NBA Playoffs 2011: Chris Paul Could Hurt the L.A. Lakers, If It Was 2008
The New Orleans Hornets would probably be underdogs in their first-round playoff matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers even with injured forward David West, but if the Hornets had the 2008 version of point guard Chris Paul, at least it might be interesting.
In 2008 Paul battled Lakers guard Kobe Bryant down to the wire for the NBA's MVP award, and his Hornets fought Bryant's Lakers tooth and nail for supremacy in the Western Conference.
Bryant and the Lakers prevailed in each instance, but during the 2007-08 season there were many people who considered Paul to be not only the league's best point guard, but its best player period.
Paul averaged 21.1 points, 11.6 assists, 4 rebounds, 2.4 steals and shot 46 percent from the field and 38 percent from the three-point line that season. Paul's numbers would be even better the following year.
But during the 2009-10 season, Paul suffered a series of leg injuries and missed 37 regular-season games as a result, and his game hasn't been quite the same since.
Paul is arguably the NBA's most complete point guard, and there are few others who are able to boast of such a wide and varied range of skills.
Paul's court vision may be unrivaled, he is one of the best ball-handlers I have ever seen and Paul's instincts in the passing lanes always keep him near the top of the NBA in steals.
But the one thing that made Paul truly exceptional was his burst off the dribble and his explosiveness.
Paul's quickness combined with his superior ball-handling skills and vision made him a terror to defend in the open court, and a nightmare in the Hornets' pick-and-roll offense.
There was simply no way to stay in front of Paul in transition, and he regularly dribbled past defenders in half-court sets.
But surgery on his left knee and numerous ankle problems have robbed Paul of his former explosiveness, and now there are whispers that he may never be the player he once was.
Paul is still considered to be one of the league's top point guards, and he still managed to average 15.8 points per game and nearly 10 assists this season, but there is no denying that something is missing from his game.
In the Hornets' regular-season finale against the Dallas Mavericks, Paul was still able to dribble past defenders, but once he got to the rim, he was not nearly as effective finishing as he has been in the past.
It was clearly visible that Paul had little lift in his legs, and although he was able to penetrate, it was due more to his incredible dribbling skills rather than his quickness.
The fact that Paul still gets votes by many as the NBA's best lead guard is a testament to his overall skill level, but if Paul were truly healthy would there even be any doubt?
There are few people who give the Hornets any chance against the Lakers, and there are even some who are predicting a sweep. After a quick glance at the Hornets' roster, it's easy to understand why.
Including Paul, New Orleans has a total of five players who average double-figure scoring, but as a team it only averages 94.9 points per game, which is 14th in the conference.
The Hornets only allow 94 points per game, but without West they are severely undermanned in the paint against the Lakers.
Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom should be able to get just about anything they want offensively against the Hornets in the post, and if the Lakers big men get rolling, this series could quickly dissolve into a blood bath.
Paul should still dominate his matchup with the Laker point guards even if he is a step or two slower, but it's highly doubtful that he will have a big enough impact to even create a ripple in the series.
The Hornets were dominated in the regular season by the Lakers, and there is a good chance that run will continue in the postseason. The 2008 version of Paul would probably not affect the outcome of the series, but he would definitely make it more interesting.
