Can Chris Paul Take the Playoffs By the Balls?

Notoriously tough cookie Chris Paul has been kept in cuffs by the Nuggets in the New Orleans-Denver series ... until today. Paul has 16 points on 7-9 shooting through the first half, with seven assists and (a shocking) four turnovers. Chauncey Billups and Dahntay Jones have still done a decent job taking away Paul’s first step -- it’s just that Paul’s second step is too fast to stop. He’s created contact on both ends, including delivery of a brutal hit fighting through a Chris Andersen screen.
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↵Of all the teams trailing their series, Paul is one of the few you can trust will make his presence felt before packing the vacation luggage. He’s a blurring talent; if you forget that, he’ll remind you at next breath. His positive plays are never surprising at this point. Everything is possible with him.
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↵Beyond Paul, James Posey has been a dynamo on both ends (12 points and the best defense Carmelo Anthony has seen this series). Sean Marks actually leads Birdman in the Most Valuable Goofy White Center balloting, a stunning upset. Beyond that, we’ve been treated to Dave Pasch and Jon Barry talking a lot of NFL draft. The former used Mark Sanchez, Matt Leinart and Todd Marinovich in the same sentence. Dan Snyder spit up his Baby Goat Blood Frappucino somewhere in the District.↵