Los Angeles Lakers Owe One to the New Orleans Hornets

If the Los Angeles Lakers go on to win the NBA Championship, they should seriously consider cutting in Chris Paul for a share of their purse. While they are at it, they can vote half-shares to David West and Tyson Chandler.

Hearken back to a little over a week ago.

It was the Chris Paul-led New Orleans Hornets that gave the San Antonio Spurs fits in their semifinal round of the Western Conference Finals.

They blew out the Spurs in the first two games in New Orleans by 19 and 18 points, respectively. They stretched and extended the older Spurs like a Spandex leotard on a fat lady.

Fortunately, the Spurs had two days to snap back before for Game 3 and another two days before Game 4. That gave their weary bones just enough time to regain their strength and take both games in front of their home crowd at the AT&T Center.

But then they had to return to New Orleans on only one day’s rest, and the Hornets pounded them again in Game 5, this time by 22 points. Those legs didn’t do so well with just one day between games.

Facing elimination, the Spurs returned to AT&T Center, where they were again able to win in front of their home crowd.

However, they would have to return to New Orleans for the fateful, winner-take-all, Game 7.

Now here is where the Lakers should also consider cutting in David Stern for a share of the winner’s purse should they defeat the Spurs and go on to defeat the winner of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Stern scheduled Game 7 of the semi-final round with…Are you ready for this?…three days rest.

Three days? That was enough time for the Spurs to not only chill out and rejuvenate but have organ transplants if they so desired.

The result: Spurs 91, Hornets 82.

By the Hornets pushing the Spurs to seven games, they pushed them virtually on wheelchairs into the conference finals, where there is only one day’s rest between games.

The result: Spurs blow a 20-point third quarter lead and lose Game 1. Then they get blown out by 30 points in Game 2.

Get the picture Lakers fans? With only one day to recover, do you see why there is a very strong possibility this series will not go more than four games?

Yes, that’s right. I said four games.

If there had not been three full days of rest between Game 6 and Game 7 in the semi-final round, I am convinced the Lakers would be dining in New Orleans this weekend instead of along the River Walk.

Above all, the Lakers should definitely vote Peja Stojakovic a share of the purse. His miserable 3-for-11 shooting (1-for-5 beyond the arc) cost the Hornets that final game and the series, despite having to play a fully rested San Antonio team.

It is difficult to say just how a series between the Lakers and Hornets would come out. But one thing is certain. Keeping up with Chris Paul and trying to eliminate the Hornets would be much tougher for the Lakers than playing the Spurs, who have only one day of rest between each game.

Sort of gives new meaning to the term "one and done."