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Report: Hornets Offering Emeka Okafor For Expiring Contract

Tom Ziller — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:09:00 EST

Yeoman beat man Sam Amick of the Sacramento Bee reports the Kings are mulling a trade offer from the Hornets that would send high-priced center Emeka Okafor to Sacramento in exchange for roleplaying, aging forward Kenny Thomas. K-9 has looked spry in early action for the Kings, but his best attribute is his $8.7 million expiring contract. Okafor is on the books through the 2013-14 season.

New Orleans acquired Okafor this summer, committing a grip of cash long-term in the process. The Hornets sent Tyson Chandler -- an expensive center himself, but on a much shorter contract -- to Charlotte in the deal, which came several months after the Hornets tried to unload Chandler for a package of expiring contracts amid the throes of a playoff chase. Chandler, however, failed his physical with the Thunder, reversing the trade.

In other words, this trade would effectively finish the job of losing Chandler's contract, and would set the tone for continued salary cuts from New Orleans. Boo to all that.

When the team announced the dismissal of coach Byron Scott this week, executives insisted the team would not slip into rebuilding mode. But moving Okafor -- the team's only legit starting center -- for a player so limited in a move so obviously inspired by finances is concession. The franchise would be conceding that the team will not contend this year. I'm sure Chris Paul and David West will be thrilled with that.

The initial Chandler-Thunder move was fairly depressing on this front. However, that move had Chris Wilcox and Joe Smith heading to New Orleans for the stretch run. It was what one could call a "quasi-salary dump," because Smith and Wilcox could definitely have helped the Hornets heading into the playoffs, and because Chandler wasn't himself last year. But Okafor is now healthy, and Thomas is not an inspiring acquisition. He rebounds and defends, but he shouldn't play more than spot duty, and he's a huge minus on offense. I have no qualms in suggesting he would blow a full 50 percent of the potential assists Paul would toss his way.

Trading Okafor after firing Scott after trying to trade Chandler for expiring contracts is a real nice way to tick off Paul, the team's top asset by a wide, wide, wide, wide margin. As such, it's a pretty bad move.

Report: Hornets Offering Emeka Okafor For Expiring Contract originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:09:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chris Paul Sprains Ankle, Out 1-2 Weeks

Tom Ziller — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 09:11:00 EST

Filed under: Hornets, NBA Injuries

Not the best night for the New Orleans Hornets. In the team's first game under new coach Jeff Bower, supernova point guard Chris Paul was ineffective and reportedly frosty through three quarters, before spraining his ankle and leaving the game, an eventual 86-78 loss to the Blazers. The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports that the ankle injury is severe enough to knock Paul out for up to two weeks.

Despite the Hornets' disappointing start, Paul has been the best player in the league statistically. Paul is averaging nearly 24 points and nine assists per game, and has shot 59 percent from the field and 65 percent from three. Rookie Darren Collison played the fourth quarter of Friday's game and is expected to start Saturday in Atlanta.

UPDATE: Yahoo! is reporting that Paul could be out of action for up to a month.

More Coverage: Fantasy Impact of Paul's Injury

Chris Paul Sprains Ankle, Out 1-2 Weeks originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 09:11:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chris Paul Wishes He'd Been Consulted on Byron Scott Firing

Tom Ziller — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:42:00 EST

Filed under: Hornets, NBA Coaches

Smartly, the Hornets braintrust offered up a player for the media horde at the press conference announcing the firing of Byron Scott and the ascension of Jeff Bower. It was David West, the All-Star power forward, who said generally negative things about recent times under Scott and who publicly placed some faith in Bower. Of course, the media (and fans) really only cared what superstar Chris Paul thought ... but Paul was otherwise tied up Thursday.

Eventually, John Reid of the New Orleans Times-Picayune found Paul and got his thoughts on the move. And you understand why the Hornets are glad Paul was unavailable, and he was not nearly as optimistic about the change as West.

Paul told Reid that the move caught him off-guard, and that he wishes Bower and team management would have consulted him before firing Scott. Paul claims he doesn't want hire/fire power, but just to be warned of pending change. That seems like a fair request, especially considering that given Paul's status as a top-five player he could be pressing for a lot more power.

All told, Paul seems diplomatic about it all. Even when players react to coaching changes with apoplexy, things tend to calm down quickly. Uncertainty breeds fear; by the time N.O. finishes its rough weekend back-to-back (home vs. Portland Friday, at Atlanta Saturday), the players will have another coach to be mad at, and all will be well.

Chris Paul Wishes He'd Been Consulted on Byron Scott Firing originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:42:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jeff Bower, Tim Floyd Take Over Hornets

Tom Ziller — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:32:00 EST

Filed under: Hornets, NBA Coaches

Word leaked soon after Hornets coach Byron Scott's dismissal became known that New Orleans GM Jeff Bower would take the reins as head coach, with former Hornets ~~disaster~~ coach Tim Floyd coming back to assist him. At a press conference announcing the moves, Hornets exec Hugh Weber told reporters Bower does not have an interim tag on his title: he is the coach for this season.

Now who exactly is Jeff Bower, other than someone who looks more like a professional bowler than someone involved in basketball?

Bower has been with the Hornets since 1995, working as a scout, an assistant coach and a general manager. He has never been a head coach at any level. He worked under both Paul Silas and Floyd as an assistant, and before joining the Hornets was an assistant at Marist and Penn State. He finished third in NBA Executive of the Year voting in 2008, but has since been criticized for some rather short-sighted acquisitions and a less-than-stellar draft record.

Bower has a bald head and a moustache, which have no bearing on his coaching skills, but c'mon, like I can go without mentioning that?

Floyd is, unfortunately, well known by NBA heads. He preceded Scott in the Hornets' coaching chair, getting canned after a season in which he took a rather stacked squad to a .500 record and a first-round exit back when New Orleans counted as an Eastern Conference club.

Prior to that 41-41 season, Floyd had an NBA coaching record of 49-190, all spent with the post-MJ Bulls. He is regarded terribly by almost everyone who observes the pro game, with the exception of Jerry Krause and (apparently) Jeff Bower. Floyd was a successful college coach, tallying a 327-181 record over 16 seasons. He coached the University of New Orleans for six years in the '90s, earning him some popularity in the Crescent City that would later help him get the Hornets job.

N.O., of course, had little choice in moving Bower to the hot seat. Scott didn't carry assistant coaches with much experience (none has ever been an NBA head coach) and the only marquee coach currently available is Avery Johnson, who you figure might get a look this summer but would be a tough leader to fit in seamlessly during the season. Of course, if New Orleans can't turn this around, that might not matter.

I hesitate to predict Bower will be awful, considering that Tony DiLeo actually did a swell job in Philadelphia last season having had little NBA coaching experience. The jobs done by Ed Tapscott (like DiLeo, a career front office type) and Jay Triano (a longtime assistant coach) were less impressive, but that shouldn't prejudice Bower. He has a top-five player and a few other decent pieces, which is actually quite a lot to work with. We'll see how it goes.

Jeff Bower, Tim Floyd Take Over Hornets originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:32:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Did Paul Make a Mistake Re-Signing?

Matt Moore — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:05:00 EST

Filed under: Hornets

Flash forward seven months from now. Teams are rife with cap space, even under a substantially lowered cap. Friends of yours are all traveling to different teams, finding which team is the best fit financially, personally, and most importantly, in terms of playing for a contender. The world is their oyster. There is nothing but possibility and with the right decision, they'll walk away not only even more obscenely rich than they were before, but in a better situation to put the ring on their finger.

Meanwhile, you're staring at another two and a half seasons watching Peja Stojakovic and James Posey slowly turn into the bad guy from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade after drinking from the wrong cup and being coached by the GM that shackled your team with huge contracts for mid-level players.

Welcome to the life of Chris Paul.

Take a look at this photo taken at the press conference announcing Paul's extension in 2008. There's Byron Scott, the proud papa, reaching out to his young All-Star. In that same article, Paul is actually quoted saying, "I think we're going to be fine for the future." Today, with the proud papa kicked out of the house, the All-Star fuming during games while his teammates deny him assist after assist, things could not seem more different.

When Paul signed that extension, the Hornets were coming off of a seven-game run at the Spurs which they led the Western Conference final 3-2 at one point. They had Paul, Tyson Chandler, and David West, along with Jannero Pargo for instant points and Julian Wright, the high-potential project. Sure, Peja would probably slow down as he got older, but really, the Hornets were just a few pieces away.

Then came the rather mediocre 2008-09 campaign followed by a beatdown from the Denver Nuggets (which was actually barred in some theaters in the Midwest due to excessive violence upon a basketball team's dignity). Now Paul is coachless, hopeless and watching his friends Dwyane Wade and LeBron James compete for championships AND have the option to go elsewhere, while he has neither option.

Paul's decision to re-sign was largely based on loyalty and faith in the franchise. A franchise which has chosen poor long-term planning and non-aggressive moves over seriously committing to building a championship for its star. Paul was heavily involved in the rebuilding efforts in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and -- as was evidenced by his role in the 2008 All-Star festivities -- was more than just a good player for New Orleans but also the face of the city. The Hornets will never be as big as the Saints, but during that 2008 run, the city was behind that team 100 percent. New Orleans looked like a viable market with a great team, great coaching and one of the top five players in the league.

How eerily similar is this to Kevin Garnett's run with Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell? Will Paul end up in the same scenario, not wanting to betray the fans but dying of defeat in a small market while his friends thrive under bigger, brighter lights?

If the world were fair, Paul's allegiance to his franchise in signing early, avoiding all the distractions that come with impending free agency and making a serious commitment to the city would be rewarded with competent management, great surrounding talent and the opportunity to win championships. And that's certainly what it looked like two years ago.

But the world is not fair. It is a cruel, vicious Lakers fan that thinks Paul should have watched out for his own self -- and is now punishing him for that loyalty.

While Byron Scott is packing his office and weighing his options for the future, Paul is dealing with not only what's shaping up as a losing season but also the choice between sticking by the city that loves him and the franchise that he believed ... or the reality that if he wants to take full advantage of his talent and reach all of his goals, he may need to act the malcontent and force a move elsewhere.

It's terrifying how quickly life can turn on you.

Did Paul Make a Mistake Re-Signing? originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Byron Scott Unlikely to Have Good Options, Unless Phil Jackson Retires

Tom Ziller — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:45:00 EST

Filed under: Hornets, Lakers, NBA Rumors, NBA Coaches

Had Byron Scott been fired last May instead of today, he'd certainly be in a better financial position, as Scott would have been highly sought-after by at least a few teams, Sacramento and Minnesota among them. As it stands, Scott has no contract for the 2010-11 season ... and few leads for decent gigs.

Not that either Sacramento or Minnesota are glamorous jobs, but they were rebuilding teams with low expectations, much like the Hornets were when Scott first came to New Orleans. This summer? I imagine the Nets job will be available, but that bridge has been ashes for ages. The Pacers and Grizzlies will be the other most likely openings, barring a surprise retirement from Jerry Sloan, Don Nelson or Larry Brown.

But there's one job Scott has always been tied to that could also become available and happens to be pretty plush: the one currently filled by Phil Jackson.

That Lakers job now enters the picture as Scott's best prospect by far. A year ago, Scott told the Los Angeles Times he holds the Lakers organization in the utmost regard, and thinks about coaching the team "often." While Jackson seemed to simultaneously groom in-house assistants Kurt Rambis and Brian Shaw, Scott would certainly be a top-tier candidate from the outside if Phil were to retire.

And now, one hurdle has fallen: Scott has no other great option, nor a paying job. Jackson is in Sloan mode, judging whether he can handle another grinding season on the fly. He's paid $12 million this season, and has talked about wrapping up his career. Having won his 10th title -- and passing Red Auerbach on the championship coaching list -- would seem to provide some sort of shove off to the ranch.

Of course, Rambis thought enough of either Jackson's continued passion for coaching or the organization's love of Shaw (or some combination of the two) to take his chances in Minneapolis. I suppose over the next nine months we'll see how Scott fits into that equation, and whether Shaw should take the next head coaching job he's offered.

Byron Scott Unlikely to Have Good Options, Unless Phil Jackson Retires originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Byron Scott Fired by Hornets

Brett Pollakoff — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Hornets, Suns, NBA Last Night, NBA Coaches

How good are the Phoenix Suns this season? It may be too early to tell, but they're at least good enough to get their latest opponent's head coach fired just nine games into the season.

Byron Scott has been relieved of his coaching duties and the team will make the formal announcement at a press conference later this afternoon. This comes in the wake of a disappointing 3-6 start to the season, and, most recently, a completely lackluster and discouraging performance against the Suns in a nationally televised blowout on Wednesday night.

Ziller: Where Will Scott Land? | Jeff Bower, Tim Floyd Take Over
Moore: Did CP3 Make a Mistake Re-Signing?

Steve Nash said after the game that the Hornets team he just faced lacked a certain "spirit," and he should know: it's something Nash and the Suns struggled with last year under their head coach Terry Porter, who was similarly fired during the season.

"I think contrary to what we're doing, they don't seem like they have quite that same energy and spirit about them, and belief that they had last year," Nash said. "I feel for 'em because I've been there, but they're a capable bunch and they can turn it around."

If the Hornets are to turn it around, it will be without Scott, who won a Coach of the Year award with the club back in 2008. But the team has taken a considerable slide since then, a year in which they pushed the San Antonio Spurs to seven games in the second round of the playoffs. To end the 2009 season, you may recall New Orleans lost to the Nuggets by an embarrassing 58 points.

As Tom Ziller pointed out via e-mail, the Hornets' assistant coaches' lineup isn't exactly stacked, so you have to wonder if they had a big name in their back pocket before deciding to make this decision. Maybe someone like Avery Johnson, who is a New Orleans native and is said to have a competitive nature similar to that of the team's All-World point guard, Chris Paul?

If the team does go in that direction, it won't happen immediately. The plan for now is to have GM Jeff Bower take over the coaching duties, and to bring Tim Floyd on staff as one of his assistants.

"I want to thank Byron for the hard work he has put in during his time with the Hornets," said Hornets Owner George Shinn. "I've hired Jeff Bower to take over the coaching reign. He knows this team better than anyone, has the respect of the players and in basketball circles, is regarded as one of the best basketball minds in the business. This is our best opportunity to reach our goals this season."

Byron Scott Fired by Hornets originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Doing Lines: Kobe and Wade Go for 40

Brett Pollakoff — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:01:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies, Heat, Hornets, Lakers, Mavericks, Nuggets, Rockets, Suns, NBA Last Night

Every night there are some stupendous, silly, stupid, or downright outlandish individual lines from around the lig. Doing Lines lets you know which one tops the list.

The last time we got together, three different players scored 40 points or more on the same night. Well, maybe it's not as rare of an occurrence as we thought, since we were just a single point away from it happening again on Wednesday.

Chris Paul missed by one with 39, but Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade each delivered, with 41 and 40 respectively.

Dwyane Wade's 40 points, four rebounds, and five assists were just enough to carry his team to a close road victory over the Wizards. Gilbert Arenas had 32 of his own in the loss, but did it on a far less attractive 9-for-27 shooting line, as opposed to Wade's 14-for-26.

Chris Paul was dazzling, and had 39 points (on 14-for-23 shooting), five rebounds, seven assists, and a couple of steals. On the other end of the court, Jason Terry had 18 in the fourth quarter (and 35 in the game), on 12-18 shooting and 4-5 from three-point land, But ultimately, his two missed free throws down the stretch may have done as more to influence the game's final outcome than his scoring did.

Kobe Bryant had an outstanding line of 41 points, six rebounds, four assists, and four steals. He did it by shooting a tidy 50 percent from the field, and you could tell from the opening minutes that even on the second night of a back-to-back, that Bryant wouldn't allow himself to be outshined by his former teammate, Trevor Ariza.

Speaking of Ariza, he and Ron Artest basically canceled each other out. Besides the pair picking up double technicals early, there weren't any fireworks to report, and both finished with an identical 15 points. Not only were their numbers similar, so was their play: each hit a clutch three-pointer with under 30 seconds left in regulation, Ariza's coming after Artest's to send the game into overtime.

Other notable numbers from Wednesday's action:

Carmelo Anthony finally cooled off a bit, managing just 22 points on 8-24 shooting. But when you have rookie Ty Lawson coming off the bench for 23 points in 28 minutes, on 9-10 shooting, the end result was still a blowout win for the Nuggets.

Derek Fisher played 34 minutes, and somehow managed to record 0 points, 0 rebounds, and 0 assists -- and he's the point guard! But he did manage two steals, including the one on the game's final play where he stripped the ball from Trevor Ariza.

Allen Iverson once again came off the bench, but in his second game of the season, was more productive in that role. A.I. scored 18 points (on 8-12 shooting) and handed out seven assists in 28 minutes of action.

Amar'e Stoudemire had 19 points and 11 rebounds in the first half against the Orlando Magic. It was the first flash of the old, explosive Amar'e we were used to seeing before his injury last February. Unfortunately, it didn't last in the second half, as he finished with 25 and 14, and the Suns suffered their first loss of the season.

Doing Lines: Kobe and Wade Go for 40 originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chris Paul's Play, Mavs' Missed Free Throws Keys to Hornets Win

Brett Pollakoff — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:35:00 EST

Filed under: Hornets, Mavericks, NBA Last Night

Chris Paul was dazzling on Wednesday against Dallas, in what really was a must-win for the Hornets if they were going to have any sort of confidence in their ability to play with the top teams as the season goes on. Paul dragged his team to a win with 39 points, on 14-for-23 shooting, including three of four from three-point land.

But as great as Paul was and as below average as Dallas was (Dirk Nowitzki was held to just 12 points on 4-of-15 shooting), if we're going to be honest, his Hornets were fairly fortunate to be able to pull this one out.

Jason Terry had 18 in the fourth quarter (and 35 in the game), which was more than a sufficient replacement for Nowitzki's disappearance, and in fact, should have been enough for the Mavs to come away with the victory. But with 13 seconds left and a two-point lead, Terry was fouled, and missed one of two.

Paul turned it over on the next possession, and appeared to be fouled on the play, but got no call from the officials. With just nine seconds left now, and the Mavs up three headed to the free throw line, David West used some choice words to let the referees know they should have blown the whistle there, and picked up a technical.

If Dallas makes just one of their next three free throw attempts, it's a two possession game, and with so little time left, it surely goes in the books as a W for the Mavericks. But incredibly, they missed all three. Terry missed the technical free throw, and Jose Juan Barea -- a 94% free throw shooter coning in -- missed both of his.

New Orleans freed Peja Stojakovic on the next possession for a three, which he calmly drained to send it into OT. Riding that momentum, the Hornets pulled away in the extra period for an ultimately gritty, and much-needed victory.

The upcoming schedule isn't exactly easy for this team, as it includes road games against the Lakers and Suns, sandwiched by home contests against the Raptors and Blazers. But if they end up going on a little winning streak and surprising some teams that (on paper) appear to have the advantage, you can point to Paul's performance in this one -- along with a very fortunate late-game stretch -- as the starting point.

Chris Paul's Play, Mavs' Missed Free Throws Keys to Hornets Win originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chris Paul, Rondo Exchange Words

Brett Pollakoff — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:32:00 EST

Filed under: Celtics, Hornets, NBA Last Night, NBA Videos

Chris Paul is the best point guard in the game today, and Rajon Rondo isn't too far behind at the position, probably in most people's top five. But besides being great at what they do, these guys have something else in common: they play the game with a noticeable chip on their shoulder.

So it shouldn't come as any surprise that when the two went head-to-head in Boston on Sunday, things got a little heated during the game, and words were exchanged on the court after the final buzzer had sounded.

As the Celtics' announcers said, it looked like in the aerial view that Rondo was the instigator there, but then again, Paul was in the Celtics' bench area, and it's not exactly customary after a road loss to head over there to shake hands after a game.

Afterwards, Paul got in a sarcastic shot at Rondo, before quickly throwing some praise his way to soften the blow of the wisecrack.

"Rondo is a lucky guy, to play with guys like Pierce, (Ray) Allen and (Kevin) Garnett," Paul, who scored 22 points with eight assists, said with a sly smile.

Asked if that was meant as a slight toward Rondo, the two-time All-Star said, "No, no. He is a great point guard and he's a champion. It's my hope to achieve that."

I can't ever remember instructions from a team's PR guy to the media making it into a game recap, but this quote from a member of the Celtics' media relations staff -- since it was hilarious -- did exactly that.

"Rajon has requested you not ask anything about Chris Paul now, tomorrow, or any other time,'' Celtics spokesman Jeff Twiss said.

Most people that aren't fans of either one of these teams are probably laughing at this mini-incident this morning, because Paul and Rondo are the same guy. They're both great players, but they play the game in a way that makes you hate them when your team is on the court playing against them.

On Sunday, each found out what it was like to play against themselves, and they weren't at all happy with what they saw.

Chris Paul, Rondo Exchange Words originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:32:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ready or Not, Here 'Reke Comes

Tom Ziller — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:32:00 EST

Filed under: Hornets, Kings

Freaky Friday in NOLA. The greatest point guard in the world -- Chris Paul. A festive atmosphere, the home opener for the Hornets. Tyreke Evans, rookie point guard for the Sacramento Kings, had a big challenge ahead. Never mind he was coming off an underwhelming debut Wednesday in Oklahoma City. For the 20-year-old wolf in wolf's clothes, this was the proverbial uphill battle.

And though it didn't end with glass slippers or even confetti, Evans proved he belongs in the NBA.

Through 3-1/2 quarters, Evans matched Paul's play, which is saying something, because Paul was electric. Missing his ol' oop partner Tyson Chandler and relying on fewer snipers on the perimeter, Paul took matters into his own hands much of the game. He finished with 31 points. But 13 of those came in the final six minutes of the game, where Paul shredded Evans around picks and pressed the ball in transition to help the Hornets come from behind to secure the team's first win.

Until that six-minute mark, it was Evans leaving Paul in the dust. Until the final three minutes, Evans had racked up 22 points with Paul guarding him almost exclusively -- or trying, at least. At times 'Reke relied on high screens from Jason Thompson and Sean May. But more frequently, Evans toyed with Paul in an isolated high dribble, waiting for the perfect moment to blow by the All-Star for a layup or a dump pass. (These dump passes added up to little, as frequent receiver Thompson blew ungodly numbers of layups, shooting 4-of-16 for the night while taking only four shots outside of eight feet. This will not typically happen.)

Evans also avoided mistakes through most of the game ... until the final moments struck. In fairness to Evans, the rest of the Kings blew it as well: Kevin Martin, who shared J.T.'s paint misery all night, had a few poor plays in the last five Sacramento possessions, including a blocked three-pointer to seal the loss. The final result relegated Evans to footnote status, but have no doubt that during the game Evans vs. Paul was the story ... because 'Reke made it so.

You can tell Paul understood that. After the final buzzer, CP3 sought out Evans, hugged it out, and spoke in the youngster's ear for several moments. I have no idea what Paul told 'Reke, but I can only imagine it was a bit more than your standard welcome to the NBA. Anyone who watched Evans scorch the world's greatest point guard for 36 minutes of basketball has to believe Evans will be competing with Paul for attention in years to come.

Ready or Not, Here 'Reke Comes originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:32:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stephen Curry Has a Fan in Chris Paul

Matt Steinmetz — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:40:00 EST

Filed under: Hornets, Warriors

Warriors coach Don Nelson has gone out of his way to compare rookie Stephen Curry to a young Steve Nash. That's a nice comparison and one any young player would likely take.

But Curry's already got a mentor, thank you, and it's tough to argue with his choice: Chris Paul.

Curry and Paul, both from North Carolina, go back a few years. But this summer their friendship grew, the result of spending nearly a month working out together at various venues in the South.

"I was with him three or four weeks and we worked out every day, five or six in the morning," Curry said. "We would lift together and then for about an hour and a half we'd do on-the-court stuff with our trainer. We traveled to Orlando, New Orleans, Winston-Salem, Charlotte. Pretty much wherever he was, I followed him."

Curry first met Paul when Paul was at Wake Forest. Then Paul did some work with Curry's father, Del, who has a charity foundation. Now, the two share the same representation and a mutual respect.

And no one's got a better scouting report on Curry than Paul.

"He had to shoot the ball the whole time in college (at Davidson)," Paul said. "A lot of people have underestimated his ballhandling ability, too. He's a complete player. At times, he'll get a chance to show it. At times, he'll just be a shooter. When he has to, in the open court and stuff like that, he's great with the ball."

That was the case on Thursday night when Curry put together a 14-point, 10-assist, six-rebound night in the Warriors' final preseason game. He had the play of the evening when, in transition, he found Monta Ellis with a lovely behind-the-back feed that resulted in a layup.

When Curry was drafted there were questions about whether he was a point guard or two guard. Well, if the preseason has proven anything it's that playing the one comes pretty easily to him. He led the Warriors in assists despite not playing a ton of minutes.

"He can play either," Paul said. "He shoots it well enough to be a shooting guard but handles it well enough to be a point guard. With their team, who's to say who's what? The five-man can bring the ball upcourt."

If there has been one concern with Curry so far, it's been his inability to consistently make perimeter shots, which was supposed to be his strength. He shot just 36.6 percent in the preseason. Paul chuckled when told there was some concern in the Bay Area about Curry's stroke.

"It's preseason," Paul said. "One thing about this offense, you're going to get enough shots to find your rhythm. And this is his first year."

As for Curry, he says Paul has shown him how to be a pro.

"It's just his work ethic, what he does in the offseason to prepare," Curry said. "What's this? His fifth year? And he's working four hours every morning, going hard. I was trying to keep up. I can pick and choose some stuff that I saw him do, but nothing specific. It's about being in the gym working.

Stephen Curry Has a Fan in Chris Paul originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hornets Deeper, but Are They Better?

Matt Steinmetz — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Hornets

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Priority No. 1 for the Hornets this offseason was to get some help for Chris Paul and David West. After watching his team get manhandled by the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs last season, coach Byron Scott knew that his team needed more depth.

Well, the Hornets are now deeper. But whether Paul and West get some more help remains to be seen.

The basic plan in New Orleans is to have either rookie Darren Collison or Bobby Brown cut into Paul's minutes and for Darius Songaila or Ike Diogu to do the same to West.

"I'm going to make a conscious effort to make sure I give C.P. and David time off," Scott said Thursday at the team's shoot-around before a game against Golden State. "What I mean by time off is not playing 39 minutes a game. Try to keep their minutes to a minimum so that they can be fresh toward the end of the season.

"In doing so, obviously Bobby and Darren, our backup points, and Darius and Ike will get a chance to play the four position and get comfortable in it. Hopefully it works out the way I'm planning on it working out."

On the surface, it seems like Scott -- and the organization -- might be asking a little too much from those guys. Brown played sparingly in Sacramento and Minnesota last season and expecting him to consistently spell Paul over the course of an entire season might be a reach. Collison is a rookie. Enough said.

Up front, the issues are pretty much the same. Songaila has a legitimate track record in the NBA, but his rebounding has gotten worse in each of the past three seasons and he is more energy guy than rotation guy.

Diogu has been an enigma his entire career, and the Hornets are his fifth team already. Less than two months into his rookie season, Diogu laid 27 points on the Pistons -- including going 13-for-15 from the floor -- but, unfortunately, that was his career high point.

The real question seems to be whether or not those backups to Paul and West are good enough. Or, in essence, are Scott and the Hornets expecting way too much from them.

"It would be nice for one or two of them to have a career year, but we're just looking for consistency from the bench," Scott said. "That's the biggest thing. We don't want our bench to lose leads for us. You would like to have a bench you have a lot of confidence in that can come in not only when your starters aren't playing well but to pick up the energy. It would be great if two or three guys had career years. That would help our starters."

More Steinmetz on Twitter: @matt_steinmetz

Hornets Deeper, but Are They Better? originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Player to Watch: Julian Wright

Matt Moore — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Hornets

FanHouse previews a player to watch from each NBA team in advance of the 2009-10 season.

Julian Wright can jump very high.

When I say that, I don't mean that he jumps really high for normal people. I'm talking, he jumps high for NBA guys. For grasshoppers in relative height. When I caught him in front of his old college crowd in Kansas City last Thursday, I could almost hear the sound of a 747 going by. If Billy Bob Thornton and John Cusack had been around, they would have been parked in the photography section waiting to get blown backwards to St. Louis. The dude jumps like Skywalker in Empire, only he doesn't have to get his legs under him at all. Not kidding, HSA is giving thought to labeling him as a "flight risk." Wakka wakka wakka.

Okay, I'm done telling you how high Julian Wright can jump.

Just kidding! Here's a graph, in case you're not buying what I'm selling.

So as you can see, using this very scientific graph, Julian Wright can jump very high.

The question, of course, is if he's able to actually play basketball well enough while jumping this high to be a starting small forward in the NBA. Because if the Hornets are going to regain any scrap of the title-contender respect they garnered after the 2008 Playoffs, Wright is going to have to ... ahem, make the leap, so to speak.

The gap between Wright and outstanding player status isn't so much a building project, nor has it been that way since Wright came into the league two season ago. Some rookies you have to completely deconstruct, wipe away all ego and the useless ideas they attached themselves to in college. ("Hey, what happened? Why am I suddenly not better/faster/stronger/bigger/cooler than everyone else on the floor? No fair!")

But with Wright, he seemed to grasp what his role should be, and what areas he needed to concentrate on when he got floor time. The issue was always filling in the gaps. Things like learning to defend the pick and roll, learning how to space himself for a shot off-the-ball, sliding to cut off the baseline, working through screens, and not, you know, jacking up a three whenever he was left open regardless of circumstance were examples of what Wright lacked. And while those seem like elements which don't take work, with Wright it's like trying to teach a giraffe to tap dance. I mean, yeah, it's got feet and all and you can put shoes on it, but getting it to understand what you want is tricky. And not getting bit. Giraffes bite. No lie.

This season, however, is poised to be different. Wright is beginning to find his identity on the court, and with Peja Stojakovic and James Posey heading toward fossilization, the man they call JuJu has both the means and opportunity to cement himself at the young age of 22 as a legit threat at the small forward position.

Hornets coach Byron Scott has told reporters that he sees Wright's ceiling in the Josh Howard model, a long lanky power forward who can defend multiple positions and knock down shots from range. Wright's 3-point shooting is something he's said he focused on. With the rest of New Orleans's shooters beginning to downgrade with age, Wright has to be able to provide Chris Paul with a perimeter to 15-foot option to dish to if he can draw the double, not just the alley-oop spectacle Wright's athleticism affords him. However, Wright can't afford to be one-dimensional, and certainly he needs to put that trademark athleticism to good use. With David West at power forward, the Hornets are at a distinct disadvantage on the glass, as West works a little bit outside of the paint. The addition of Emeka Okafor should force extra attention, but Wright needs to be able to sweep in from the wing and collect.

Wright is still trying to find his place in the NBA. But as opposed to past years, he at least know how that place looks. He can recognize the outline, the contours, the ins and outs, the general geography. Now he's just got to figure out how to get there.

Player to Watch: Julian Wright originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse Preview: Hornets

Tom Ziller — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Hornets, NBA Preseason, NBA Previews

FanHouse previews all 30 NBA teams in advance of the 2009-10 season.

Time at the peak isn't supposed to be this short.

The Hornets jolted the West in 2008, nearly taking the first seed in the conference one season after missing the postseason entirely. After waxing Dallas in what would become Avery Johnson's final playoff series there, the Hornets went all the way to Game 7 against the defending champion Spurs. The Hornets lost, and didn't get close in 2008-09.

You can believe one of three things. The Hornets' short triumph could be over, more flash in the sky than formation of a new star. The Hornets could have experienced just a brief setback, a defeat at the hands of a bad match-up and an injury-riddled season. Or, the Hornets could have just ran into some structural problems in need of fixing, which they possibly have this summer.

I suppose there's one more plausible answer: there are structural problems which will keep the Hornets from the top tier, but there's still enough here to create a perennial second-level contender. And by "still enough" I mean "Chris Paul."

Paul is an unbelievable player, one of the most gifted talents in the league and one who happens to play to his strengths nearly all the time. That's rare, because there are plenty of good players who can't keep it together. Paul can, and does. And he's the reason the Hornets have ever been to the playoffs, let alone in the conversation about contenders.

But the core around him is dying. Peja Stojakovic and Morris Peterson are zombies. David West remains productive, but he has topped out -- New Orleans can't legitimately expect more from him. Tyson Chandler was so bad last year, so off his game the Hornets had to boot him for the expensive Emeka Okafor, a defensive specialist with a limited (more than Chandler, but still limited) post presence. To support Okafor's salary and draft pick Marcus Thornton (who most thought the Hornets would trade to save cash), New Orleans had to exile its best three-point shooter, Rasual Butler, with nothing in return.

Thornton is the real hope to fix big problems in Paul's backcourt. Thornton, a Baton Rouge native who played at LSU, might be able to fill the gap -- he's a dynamite scorer and a tough-nosed beast. The problem is that he's only a couple inches taller than six-foot Paul, meaning opposing backcourts will have an opportunity to run roughshod over the Hornets when Paul and Thornton play together.

In the forwards, N.O. needs to hope West can hang on to his peak a few more years while praying Julian Wright (written up by Matt Moore below) can get there in a hurry. It may be months before we know how Okafor will do in this offense, and how well he can replicate Chandler's gifted pick and roll defense. The fate of the Hornets depends on all of these things, and to me that's leaving too much to chance. But as a devout Paul believer, I'd love to be proven wrong.

Last Season By the Numbers

Record: 49-33 under Byron Scott. Finished 4th in the Southwest Division, 7th in the Western Conference. Eliminated by Nuggets (4-1) in first round.

Offense: 108.7 points per 100 possessions, 12th in the NBA. 15th in shooting, 9th in turnover rate, 24th in offensive rebounding, 18th in free throw rate.

Defense: 107 points per 100 possessions, 9th in the NBA. 12th in shooting defense, 13th in opponent turnover rate, 7th in defensive rebounding, 16th in opponent free throw rate.

Top Performers: Chris Paul led the team in scoring (22.8 points), assists (11) and steals (2.8) per game, and finished third in rebounding (5.5). Tyson Chandler was the top rebounder at 8.8 per game; David West finished second in scoring (21) and rebounding (8.5). Rasual Butler was the team's top three-point shooter (39 percent).

All statistics via Basketball-Reference.com.

Player to Watch

FanHouse's Matt Moore and Tom Ziller preview one player to watch from each team. Here's a snippet of Moore's post on Hornets forward Julian Wright.

Julian Wright can jump very high.

When I say that, I don't mean that he jumps really high for normal people. I'm talking, he jumps high for NBA guys. For grasshoppers in relative height. When I caught him in front of his old college crowd in Kansas City last Thursday, I could almost hear the sound of a 747 going by. If Billy Bob Thornton and John Cusack had been around, they would have been parked in the photography section waiting to get blown backwards to St. Louis. The dude jumps like Skywalker in Empire, only he doesn't have to get his legs under him at all. Not kidding, HSA is giving thought to labeling him as a "flight risk." Wakka wakka wakka.

See Moore's full post on Wright.

Offseason Tracker

IN: Darren Collison (draft), Marcus Thornton (draft), Emeka Okafor (trade), Bobby Brown (trade), Darius Songaila (trade), Ike Diogu (free agency).

OUT: Tyson Chandler (trade), Antonio Daniels (trade), Rasual Butler (trade).

FanHouse Preview: Hornets originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tip-Off Timer: 14 Teams Without a Title

Matt Watson — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bobcats, Cavaliers, Clippers, Grizzlies, Hornets, Jazz, Magic, Mavericks, Nets, Nuggets, Pacers, Raptors, Suns, Timberwolves

Tip-Off Timer counts down the days until the first game of the 2009-10 season. On Tuesday, there are 14 days remaining.

For everything the NBA has done to level the playing field -- the draft lottery, the salary cap, the dollar-for-dollar luxury tax -- only a select handful of teams have a legitimate chance to win the championship in any given year.

I know optimism is supposed to reign supreme in October, but here's a harsh dose of reality: in the past 26 years, only seven different organizations have hoisted the Larry O'Brien, and six of those teams have won more than once. In fact, in a league where fluke success is rare and dynasties are the norm, there are 14 teams that have yet to win a title.

Will any of these perennial losers buck their unfortunate losing streaks in the near future? While the Lakers, Spurs and Celtics (winners of nine of the last 11 titles) would disagree, it's a very real possibility.

While many expect the Lakers to repeat -- and at least one Celtic has predicted Boston will win 72 games -- the Magic and Cavaliers have re-tooled through trades and free agency after finishing last season as the two strongest teams in the East.

In fact, this might be Cleveland's last chance in a long time -- if LeBron James can't close the deal this year, he might bolt via free agency (surely you've heard, right?), adding a sense of desperation to their usual motivation. If the Cavs can't separate from the pack early, don't be surprised to see Danny Ferry make wholesale changes by the trade deadline.

The Magic are somewhat better positioned for long-term success, although they mortgaged their future by swapping the promising Courtney Lee in a package for the aging Vince Carter. It also remains to be seen how they perform with the expectations of being an elite team now that they're no longer able to play the underdog role, although you can never accuse a Stan Van Gundy team of being unprepared.

But if Cleveland and Orlando fall short, are we destined to watch yet another dynasty stamp their name in the NBA record book? The Denver Nuggets, who took the eventual champion Lakers to six games in the Western Conference finals last year, beg to differ, as do fellow non-champions like the Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz and New Orleans Hornets.

As for the Clippers, Grizzlies and Timberwolves? They all fall into the never-were and never-will-be categories (or at least not-anytime-soon). Same goes for the Suns, who don't seem to know if they're building for the future or playing for today, as well as the Nets and Pacers, who have some interesting building blocks but not much else.

The Raptors and Bobcats hope their rebuilding process is nearing completion, but they'll be considered a success if they simply reach the playoffs, let alone win a game or two in the first round. And if there's anything we can learn from past champions, it's that the real winners are built to last and are never content to simply be there.

Tip-Off Timer: 14 Teams Without a Title originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chandler Not Offended by Bobcats Trade

Chris Tomasson — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bobcats, Hornets, Thunder

It wasn't as bad as the minor league baseball player who last year was traded for 10 bats. Nevertheless, center Tyson Chandler wasn't too thrilled when he saw last February what New Orleans received for him from Oklahoma City.

Players, you see, are often sensitive about what a team gets back when they are traded. Marcus Camby wasn't dancing the Cha-cha-cha when Denver, in a July 2008 salary dump, got nothing more from the Los Angeles Clippers than the right to exchange second-round picks in 2010.

And Chandler grumbled when he saw all the Hornets, in an attempted salary dump, got for him were Joe Smith and Chris Wilcox, who both had expiring contracts, and the draft rights to somebody named DeVon Hardin.

"The... deal was like, 'Come on,''' Chandler said in an interview with FanHouse. "Because I'm pulling for my teammates, even though I was gone to a new situation at the time, I wanted to still see them succeed. I felt like, 'Come on. You still got to give my boys a chance to succeed.'''

Fortunately for the Hornets and for Chandler's piece of mind, the trade was rescinded when Chandler failed a physical due to an alleged troublesome toe. But Chandler was traded again last July to Charlotte, and this time it went through. What the Hornets got back, center Emeka Okafor, hardly was embarrassing.

"Emeka is a great player,'' Chandler said. "(The Hornets) still got a chance to do some things.''

Other than executives from contending teams going to lunch when Allen Iverson's representatives were on hold, Chandler again being dealt was the NBA's biggest offseason non-surprise. The Hornets were looking to shave payroll, and Chandler will make $12.2 million this season and likely won't opt out of the $13.2 million he's due in 2010-11.

"I definitely knew they had to make a move, and I knew I was the piece,'' Chandler said. "I was just hoping I would land in a good spot, and I'm very happy where I landed because of the coaching (Hall of Famer Larry Brown in charge) and the good young players. ... I knew that I was going to be the one that was going to be traded.

"It's a business. If I was a businessman, I may have treated this differently. But, if I'm a businessman and I got to make a business decision, it is what it is.''

But the latest deal was hardly the salary dump the Hornets sought to do last February. Okafor does make $1.4 million less over the next two seasons ($11.5 million and $12.5 million), which allows the Hornets to save in the short term on luxury tax. But he has two more years than Chandler left on his contract, earning $13.5 million in 2011-12 and $14.5 million in 2012-13.

There actually has been more talk about the deal being made to save the Bobcats bucks.

"You can figure out why it was made,'' Brown said when asked why Charlotte made the trade, apparently referring to Chandler having a total of $25.4 million left on his contract to Okafor's $52 million. "It's not about the players.''

Welcome to Charlotte, Tyson. Your new coach, who says "I love Emeka,'' was not excited to see him depart.

But Chandler remains undeterred. He could care less what anybody might say about why he was picked up by the Bobcats.

"I feel like they acquired me to get better regardless of what anybody says,'' said Chandler, 27, who has career averages of 8.2 points and 9.0 rebounds in eight seasons to 14.0 and 10.7 for Okafor, 27, in five years. "Even if management says it, I feel that way. ... I feel that I bring a great presence. I feel I bring leadership. I feel like I speed up the game.''

For now, Chandler is stuck in neutral. He underwent surgery on his left ankle last May and wasn't yet ready to play Tuesday in Charlotte's preseason opener.

Brown, who at least likes that the 7-foot-1 Chandler can play some power forward while the 6-10 Okafor is pretty much just a center, foresees Chandler returning very soon. Chandler said the ankle feels much better and his only concern is conditioning since he couldn't do much running during the offseason.

As for his left big toe that torpedoed his Oklahoma City physical, Chandler is still confused. He underwent surgery on it in April 2007 but said it hadn't been a problem for a while.

"That was an interesting thing for me because I was out because of an ankle injury,'' Chandler said. "I thought it was my ankle (when Chandler learned he failed the physical). I was very surprised when they said it was my toe because that hadn't kept me out of anything.''

It was indeed an interesting February for Chandler, who was a member of the Thunder for one day. But at the least the Hornets hadn't tried to trade him for a rack of balls.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com.

Chandler Not Offended by Bobcats Trade originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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For Starters: 5 Coaches Who Might Start Feeling the Heat

Matt Steinmetz — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Clippers, Hawks, Hornets, Nets, NBA Coaches

Who doesn't like a list, especially on a Monday morning when that's about all you can handle?

Training camps are opening, so here are five coaches likely to start feeling the heat if their teams don't get off to good starts.

Mike Dunleavy, L.A. Clippers: The Clippers head into the season with expectations, which might not be the best news for Dunleavy. He's got to figure out a way to reconfigure his relationship with Baron Davis so that the veteran point guard once again can thrive. If Dunleavy and Davis aren't on the same page, there's no hope in L.A.

Mike Woodson, Atlanta: Woodson is in a tricky spot. After advancing to the second round of the playoffs last season, the logical conclusion would seem to be that this is the year to take the next step. Only with Boston, Cleveland and Orlando, just how are the Hawks going to do that? It's going to be tough, and Woodson's the one who'll get blamed if Atlanta can't break through.

Lawrence Frank, New Jersey: Hard to believe, but Frank is starting his sixth full season with the Nets, and that's really the only reason we're putting him here. It's more a numbers thing, a percentages play, if you know what I mean. In the ruthless world of hiring and firing NBA coaches, Frank seems due.

Byron Scott, New Orleans: The Hornets took a step back last season, winning fewer games than the season before and getting thumped in the first round of the playoffs by the Denver Nuggets. It's clear New Orleans believes the acquisition of Emeka Okafor will put them back with the elite teams in the Western Conference. You know what that means for Byron Scott if it doesn't.

Jim O'Brien, Indiana: Let's face it, O'Brien's two years in Indiana have been pretty nondescript, and it's not like this season is setting up to be anything special. The Pacers are coming off back-to-back 36-win seasons, and they're banged up to start 2009-10. It's a little bit of a double-whammy for the Pacers, who aren't likely to be good or entertaining. Yes, O'Brien signed an extension last week but that's only going to make the decision that much more awkward if things go South.

More Steinmetz on Twitter: @matt_steinmetz

For Starters: 5 Coaches Who Might Start Feeling the Heat originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Few Jobs Remain Open ... but Ruffin, Bowen Hope the Thunder Has One

Chris Tomasson — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Clippers, Hawks, Hornets, Magic, Pistons, Thunder

The word is out in the NBA. Oklahoma City might be hiring.

In this tough economy, any job for a player these days is a good one. And there is talk the Thunder, with 14 guaranteed contracts and no worries about the luxury tax, might be a rare team that has no problem with a 15-man roster.

That's why veteran forwards Michael Ruffin and Ryan Bowen will be heading to the Thunder camp on nonguaranteed contracts, looking to earn a job.

"I think I've got a chance," said Ruffin, a nine-year veteran who played last season with Portland.

But also thinking that way is Bowen, a nine-year man who played last season with New Orleans.

"They tell us they have a spot," Bowen's agent, Guy Zucker, said of Thunder officials. "And they're looking for somebody similar to Ryan. So we think we have a good chance. They've got a young team, and they're looking for [a good veteran influence]. Ryan is incredibly professional, he's unbelievably smart, he's experienced, and he has no ego."

Some would say Ruffin is worthy of a similar description. Let the battle begin for the 15th spot.

With teams that are going overseas in October beginning training camp Saturday and others starting next Tuesday, teams are filling out their training camp rosters. And not too many are handing out fully guaranteed contracts. Consider that Desmond Mason couldn't even get a guaranteed deal last week from Sacramento.

Among other free agents going to camp trying to earn jobs, guard Morris Almond is heading to Orlando, guard Kareem Rush to the Los Angeles Clippers, center Earl Barron to New Orleans, forward Maceo Baston to Detroit, center Courtney Sims to Atlanta and guard Mario West, a restricted free agent, is returning to the Hawks.

"It's been a tough summer," Ruffin said of players looking for teams. "With the economy, teams are going to keep one or two less players than before. There's less jobs."

But the Thunder might be hiring. Candidates are lining up outside.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com.

Few Jobs Remain Open ... but Ruffin, Bowen Hope the Thunder Has One originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chris Paul Isn't Worried About Replacement Referees

Tom Ziller — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 08:02:00 EST

Filed under: Hornets, NBA Referees

Cleveland's Shaquille O'Neal stood with the NBA's incumbent, locked-out referees last week, calling officials "vital" and saying that the players "need perfection" from game crews. But Hornets capo Chris Paul isn't sweating the replacement corps, which will descend upon New York for a boot camp later this week before taking the reins on October 1 when the preseason schedule kicks off.

Paul told his hometown Winston-Salem Journal that he's not worried teams will be overly physical with him if less experienced referees are roaming the sidelines.

It's a quiet sentiment which could very well be widespread, considering players are often as critical of referees as fans. Few of the league's current player base experienced the ref lockout of 1995 -- Shaq was around for that, and suffered an injury attributable to the lack of control replacements had over the proceedings. Refs have taken more heat than ever in recent years, and in the opinion of many players (like Paul), the officials could seem utterly replaceable.

It's telling that while many fans (myself included) are apopletic about the prospect of the folks who reffed Summer League working real live regular season games, at least one top player isn't that worked up. Again, I wonder how widespread the sentiment is.

Chris Paul Isn't Worried About Replacement Referees originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 08:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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