In Game 2 of the New Orleans Hornets' opening round series against the Los Angeles Lakers, Chris Paul was handled, if we define "having been handled" as "not having gone completely bonkers." After Game 1, some people started forgetting about Derrick Rose -- that's how good Paul was against the Lakers, shredding every brand of defense the two-time defending champs presented.
Lakers Vs. Hornets, Game 3: New Orleans’ Hopes Pinned On Chris Paul
In Game 2, it changed a bit. Paul was still electric, the most powerful force on the floor. But Kobe Bryant, he of the interminable All Defense team bids, prevented another 33-point, 14-assist outburst. Aaron Gray’s graceful flutter back to Earth and Carl Landry’s bad shooting night helped keep the Hornets at bay, and Andrew Bynum’s interior dominance lifted the Lakers to victory. Huzzah, and the series shifts to New Orleans for a pair.
Which way will Paul bounce in Game, Friday at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN? It’s worth noting that the Lakers had one of the league’s best defenses in the regular season, and that hasn’t always been the bombastic scorer he was in Game 1 during this season. Often, Paul deferred to his teammates, allowing them to take most of the attempts as defenses geared up against him. Often, this ended in disaster; New Orleans had a foul offense in the regular season, despite a solid overall record and some great stretches of success.
But rookie coach Monty Williams asked Paul to be more aggressive than usual in this series, and the All-Star has complied. But the fact remains that L.A. can afford to give so much attention to Paul precisely because Paul's accomplices aren't accomplished, at least offensively. Pressure from Bryant and early attention from the backstops worked in Game 2, and can be applied even more liberally if required.
For the sake of entertainment and competition, Paul will find a way through. For more on the Hornets, check out At The Hive. For more on the Lakers, visit Silver Screen And Roll.
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