May

6

Chris Paul Does It All Hornets Shake Up Spurs 102-84 Lead Series 2-0

Posted by Jeff Sack under NBA PLAYOFFS 

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

Chris Paul Monday night again showed just how special a player he is as he recorded a double-double scoring a game high 30 points, and dishing off 12 assists. Paul led the New Orleans Hornets to a 102-84 beat down of the San Antonio Spurs, giving them a 2-0 lead in the best of seven second round series. If you watched the game Monday night you saw something on the faces of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili that looked strangely out of place. What it was was the look of fear, as they see their hope of back to back NBA Titles starting to diminish. They are seeing a team in their first trip to the NBA Playoffs playing like savvy veterans.

The first half was back and forth as both teams played competitively. The Spurs at the end of the first quarter led by a very slim 23-22 margin. It was still just a one point game at the half as San Antonio went into the locker room ahead 43-42. But the Hornets took charge in the third quarter, and at the end of the period they led 78-61. The Spurs never really mounted a viable challenge in the fourth.

Chris Paul scored 30 points, 12 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, in the New Orleans victory. Peja Stojakovic scored 25 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, Mo Peterson scored 12 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal. David West also recorded a double-double as he scored 10 points, grabbed 10 boards, 5 assists.

Tim Duncan led San Antonio, and though he was more effective than in game one, he was far from vintage Duncan. The San Antonio big man scored 18 points, 8 rebounds, 1 block. Brent Barry was big off the bench as he scored 14 points, 3 assists, 1 rebound, Manu Ginobili scored 13 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds. Tony Parker scored 11 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists. The series resumes Thursday night as they travel to San Antonio for game three, which may be a must win at least mentally? for the Spurs.

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