Paul lifts both Hornets and Mavs

Chris Paul had 24 points, 15 assists and 11 rebounds, one piledriver.

ESPN: Mavericks 94, Hornets 99

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- David West stumbled toward the sideline after hitting a fadeaway as he was fouled, then turned toward the bench and slapped the extended hand of Hornets coach Byron Scott.


It was an impromptu but fitting exchange between a player and coach who had plenty to celebrate on Tuesday night.

On the day Scott was named NBA coach of the year for the first time, he gave fans in New Orleans another first: an NBA playoff series victory.

Chris Paul had 24 points, 15 assists and 11 rebounds, and the Hornets held on for a 99-94 victory over the Dallas Mavericks to win their first-round series in five games.

"That coach of the year award ... it wasn't a fluke," Paul said. "It's the frame of mind he puts us in. He gives us that ultimate confidence and he lets us play."

West scored 25 points for New Orleans and Jannero Pargo had 17, while Tyson Chandler had 10 points and 14 rebounds.

Growing Legend

Chris Paul's resume is steadily growing after each outstanding playoff performance. He's now on the list of players to average 24 points, 12 assists and 2 steals for a playoff series. Player Team Round
Chris Paul, '08 Hornets 1st Round
Tim Hardaway, '91 Warriors Conf. Semis
Kevin Johnson, '89 Suns 1st Round
John Stockton, '89 Jazz 1st Round
Magic Johnson, '87 Lakers NBA Finals
Isiah Thomas, '86 Pistons 1st Round
Johnny Moore, '83 Spurs Conf. Semis

Byron Scott wins award for having Chris Paul on his team

NBA.COM--

NEW YORK, April 29, 2008 – New Orleans’ Byron Scott is the recipient of the Red Auerbach Trophy as the 2007-08 NBA Coach of the Year, the NBA announced today.
In his fourth season as the Hornets’ head coach, Scott received 458 points, including 70 first-place votes, from a panel of 125 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. Coaches were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote. Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers was second with 242 points (23 first-place votes) and the Houston Rockets’ Rick Adelman was third with 193 points (17 first-place votes).

Chris Paul is tough on illegal immigrants

Crossing the border: so easy, a caveman can do it!

NBA.COM New Orleans 97, Dallas 84

DALLAS, April 27 (AP) - David West and Chris Paul were on the bench, smiling as they watched thousands of fans headed to their cars.

They were soaking it all in because it might be their last glimpse of Dallas for a while.

West bounced back from a miserable Game 3 with a determined effort in Game 4, scoring 10 points in an early second half rally that sent the Hornets surging past the Mavericks 97-84 on Sunday night, giving them a 3-1 lead in the first-round series.

West had 24 points and nine rebounds, Paul had 16 points, eight assists and seven rebounds and the Hornets ended an 0-for-14 drought in Dallas that dated to January 1998. Now they're headed to New Orleans, hoping to win Game 5 on Tuesday night and avoid coming back to Big D until next season. The Mavericks are on the brink of a second straight first-round exit.

Obama stat line

CNN:
5 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals

The Knicks have reportedly offered him a 6 year, 84 million dollar contract.

"For the past seven days, Chris Paul has been the best basketball player on the planet."

For the past several months, Paul has been the best point guard on the planet.

That is a subjective opinion, but let's get real. It's more than one hometown sportswriter's opinion. It's the consensus around the NBA. And every time Paul steps onto the court, as he will again tonight when the New Orleans Hornets play the Dallas Mavericks in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series, the number grows.

Paul's numbers in the first two games: 35 points, 10 assists, three rebounds, four steals and just one turnover in the Hornets' 104-92 victory in Game 1, then 32 points, 17 assists, five rebounds and three steals, with just three turnovers despite being double teamed throughout, in a 127-103 win in Game 2.

Nobody has opened the playoffs as impressively as Paul. Not Kobe Bryant, who might eventually get the NBA's Most Valuable Player Award this season over Paul; not LeBron James, Paul's buddy and usually considered the fastest-rising star in the game; not even Tim Duncan, Paul's fellow Wake Forest alums and two-time MVP who scored 40 in San Antonio's Game 1 win over Phoenix.

And none of them is a point guard. And, it should be noted, Paul is destroying one of the point guards who held the mantle of best point guard on the planet earlier in his career, Dallas' Jason Kidd.

link

Hornets drop 127 on confused Mavs

New Orleans 127, Dallas 103

NEW ORLEANS, April 22 (AP) -- Still trying to relive their glory days, when, as Dirk described it, "We defeated the one of the greatest teams in NBA history, the Suns without Amare," the Mavs were caught unprepared for Chris Paul's encore.

Dirk Nowitzki skipped out to the perimeter, joining Jason Kidd as they attempted to trap Chris Paul.

Paul promptly let them know they were in for long night, knifing into the lane on the dribble and dropping in a pretty floater.

As brilliant as Paul was in his playoff debut last weekend, this was better.

Paul had 32 points and a franchise playoff-record 17 assists, leading New Orleans to a 127-103 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night that gave the Hornets a 2-0 lead in their first-round series.

David West scored 27 points and Peja Stojakovic 22 for New Orleans, which took a double-digit lead in the second quarter, led by as much as 25 in the third and never looked back.

Paul Lifts Hornets over Mavs for Game 1 Win

NBA.COM:

NEW ORLEANS, April 19 (AP) -- The jitters that come with an NBA playoff debut prevented Chris Paul from taking his typical afternoon nap before playing the Dallas Mavericks.

Unfortunately for the Mavs, Paul was the same player he's been all season when the Hornets needed him most, and the same "M-V-P!'' chants that rained down from the New Orleans Arena stands during numerous recent triumphs made a thunderous postseason return.

Paul had 35 points, 10 assists and four steals in his first playoff game Saturday night, lifting the New Orleans Hornets to a 104-92 come-from-behind victory over Dallas in Game 1 of their first-round series.

Regular Season Over

Chris Paul ended the season leading the league in assists, 11.6 per game, and steals 2.7 per game.

He was the only player to average 20 ppg and 10 apg (and the first since '93.)

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Join the Revolution

Paul's Triple Double helps Hornets tie franchise record

http://www.nba.com/games/20080406/GSWNOH/recap.html

NEW ORLEANS, April 6 (AP) -- Chris Paul's third season in the NBA is turning into a historic one for the New Orleans Hornets.

Paul had 16 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds and New Orleans tied a franchise record for single-season victories with 54 in a 108-96 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday.

It was the fourth career triple-double for Paul, who also had five steals and inspired boisterous chants of "M-V-P! M-V-P!'' from a sellout crowd that watched the Hornets (54-22) win their 11th straight home game and fourth straight overall.

note: an error on the page says New Orleans 108, Phoenix 96

Chris Paul personally clinches playoff spot

http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/17321774.html

NEW ORLEANS - Chris Paul had 33 points and 15 assists, and the New Orleans Hornets became the first Western Conference team to clinch a playoff berth by beating the New York Knicks 118-110 on Friday night.

No-Brainer

http://www.nba.com/news/pom_march_080401.html?rss=true

Chris Paul named player of the month in recoginition for his performance in March.

Highlights:

March 12 vs. San Antonio: Recorded 26 points, 17 assists and three steals in a 100-75 win over the Spurs.
March 14 vs. L.A. Lakers: Netted 27 points, 17 assists and four steals in a 108-98 win over the Lakers.
March 17 vs. Chicago: Tallied 37 points, 13 assists and three steals in a 108-97 victory over the Bulls.
March 25 @ Indiana: Recorded 31 points, 14 assists and three steals in a 114-106 win over the Pacers.