One tough test: Hornets in Round 2

• By LES EAST
• Special to The Advocate
• Published: May 3, 2008 - Page: 1C - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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NEW ORLEANS — If anybody can slow down Hornets point guard Chris Paul, it’s probably the San Antonio Spurs. But whether that can be done remains to be seen.

Paul became an All-Star and strong Most Valuable Player candidate on his way to averaging 21.1 points, 11.6 assists, and 2.7 steals per game in the regular season.

In the first-round playoff series against Dallas, he dominated the three games in New Orleans, all Hornets victories. He averaged 30.3 points and 14.0 assists and shot 60 percent as New Orleans won the first two games by an average of nearly 20 points and Game 5 without ever trailing.

Though his numbers in the two road games were relatively modest — 16.0 points, 9.0 assists, and 31 percent shooting — he still helped the Hornets gain a split by winning in Dallas for the first time in 10 years.

The best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series against the defending champion Spurs, which gets under way at 9 p.m. today in the New Orleans Arena (TNT), presents a greater challenge for Paul and the Hornets.

First of all, San Antonio point guard Tony Parker is younger, quicker and more of a scorer than his Mavericks counterpart, Jason Kidd.

Secondly, Paul will no doubt find himself guarded at times by Bruce Bowen, one of the best and most physical perimeter defenders in the NBA. Bowen, who seems to become even more physical in the post-season, was suspended for a game in March after kicking Paul during a Hornets rout of the Spurs.

Thirdly, San Antonio, which has won four of the last nine NBA titles, is one of the best defensive teams in the NBA. The Spurs allow the third-fewest points per game (90.6), the third-lowest 3-point shooting percentage (34.2), and the fifth-lowest field-goal percentage (44.4).

“San Antonio hasn’t won championships because of their offense over the last few years,” Hornets coach Byron Scott said. “They’ve always been one of the best defensive teams in this league.”

Paul had more points and assists and a better shooting percentage than Parker in the four regular-season matchups, which the teams split, but the numbers were close. Paul averaged 22.0 points, Parker 19.5, Paul averaged 9.8 assists, Parker 5.5; and Paul shot 53 percent, Parker 51 percent.

Parker has essentially the same attributes as Paul, and he averaged 29.6 points in the Spurs’ 4-1 first-round series victory against the Suns. Paul said no one gets from one end of the floor to the other faster than Parker.

“I don’t think he gets enough credit as a shooter or for his passing,” Paul said. “All you can do against him is do your best to keep him out of the lane.”

Dallas tried to make Paul work hard on defense, hoping fatigue would eventually slow him down on the offensive end. Kidd posted him up more as the series wore on, but he didn’t have the energy or the offensive versatility to wear down Paul.