Apr

22

Paul Leads Charge As Hornets Lasso Mavericks Win Game 2 127-103

Posted by Jeff Sack under NBA PLAYOFFS 

Chris Paul laughed at the Dallas Mavericks double team coverage of him Tuesday night and answered with a double-double, and the Charlotte Hornets shot a blistering hot 60.8% (48-79) from the field, and 55.6% (10-18) from outside the arc, and absolutely lay waste to the Dallas Mavericks 127-103. The Hornets take a 2-0 lead with the series switching to Dallas, but if this game was any indicator that won’t matter. The Hornets on Tuesday night were a team on a mission and they were not about to be stopped.

I would not want to be facing the Charlotte Hornets right now in a seven game series. Yes the comparisons will start with last year’s Golden State Warriors, who shocked the Mavericks in the first round last year but this is a much more complete team. If you are a regular reader of mine, then you know that I wrote early in the season that if?I?were the General Manager looking to win a NBA Championship in the next 3 years my point guard would be Chris Paul. Deron Williams is superb, T.J. Ford outside of his health issues is as well. Mike Connelly Jr. has the potential to be a superstar, but Chris Paul is special, Isiah Thomas, Tiny Archibald, special.

They have another young All-Star in power forward David West, who will only get better, and the always dangerous Peja Stojakovic at the other forward position. Mo Peterson is the personification of a gutty player, but the revelation this season was in the middle. Tyson Chandler is a legitimate threat in the middle, and could become dare I write it, an elite big man. Chandler of course was part of the infamous high school draft of 2001. Chandler was taken with the second pick right after the “Supreme Bust” Kwame Brown, Eddy Curry and DeSagana Diop were also top ten picks. But Chandler underwent a transformation this season, aided and abetted by Chris Paul. The Hornets have the potential to go very deep in the 2008 NBA Post Season.

Dallas coach Avery Johnson thought he could be slick and disrupt Paul by double-teaming him. Instead the point guard kept dishing off. Charlotte shot 71% in the first quarter and led 39-29, so much for the double team. Dallas actually got the lead down to single digits in the second quarter, the Hornets pulled away and led 67-51 at the half. Johnson apparently did not feel his team was punished sufficiently in the first half, so he decided to bring them back for the second half. Bad move coach, as the Mavericks were down 20 at the end of the third 99-79. Dallas did not even really ever present any challenge in the final 12 minutes.

Paul led them all with 32 points, a team record 17 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 steals, David West scored 27 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal. Peja Stojakovic scored 22 points, 2 assists, 2 rebounds, Mo Peterson scored 12 points, 2 rebounds. Tyson Chandler had his second double-double of the series, as he scored 10 points, 11 boards, 3 blocks, Jannero Pargo also scored 10 points, 4 assists, 2 steals.

Dallas was led by Dirk Nowitzki, with 27 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block. Brandon Bass scored 19 points, 8 rebounds, 1 steal, Jason Terry scored 16 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds. Josh Howard scored 10 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists. New Orleans now has a 2-0 lead over Dallas.

? Copyright 2008 thesackattack.com



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One Response to “Paul Leads Charge As Hornets Lasso Mavericks Win Game 2 127-103”

  1. Chris Paul Does It All Hornets Shake Up Spurs 102-84 Lead Series 2-0 » Slam Dunk Central on May 6th, 2008 1:27 pm

    [...] They have another young All-Star in power forward David West, who will only get better, and the always dangerous Peja Stojakovic at the other forward position. Mo Peterson is the personification of a gutty player, but the revelation this season was in the middle. Tyson Chandler is a legitimate threat in the middle, and could become dare I write it, an elite big man. Chandler of course was part of the infamous high school draft of 2001. Chandler was taken with the second pick right after the “Supreme Bust” Kwame Brown, Eddy Curry and DeSagana Diop were also top ten picks. But Chandler underwent a transformation this season, aided and abetted by Chris Paul. The Hornets have the potential to go very deep in the 2008 NBA Post Season.? Paul Leads Charge As Hornets Lasso Mavericks Win Game 2 127-103 [...]

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