#2 New Orleans Hornets vs. #7 Dallas Mavericks 1st Round Western Conference
Too young to have this much fun?
Imagine going up against one of the players you grew up studying with it all on the line. He’s the first road block in your dream to become champion. Could you write a better script?
Naaaah.
We’ll talk about hit here, but the match up between Chris Paul and Jason Kidd personifies the passing of the torch. Jason Kidd in Game 1 is playing his 101st playoff game while Chris Paul laces ‘em up for his first. Even though he didn’t win a deserved MVP either year he took New Jersey to the NBA Finals, we all know Kidd is one of the best point guards of all time (second to Magic (30) in playoff trip dubs with 11). He was brought into Dallas to offer some steady all around leadership as Dallas attempts to get back to the finals. He will do all he can to stay in front of the incredible CP3, but he’ll need a lot of help from his team.
Peja Stojakovic is no stranger to playoff competition himself and will give Paul consistent shooting from the wing off of dribble drive kick outs. David West had an All Star season and is steadily becoming one of the premier power forwards in the league. Tyson Chandler, who leads the league in offensive rebounding, will be flying above the rim having a cup of coffee waiting for one of Paul’s many oops. Chandler also will have to play some serious front court defense. Mo Pete and Bonzi Wells will do what they do and score the ball when open.
Dallas played in shock the entire season after losing to GS in the first round of last year’s playoffs. Have you ever heard of a MVP falling into the woodwork during the season as much as Dirk Nowitzki or was it just me? Was it the media coverage? What was it. Josh Howard is the key to this series because when he scores 20 the Mavs usually win. Dirk is going to get his and so is Jason Terry who kills the Hornets historically.
Avery Johnson has changed the philosophy from high tech fast break with no defense into slow down and take advantage of the match ups given. He will be hard pressed to find an answer for Paul though. Good luck Avery.
Byron Scott has the best job in the NBA for what does he really have to do? When I covered Paul for the feature in SLAM, I wasn’t alone in being impressed with Paul. The entire press row was in awe of this kid. It didn’t matter if he was on the floor, at the scorer’s table or on the bench, he directed the team as if there was one second left in the season. Scott also gushed like a proud papa cheesin’ about his prodigal son. His smile when speaking of Paul signifies one thing: job security. His team will not be favored in this series even though they finished second in the West, but I’m sure Scott loves it that way.
Jason Kidd meet Chris Paul–your successor.
New Orleans Hornets in 6.
Dirk will get his but Paul will be too much and the Hornets will be inspired by the lack of national attention to send Dallas home in the first round again. Watch ya back Avery. If you lose here they will try to get you out of there–despite your success–which is straight bs.
Game 1: New Orleans 104, Dallas 92
Hornets:
Chris Paul: 35 points, 10 dimes, 3 rips, 4 steals. His points were the second most ever in a playoff debut
David West: 23 points, 8 rips, 4 blocks
Tyson Chandler: 10 points, 15 rips (7 offensive)
Mavs:
Dirk Nowitzki: 31 points, 10 rips
Josh Howard: 17 points, 8 rips
Jason Kidd: 11 points, 9 rips, 9 dimes
Key to the game: An otherworldly Chris Paul going off in his first playoff game
Sphere: Related Content
April 20th, 2008 at 2:56 am
[...] He’s the first road block in your dream to become champion. Could you write a better script? credit : [...]
April 20th, 2008 at 3:12 am
[...] #2 New Orleans Hornets vs #7 Dallas Mavericks 1st Round Western …Too young to have this much fun? Imagine going up against one of the players you grew up studying with it all on the line. He’s the first road block in your dream to become champion. Could you write a better script?The Starting Five - http://thestartingfive.net/ [...]