CP3Like the older fellas at a pickup game stepping back onto the floor after a prolonged rest, the San Antonio Spurs couldn’t get loose quickly enough. After being outscored 29-17 in the third quarter of game one, the Spurs looked like they could have used a couple extra warm-up laps coming out of the locker room last night. But frankly, even if they spent the entire intermission standing on the vibrating Power Plate, they still would not have been physically ready for Chris Paul’s third-quarter wreckage.
He remained fresh throughout his 13-point, 4-assist third quarter, while San Antonio tired from just having to chase him around. By the end of the period, San Antonio had been run ragged, and Paul had orchestrated a 36-18 spread, and gave New Orleans a big 78-61 cushion from which they’d never look back.
“In general, they seemed to sustain their energy in the second half,” Gregg Popovich said. “I thought we went the opposite way.”
More than any game this postseason, last night’s battle felt like a boxing match. Paul and the Hornets took whatever the Spurs were giving them in the first half, but San Antonio didn’t have any real pop. Ime Udoka, Michael Finley and Bruce Bowen could have all put a hurt on the Hornets with wide-oped three’s, but couldn’t hit anything. This trio finished 2-13 from deep.
Like a ringside trainer, Byron Scott picked the perfect time to go for the kill, knowing that the Hornets’ young legs would get out of the gates faster than San Antonio’s creaky knees. New Orleans went up 10-0 right out of the break. Popovich called a timeout one minute into the half, as his team trailed by four. But they couldn’t make it out of that round. Six minutes later they were down ten.
In Game one it was Paul jabbing the Spurs steadily and David West throwing the haymakers en route to 30 points. Last night, Paul weakened the Spurs again, and used Peja Stojakovic’s 5-7 three-point attack to knock ‘em to the ground.
May 6th, 2008 at 8:55 am
Three Stacks says:
It really surprises me that the Hornets got only a mediocre game out of West and still blew out the Spurs. Peja and CP3 made up for his production, but if two or three Hornets are gonna have monster games every night for the rest of the series, Spurs are gonna have a hard time coming back.
If New Orleans wins any of the next two in San Antonio, this series is gonna be over. As a Laker fan, I kinda want the Spurs to win so we have a chance to face them in the conference finals and prove who the better team is. But it looks like CP3 is gonna beat us to the punch. If they continue to play like this, they’re a legitimate title threat.
May 6th, 2008 at 9:05 am
nao_diga says:
Anybody check team scoring or point-differential stats by quarter? It’s just an impression, but it seems like New Orleans blows everyone away in the third and fourth quarters. It seems like if they go into halftime within a couple of points of you, they’ve got you right where they want you.
I’m just curious how the Hornets rank in the NBA in thos stats for the last two quarters.
May 6th, 2008 at 9:12 am
Dcbum says:
With the Hornets it seems you have to pick your poison and thats something you really don’t want to do b/c I have seen ppl double CP3 or D-West all year and leave wither the other open or Peja for the 3. I think to defend agianst the Hornets you have to play good team defense.
May 6th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Chuck...A source of knowldge for all says:
Gotta give it to CP3, He did his thing last night!
May 6th, 2008 at 9:19 am
foolio_iglesias says:
Chris Paul put on a point guard clinic and the spurs were in full attendance.
May 6th, 2008 at 9:28 am
GEE...Engine Engine number 9, on the New York transit line says:
Gotta love boxing.
Yea on the score card you most def give round 1 and 2 to N.O. and you would also have to say San An hit that floor in round 2.
So N.O. is way up. Still San. An has the belt so, being the champs they are, they should get back up, but they are going to have to do something about CP for real.
This is really reminding me of Floyd vs. Oscar. The young punks (as Ol Otis would say from Martin) vs. the old experienced guy.
Decision might end up being the same.
May 6th, 2008 at 10:06 am
stophatin says:
Chris Paul = MVP!!!!!!!!!!!
May 6th, 2008 at 10:20 am
Suciniac says:
The most amazing thing is CP3’s been doing this WHOLE SEASON!!!!!Would have been dope if they were facing Utah instead and we would see if he can do the same to the Jazz and D-Will.
Next year’s PG for West All-stars gonna be insane.CP3, D-Will,Iverson,Kidd,B-Diddy,Nash…That’s crazy!!!The East are gonna get smacked.
May 6th, 2008 at 10:35 am
jz_smoove says:
first it was the all-star snub his rookie year. now its gonna be the mvp-snub going against him still. he is so good and likeable that when the recognitions are given to somebody else, you end up liking him even more.
May 6th, 2008 at 11:18 am
E$ says:
The Hornets did sweep the Suns in the regular season, so it’s only right that S.A. would have trouble with the Hornets. If you are watching CP3 play there is no way you see #24 as the MVP. Paul isn’t going to the line 21 times & still killing H.O.F. pg’s.
May 6th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Florin says:
If you only look at CP3’s playing and ask for the MVP, than what should have Kobe said when he was torching Toronto for 81, leading scorers with over 35 ppg, but paying the price for a not competitive team? It was said that he was supposed to lift his team also. Now that he’s done it, by changing to a more mature and complex game, it would be totally unfair to change the way of judging when according the trophy. Nash would have never won twice, if we changed the thinking, right?
May 6th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
GEE...Engine Engine number 9, on the New York transit line says:
Here ya go about CP3
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2008/columns/story?columnist=adande_ja&page=cp3-080506
May 6th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
djKianoosh says:
I also really liked the way Chris Paul got in David West’s face and seemingly told him to cool it after he was getting into it with Oberto. The kid can play, and he’s a good leader, keeping his guys under control. I gotta believe a team like Dallas or Phoenix would have a guy get a T at that point in a game, and that kind of focus and mentality is the kind of thing that prevents the Hornets from losing big leads.
i’m very impressed with his play, and I’ve been watching the Spurs for a while and admiring their execution. but this kid is out-Spur’ing the Spurs at this point. he’s just a great point guard, plain and simple.