Paul Out Duels Kidd Hornets Top Nets 84-82

Remember that scene in those old westerns, when the new gunslinger challenges the aging gunslinger to a duel? You can tell right away by the young guy’s expression who is going to win. If he seems edgy, nervous, hyper, he’s a goner. His skills may be better, but you know old school is going to beat him by mastering the moment. By keeping his emotions under control. But every once in a while that challenger would have that steely cool look in his eye. No emotion, very slow and deliberate movements. You knew the champ was going down.? East Rutherford, New Jersey, is certainly not the West, but a duel between two gunslingers took place there just the same. And the young guy won as Chris Paul out dueled Jason Kidd Monday night as the?New Orleans?Hornets beat the New Jersey Nets 84-82. Paul the Hornets point guard won the game sinking a jumper with 2.6 seconds left on the clock.

Paul,? is becoming an elite NBA point guard. If you are a regular reader of mine you know I have been writing that consistently.?I have written about covering him at the first round of the NCAA Tournament held in Cleveland a few years ago. I have written about after watching this young man from my court-side seat on press row, and seeing his explosiveness on the court. I also witnessed a young man who showed that he was a leader a natural point guard, you are born with that you can’t learn that skill. I have written about how I told everybody and anybody I knew at that tournament after watching him he was going to be the real deal. He would one day be a huge name in the NBA. Despite the cockiness he showed on the floor, he was quiet and humble in the post game interview session.?He kept deflecting praise to his teammates and his coach, saying that he was just part of the team. That was when I knew for sure that this young man got it. He was destined for success,?his performance against New Jersey Monday?went a long way in validating my prediction.

?Monday night he went up against?an almost certain Hall of Fame point guard in J-Kidd, and not only won the game but won the individual battle as well. Chris scored 27 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds, and had 3 steals. he shot 11-21 from the field, 3-5 from outside the?arc, and went 2-2 at the line.?The Hornets kept stinging all night with the trey as they shot as a team 11-17 an incredible 64.7%. All five New Orleans starters scored in double figures, the rest led by Tyson Chandler who had 14 points and 12 boards.

Kidd was just one rebound a way from a triple-double with 14 points, 10 assists, and 9 rebounds, but this season the Nets have become Richard Jefferson’s team. At least so far! Jefferson had a game high 32 points, 6 boards, 4 assists, Nenad Krstic had 12 points, 10 rebounds, and Antoine Wright had 12 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds. Wright was in for the injured Vince Carter who underwent a MRI earlier Monday on his sprained ankle. No timetable has been set for Carter’s return. New Orleans is now 6-2 while New Jersey is at 4-3.

There will be more battles for the young gunslinger, including rematches with Kidd. Paul went up against another elite point guard Tony Parker last week as his team played San Antonio, he lost that battle. But Monday night Chris Paul can put a notch on his barrel, he beat one of the best!