How good is Chris Paul? The third-year Hornets’ floor general is plenty good already. After toasting Jason Kidd in Round One, Paul had his way with the Spurs in Game One of the Western Conference Semis, scoring 13 of 17 in the second half while handing out 13 assists and four steals in a 101-82 home win Saturday night.
Paul got plenty of help from teammates David West, who scored a playoff career high 30 (13-of-23 FG) with nine rebounds and 22 from Peja Stojakovic (9-of-15 FG) including a couple of three’s.
After falling behind 8-0 at the start, the Spurs cameback and outscored the Hornets 49-37 the rest of the half to lead by four at halftime. They slowed down the pace and executed in the halfcourt with lightning quick Tony Parker slashing for lay-ups and setting up Bruce Bowen for five treys. The feisty defender got all five in an excellent first half, only scoring two free throws the rest of the way.
The Spurs held a four-point lead early in the third quarter without much from Tim Duncan, who never got untracked finishing a dismal 1-of-9 from the floor, matching a career playoff low with only five points. How ineffective was he? The Big Fundamental only had three total rebounds, two assists and one foul in over 37 minutes. He also bricked three of six free throws, which was a team epidemic. The Spurs misfired on nine of 21 from the line.
Eventually, Duncan’s dreadful game along with a stagnant offense worked in the younger Hornets’ favor. With Paul getting more aggressive, they took control scoring eight straight to go up four. He setup a couple of easy dunks. The Spurs never recovered falling behind by eight after three quarters.
It would only get worse as Paul sliced up their D scoring and setting up open teammates. West also was draining 17-footers from both sides of the court and Stojakovic was taking advantage of mismatches to score inside off the dribble.
The Hornets had it all working. They played outstanding D in the second half outscoring San Antonio by 23 and forcing 13 total turnovers including an unusual five from Parker. By contrast, the hosts turned it over just seven times.
The Spurs were manhandled on the glass getting outrebounded 50-34 with New Orleans doubling them up 16-8 on the offensive glass. Quite a few times, free Hornets got to loose balls for putbacks including one from Bonzi Wells who came off the bench for 10 and a monster follow-up jam by Tyson Chandler, who paced everyone with 15 boards (6 offensive). The ex-Bull also added 10 points and three blocks.
Paul put an exclamation point on the win with a couple of killer crossovers flying by Spurs for easy lay-ins. He also made two consecutive steals including one which concluded with a dunk. Message delivered.
So, can the Spurs recover? Duh. They have before. No way will Duncan be this ineffective in Game Two. Gregg Popovich is a master at adjusting. He knows that if he gets the normal game from his star power forward along with the 42 combined points and 12 assists Parker and super sixth man Manu Ginobili delivered, the defending champs will be right there.
The question is can they slow down the explosive Paul? That remains to be seen. It’s undoubtedly the key to the series.
For the record, before they tipped off my pick was Spurs in 6 due to their wealth of experience. That said, I did give the Hornets a decent chance to win because they match-up. I just think in a 6-7 game series, that trio of Duncan, Parker and Ginobili will find a way to get it done. But if Game One was any indication, they’re going to be severely tested. Don’t forget too that Byron Scott has been around the block before winning three rings with the Lakers and coaching a flawed Nets team to back-to-back NBA Finals. So, he knows what it takes.
It should make for a compelling brand of basketball.
There was one other series which got underway with the Pistons having their way with the Magic 91-72. Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton exposed Orlando’s backcourt of Jameer Nelson and Maurice Evans outscoring them 36-11 with five more assists (10-5) and three fewer turnovers (2 to 5).
Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu each got 18 and had near identical stat lines but as predicted, didn’t do much from the outside making only one three in seven combined attempts. Orlando as a team shot 2-for-15 from three.Â
It didn’t help much that Dwight Howard was banged up bruising his left wrist when now Piston starting power forward Jason Maxiell hit his arm while going for a rebound. In 35-plus minutes, Howard finished with 12 points, eight rebounds and three blocks before sitting out most of the final quarter with the game out of reach. The only decision Stan Van Gundy could make.
The Pistons placed five in double figures including 12 apiece from Maxiell and Tayshaun Prince. Antonio McDyess came off the bench for 10 points, five rebounds and two rejections in 23 minutes.
Game Two is Monday at The Palace with a special 6 ET start time. We’ll try to confirm if that’s accurate.
Later today, the Lakers and Jazz get underway. But first up will be Hawks-Celtics in another Game Seven 20 years after that epic Dominique vs Bird duel with Boston prevailing. The Hawks have never won a road Game Seven in franchise history losing three different times to the Celts. Will the fourth time be the charm? Find out at 1 ET on ABC!
 
