peak Warriors, with a strained hamstring and a curse-like 27 consecutive missed three-pointers. In that year’s Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, Paul sat on the bench, witnessing his teammates repeatedly miss three-pointers—a feeling no one could truly understand.

After two consecutive seasons of falling to the Warriors, it’s a fact that tensions arose within the "Lob City" duo. However, looking at the current reunion of Paul and Harden, those past conflicts seem less irreconcilable. Perhaps they should have sat down together back then; if they had, the "Lob City" narrative might have taken a different turn.

In Paul’s final season, he and Harden, two parallel lines that should not have crossed again, fortuitously reunited. Coupled with the rekindling of their Clippers connection, the last player to wear the number 3 jersey for the Clippers was still Paul, as if the jersey had been waiting for its final homecoming.

There’s no doubt the Clippers will retire Paul’s jersey; he led the team through its most glorious era, keeping a steady edge over their city rivals. In fact, Griffin and DeAndre Jordan's jerseys have also been preserved all this time.

Ending his final season with the Clippers is like a fairytale ending for Paul. Wearing a familiar jersey, surrounded by old friends, the team is still on the path to chase the championship.

The current Clippers roster is well-balanced, from starters to bench players, featuring two floor generals in Harden and Paul, along with Zubac and Big Lo, who offer different styles at center. The Clippers can play a traditional big lineup or easily switch to a smaller one.

This year’s playoffs validated the importance of a deep rotation. LeBron also mentioned that the era of the "Big Three" is over; the focus now is on the depth of the team roster, with more players capable of contributing being better. Every move the Clippers made during the offseason aimed to enhance their roster depth, providing the team with greater margin for error.

The current Clippers bench can be said to have players capable of stepping up to starting roles, providing insurance against potential injury risks. The overall strategy remains that Harden serves as the baseline for regular-season success, while the playoffs will require Leonard’s full output.

This Clippers team is certainly not lacking in "veteran experience." With the addition of 40-year-old Paul, the average age of the team has increased. Currently, there are eight players in the starting lineup over 30, with Paul, Harden, Big Lo, and Batum all approaching 36.

Throughout the long season, minor injuries due to aging are inevitable, but fortunately, the Clippers’ deep rotation can handle potential risks. Paul's final dance is a joyful celebration with a group of old boys, but who says it can't be a glorious sunset? At least the emotional aspect of this final season is fully realized.

They say regrets are about the past that cannot be revisited, but they also say not to let regrets linger; there's still time for everything.