duncan228
05-02-2008, 10:55 PM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA050308.10C.BKNhornets.paul.c1d978c6.html
Paul's beacon lights way to success in New Orleans
By Mike Finger
[email protected]
WESTWEGO, La. — Bonzi Wells can’t remember the first time he noticed it. He isn’t sure if others can see it, or even how to explain it to them if they don’t.
But just as sure as the Superdome still stands in New Orleans and jazz still echoes down Bourbon Street, an indescribable, undeniable luminescence lives in Chris Paul.
Of this, Wells is quite certain.
“I tell him all the time, he’s got that glow,” said Wells, who joined Paul and the Hornets at midseason. “There’s just something about him that makes him stand out in everything he does.”
Today, as the second round of the NBA playoffs begin, the Spurs will be exposed to that glow, and it’s the biggest reason why some think the New Orleans Hornets have a fighting chance. All Paul and his aura did over the past few months was post one of the most statistically impressive seasons by any point guard in league history, and carried his team to its first division title in franchise history.
In only his second professional season, the 22-year-old Paul became only the sixth player in NBA history to score more than 20 points (he averaged 21.1) and dish out more than 10 assists (he averaged 11.6) per game. He’s the first player to lead the league in both steals and assists (2.7 per game) since John Stockton did it 16 years ago.
In fact, his dominance has been so overwhelming that even hardened, tough-to-impress veterans in other cities are dropping their jaws. The Spurs’ Robert Horry said Paul is performing better than any point guard he’s ever played with or against.
“He’s doing the same things Steve Nash did when he won MVP,” Horry said, “except he plays D.”
Said Tim Duncan, who preceded Paul at Wake Forest: “He’s come along so quick. You saw it at Wake, too.
“He’s a born point guard. He’s a born leader.”
The biggest question facing Paul heading into the playoffs was his lack of postseason experience, but thus far he’s made such concerns laughable. Against Dallas in the first round, Paul played even better than he did in the regular season, averaging 24.6 points, 12.0 assists and 5.6 rebounds per game. He torched Jason Kidd, shredded Jason Terry and made a mockery of the Mavericks defense, but he doesn’t act like any of it was anything special.
“All season long,” Paul said, “I’ve just taken what the defense has given me.”
Paul, who figures to receive a tougher task against the Spurs’ defenders than he did against Dallas, said he doesn’t consider his playoff inexperience as a significant factor (“It’s still basketball,” he said).
And there’s at least one coach who knows better than to take Paul lightly just because he’s never played a game in May before.
“Everything he does is difficult to handle,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.
Still, to hear Wells tell it, Popovich doesn’t yet realize what he’s in for.
“You don’t understand the magnitude of how good that guy really, really is until you see it every day,” Wells said.
The glow is there. Now the Spurs have to make sure they’re not blinded by it.
Paul's beacon lights way to success in New Orleans
By Mike Finger
[email protected]
WESTWEGO, La. — Bonzi Wells can’t remember the first time he noticed it. He isn’t sure if others can see it, or even how to explain it to them if they don’t.
But just as sure as the Superdome still stands in New Orleans and jazz still echoes down Bourbon Street, an indescribable, undeniable luminescence lives in Chris Paul.
Of this, Wells is quite certain.
“I tell him all the time, he’s got that glow,” said Wells, who joined Paul and the Hornets at midseason. “There’s just something about him that makes him stand out in everything he does.”
Today, as the second round of the NBA playoffs begin, the Spurs will be exposed to that glow, and it’s the biggest reason why some think the New Orleans Hornets have a fighting chance. All Paul and his aura did over the past few months was post one of the most statistically impressive seasons by any point guard in league history, and carried his team to its first division title in franchise history.
In only his second professional season, the 22-year-old Paul became only the sixth player in NBA history to score more than 20 points (he averaged 21.1) and dish out more than 10 assists (he averaged 11.6) per game. He’s the first player to lead the league in both steals and assists (2.7 per game) since John Stockton did it 16 years ago.
In fact, his dominance has been so overwhelming that even hardened, tough-to-impress veterans in other cities are dropping their jaws. The Spurs’ Robert Horry said Paul is performing better than any point guard he’s ever played with or against.
“He’s doing the same things Steve Nash did when he won MVP,” Horry said, “except he plays D.”
Said Tim Duncan, who preceded Paul at Wake Forest: “He’s come along so quick. You saw it at Wake, too.
“He’s a born point guard. He’s a born leader.”
The biggest question facing Paul heading into the playoffs was his lack of postseason experience, but thus far he’s made such concerns laughable. Against Dallas in the first round, Paul played even better than he did in the regular season, averaging 24.6 points, 12.0 assists and 5.6 rebounds per game. He torched Jason Kidd, shredded Jason Terry and made a mockery of the Mavericks defense, but he doesn’t act like any of it was anything special.
“All season long,” Paul said, “I’ve just taken what the defense has given me.”
Paul, who figures to receive a tougher task against the Spurs’ defenders than he did against Dallas, said he doesn’t consider his playoff inexperience as a significant factor (“It’s still basketball,” he said).
And there’s at least one coach who knows better than to take Paul lightly just because he’s never played a game in May before.
“Everything he does is difficult to handle,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.
Still, to hear Wells tell it, Popovich doesn’t yet realize what he’s in for.
“You don’t understand the magnitude of how good that guy really, really is until you see it every day,” Wells said.
The glow is there. Now the Spurs have to make sure they’re not blinded by it.