Personal views aside - Do you think Chris Paul is tanking his season on purpose?

[jjktkk]

Paul has one more season before he can opt out. the best thing for the Hornets to do is trade him at the end of the year unless some miracle happens.

You need a new owner. Why would you blow up the Hornets? You got two all stars, a nice group of perimter players and you could do worse than Okafer at the 5. Shore up the front line depth and tighten up the D, and N.O. is right back in the thick of things.

[Pelicans78]

He's not tanking at all.

First of all. He doesn't appear to have his strength back in his knee. He can't shoot over defenders and cannot get enough strength to shoot off the dribble like before.

I do think he is pacing himself. Maybe not for another team like Zack Greinke did last season, but maybe for the 2nd half of the year or the playoffs.

He really can't take over a game offensively right now. He doesn't have the explosiveness to do it. That's why he's relying on West.

[LeHeat_Dynasty]

He's not giving the Hornets 100% and I don't blame him. Who would want to stay in that franchise and throw lobs at Emeka Okafor or dish to David West, when he can go to a stable market in NY, get his exposure and play under D'Antoni's offense and throw oops to Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthnoy.

No brainer.

[buttsR4rebounding]

"Personal views aside" take this poll...what is a response to a poll other than a personal view? Thanks, Yogi!

[bus driver]

no, he has always sucked

[ElNono]

It's the injury

[Mel_13]

1st-win shares
1st-win shares/48
2nd-defensive win shares
2nd-offensive win shares
10th- defensive rating
2nd- offensive rating
1st-steal %
3rd-assist %
13th- true shooting %
3rd- PER
1st- steals per game
3rd- assists per game
1st- steals
1st- assists
6th- FT %
7th- 3pt %
15th- minutes played

Finally look at the team's record this year compared to last year. That's some stealth tanking.

[Darth_Pelican]

He's not tanking at all.

First of all. He doesn't appear to have his strength back in his knee. He can't shoot over defenders and cannot get enough strength to shoot off the dribble like before.

I do think he is pacing himself. Maybe not for another team like Zack Greinke did last season, but maybe for the 2nd half of the year or the playoffs.

He really can't take over a game offensively right now. He doesn't have the explosiveness to do it. That's why he's relying on West.

That is the optimist's point of view and hopefully is the case.

I do think when Chris Paul met with Monty Williams and management before the season (the one which he came out of saying "i don't want to be traded, I love New Orleans"), they came up with a plan to keep his minutes down as he is definitely not fully healthy yet.

But there is no doubt that sometimes he just looks bored and uninterested in the game.

I think it's too early to say he is tanking on purpose. Let's see what he does down the stretch and in the playoffs.

[Koolaid_Man]

sons this is meant to be a serious post. I know that most people on this board hate Paul and vote against him in any polls just out of spite, but please put your personal views aside and answer the question honestly. Do you think that Chris Paul is tanking his season / not giving 100% on purpose because he wants to be traded?

Since about the 2nd week of the season I started noticing something different about Chris Paul this year. Everything at that time was all good because the Hornets started undefeated, but with the exception of a couple of games Paul had only minor roles in any of the team's success. Some are using his injury excuse, but I think it is quite obvious that he wants out and is half ass playing. He doesn't play aggressive hardly at all with the exception of only a few moments every other game or so and he looks bored out of his mind just going through all of the motions.
Paul says that he "only wants to win", and the Hornets are doing just that with a 26-16 record right now and clearly a legit playoff team ... yet Paul has truly had very little to do with it. Now of course he has had something to do with the Hornets 26 wins so far, but shouldn't a player of his caliber and hype who has been mentioned in the same sentence as guys like Lebron, Wade, Durant, etc. have more to do with it than he has? If you have watched the Hornets all season (not just whenever they play YOUR team) then you will know what I am talking about. David West has clearly been the leader of this team creating his own shots and leading the scoring, with Emeka Okafor doing a of a job under the basket, and other guys like Thornton and Bellineli stepping up on occasions to fill in that 3rd option.

Now for those of you who don't agree with me, here are some facts ...

-He has taken about 160 LESS shot attempts at this point in the season than he did last season.

- He is averaging the lowest amount of shot attempts per game this season than he has his entire career

- He is currently on pace to average the lowest amount of points per game AND rebounds per game this season in his entire career.

- He is currently on pace to dish out the lowest amount of ASSIST since 2006.

yes he is...now have you given more thought to that Laker Fan contract I asked you to sign. The sky is falling in Nawlings Dawg...I'm offering you the opportunity of a life-time to join with us...Now I won't extend my hand or my Olive Branch forever so I advise you make a decision soon...

Remember there's nothing else out there for you son...Real Talk

[ElNono]

1st-win shares
1st-win shares/48
2nd-defensive win shares
2nd-offensive win shares
10th- defensive rating
2nd- offensive rating
1st-steal %
3rd-assist %
13th- true shooting %
3rd- PER
1st- steals per game
3rd- assists per game
1st- steals
1st- assists
6th- FT %
7th- 3pt %
15th- minutes played

Finally look at the team's record this year compared to last year. That's some stealth tanking.

You forgot:
1st - passing up shots in the 4th quarter

[ButtHurt Committee]

Paul is following the leadership of his friend James. You know he has more fire than he's displayed thus far. I don't blame him for wanting to leave, but he shouldn't cheat the fans with his sub-par play.

[DPG21920]

Would you get hyped to play in front of the worst fanbase in all of pro sports?

[ButtHurt Committee]

Would you get hyped to play in front of the worst fanbase in all of pro sports?

Dirk does. Even still, that town needs more than Paul to attract a strong following.

[Mel_13]

You forgot:
1st - passing up shots in the 4th quarter

.619 team winning percentage. How'd they do last year without him?

[Mel_13]

2009-10 w/o Paul:

14-23 .378 winning percentage.

[DMC]

Chris Paul will end up either in LA, Miami or NY.

[DPG21920]

Dirk does. Even still, that town needs more than Paul to attract a strong following.

Mavfans are always at the games. They may be bandwagon and care about the cowboys more, but both arenas are usually pretty full.

Nothing the Hornets do will be enough. Nothing.

[ElNono]

.619 team winning percentage. How'd they do last year without him?

Still passing up shots in the 4th quarter...

[Mel_13]

Still passing up shots in the 4th quarter...

Still winning....

[ElNono]

Still winning....

Despite Paul passing up shots in the 4th...

[Mel_13]

Despite Paul passing up shots in the 4th...

[ElNono]

[Killakobe81]

I doubt Paul is 100% Been saying that since the hornets were streaking to start the season ... Paul used to just dominate. He still gets his steals, drops dimes with a low number of TO's and shoots a high % but so does Jose Calderon (without the steals)

Paul was the top PG or at least top 2 3 seasons ago ... Now? Some have him barely third ... some have him out the top 5 ...

[Killakobe81]

1st-win shares
1st-win shares/48
2nd-defensive win shares
2nd-offensive win shares
10th- defensive rating
2nd- offensive rating
1st-steal %
3rd-assist %
13th- true shooting %
3rd- PER
1st- steals per game
3rd- assists per game
1st- steals
1st- assists
6th- FT %
7th- 3pt %
15th- minutes played

Finally look at the team's record this year compared to last year. That's some stealth tanking.

putting up these stats is a direct indictment of advance metrics. Even hornets fans no these numbers ring hollow. I do think he is still effective and the numbers bear that out ESPECIALLY win% ... but Paul is no wera near the top at anything except steals if you avctually watch the games ...

[Mel_13]

putting up these stats is a direct indictment of advance metrics. Even hornets fans no these bumbers ring hollow. I do think he is still effective and the numbers bear that out ESPECIALLY win% ... but Paul is no wera near the top at anything except steals if you avctually watch the games ...

I wasn't trying to make a case for MVP, just that he's not tanking.