Well let’s just get this out of the way early: that Chris Paul sure is something special isn’t he.
Since the end of Game 2, I’ve gotten at least seven text messages saying this guy is ‘this’ or ‘that’. The next Isiah Thomas has been the opinion. I just have found it so beautiful to watch him make this leap because he is playing basketball at a ridiculously high level right now. I don’t know if you were able to catch Inside the NBA but they put up a list of players who had consecutive 30 point, 10+ assist games. MJ (of course) topped the list a 3, with a host of players at 2. Up there (there were a bunch) : Magic, The Big O, KJ, Jerry West and now Chris Paul. It’s just ridiculous.
That being said, he didn’t win this game alone. The New Orleans Hornets shot 60% on the game not just Chris Paul. He got those 17 assists tonight for a reason: guys were knocking down shots. In the first quarter alone NO had 12 assists…8 from Paul, 3 from West and 1 from Pargo. When they are making shots as a team, watch the bleep out. Sure Dallas helped with their stubborn desire to try and double-team Paul (forgetting he can find the open man with ease). Not only that but the Hornets did an excellent job of moving the ball as the Mavs scrambled out of the double-team and tried to rotate. It’s pretty much basic basketball: get two on the ball, make the defense rotate and get the best shot possible. New Orleans did it all night. How else do you think CP3 had a double-double by halftime? Double-team, rotate the ball, open buckets. Kudos to his teammates for sharing the ball with each other and actually hitting the shots. Peja (22) and West (27) were outstanding, as was MoPete whose big shots in the third quarter really put extra nails in the Mavericks coffin.
To Dallas they have to figure how the want to defend Chris Paul. He creates offense for everyone. They cannot keep double-teaming him and trying to trap him. It’s not working. Trying to trap him off a ballscreen isn’t working because he’s just dragging the big man and either splitting or hitting the open man. Prime example was the ridiculous lob he threw to Chandler (the one SportsCenter). Dampier stuck with Paul too long and no one was there to cover the rim, that’s how he can just throw it up in the air without looking. The only thing is I cannot think of one thing that Dallas can do to contain him. Normally I would say try and lock down the role players but no one on that team can guard Paul, so he’ll blow by them to the basket and someone will have to help. And that will start the rotations. I just have no clue what Dallas can do. Anyone? I just know they have to try and figure it out before Game 3.
Ernie pointed out a great stat on Inside that the Hornets are winless in the American Airlines Center (0-11) and actually have lost 13 straight in Dallas period. Also, lets be honest…no one really should have expected Dallas to ‘steal’ one from New Orleans. Dallas had a real bad road record (17-24, tied with Utah and Denver for worst out of the Western playoff team). Working in their favor: their 34-7 regular season record in the AAC, tied for second in the West with San Antonio. Again, subscribing to the Barkley Theory…it’s not over until someone loses on their home court. Then again, let’s just be honest it does not look too good for Dallas right now. I won’t be surprised if they figure it out in Game 3, but I won’t be surprised if they don’t. At the end of the day their biggest problem is defensively. They scored 103 points tonight. They scored 92 in a Game 1. But when your opponent drops 127 points and shoots 60% for the game you can’t win.