By Sam Amico
ProBasketballNews.com
CLEVELAND -- Everything you ever wanted to know about Chris Paul the basketball player could be seen in the New Orleans Hornets’ 100-99 win in Cleveland on March 26.
The game went beyond the fact Paul passed for 20 assists … or set up David West for the wide-open game-winning shot … or that he showed determination and grit in refusing to allow his team to lose.
What really makes Paul so special is he’s just a
winner, period. He seems to know who is open,
when they get open, and where they want the ball.
Then he delivers it. He drives, he dishes, he
possesses the unique gift of always being aware
of what’s happening around him -- sometimes
even before it happens.
“That’s what makes him the best point guard in the game,” Cavaliers star LeBron James said after watching Paul distribute the winning assist to West. “He gives them confidence.”
The Cavs have learned firsthand about Paul’s effectiveness. In the two games against the Hornets this season, Paul has combined for 29 assists and nine steals -- and a measly four turnovers.
In the second game, Paul sliced through the Cavs’ defense so much that the Hornets threw down SEVEN open dunks. And that was just in the first quarter.
So when it comes to promoting his 6-foot-0 point guard for league MVP, Hornets coach Byron Scott feels he has plenty of ammunition.
“Just look at his stats,” Scott said. “He’s near the top in the league in scoring (21.7 ppg., 14th), he’s near the top in steals (2.7 spg., first), he’s near the top in assists (11.2 apg., tied for first).”
And, oh yeah, Paul’s once-ignored Hornets have been near the top of the Western Conference all season. Actually, as of March 26 they were ALONE at the top.
“A lot of people didn’t think we’d make the playoffs,” Scott said. “Or they thought if we did make it, we’d be the seventh or eighth seed.”
Paul is also a combined 4-1 this season against James’ Cavs and Kobe Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers. That’s significant because James and Bryant are considered the frontrunners for MVP, with Paul being viewed as the man who’s Most Likely to Finish Third.
“But he means just as much, maybe more, to our team as LeBron and Kobe mean to their teams,” Scott said. “He’s kind of come out of nowhere, but I don’t think there’s a guy who has done as has much for their teams as Chris Paul has done for this one.”
A lot of fans love Paul because he’s more than just a joy to watch. He’s also among the new breed of players who have a deep respect for the game. He thinks about winning first. He enjoys being a leader and watching others on the team succeed. He trusts his coach and understands that being classy still counts.
Like all great point guards, he is a master of communication. He won’t embarrass teammates, but he will be stern if they’re losing focus or not being where they are supposed to be. But once they get to the spot, Paul will give them a shot.
He’s not one of those guys who just says he doesn’t care if he scores -- you can tell by his demeanor, he really doesn’t. But what makes him great is he CAN score and he WILL score, and he’ll do it a lot if that’s what the circumstances require.
He’s a little man who can dominate the game without needing to dominate the shots, or headlines. In that sense, he’s very much like Dallas’ Jason Kidd and Phoenix’s Steve Nash. Or as former NBA guard Eddie Johnson wrote on HoopsHype, he hasn’t seen anyone do the things Paul does with the ball “since Isiah Thomas.”
The New Orleans Hornets? The best in all the West?
Should we really be surprised?
"We've been doing a great job … of being able to convert, make shots, make free throws, make the right decisions,“ Scott said.
“Obviously that helps when you've got a guy like Chris Paul running the show."
