Point Guard Paradise: Hornets vs. Mavs Preview
April 18, 2008
The young stud vs. the living hall-of-famer: It is an integral part of boxing history in which the torch is passed on record. In an unfortunate match-up against his childhood idol Rocky Marciano officially ended the legendary career of Joe Louis. More than a decade later a young Cassius Clay (aka Muhammad Ali) would get his first big name on his resume by taunting, sticking, moving and running circles around an almost 50 year old Archie Moore (YouTube). The laws of karma would assert itself 18 years later as a young Larry Holmes jabbed a lifeless Ali into submission. Just eight years later Holmes would come out of retirement to get knocked out for the only time in his career by a young lion named Mike Tyson. Will this be this script play out as Chris Paul and Jason Kidd take center stage in the Hornets and Mavericks first round series?
Don’t bank on it. For one, basketball is a team sport. Secondly, unlike the handpicked veteran boxers above, JKidd ain’t washed up yet! Just so no one would forget, Kidd notched 27 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds as the Mavs beat the Hornets in a “statement game”. It also might be a good time to remind folks that Kidd averaged a triple-double in his 12 playoff games with the Nets just last year. And that’s what makes this series a match-up point guard paradise.
CP3: Having stated that, CP3 has given absolutely no indication that he is ready to respect his elders. In a brilliant MVP-deserving season (yes, over Kobe), he has obliterated so many of the greatest seasons in point guard history. A season that averages 20 points and 11 assists need some historical perspective. Steve Nash never did it, John Stockton never did it, and Jason Kidd never averaged EITHER in any given season. Who did it? “The Big-O” did it four times (while scoring 30!), Magic did it three times, Isiah and Kevin Johnson did it twice, and in an incredible 1973 NBA season, Tiny Archibald coupled his 11 assists with 34 ppg. But his 21 points, 11.6 assists, or his league-leading 2.7 steals do not register as his most impressive statistic.
CP2.5: It is his 2.5 turnovers that is not just incredible, but marks a level of production, poise, and efficiency potentially unseen in the history of the game. Magic and Stockton both posted at least 8 consecutive seasons of 11 assist per game, but Magic’s lowest turnover total was 3.7 and Stockton 3.0. Isiah? 3.7… Nash? 3.3… Regardless of points, no other player on historical record has averaged over 11 assists and less than three turnovers per game. EVER*. (* Oscar Robertson’s turnovers are unknown). Add in his 20 points and the lowest turnover rate for a 20-11 man is KJ’s 3.6 in 1990. CP2.5 merely chopped 30% and a full turnover per game off the lowest rate on similar record. And he did this while having the ball in his hands all the time. Impact on team? CP3 made or assisted on 49 percent of his team’s field goals, the highest percentage in 17 years (Stockton).
The truth is, despite being less proficient than Kidd in rebounding, Chris Paul is probably better than he ever was RIGHT NOW. And that’s no slight on Kidd at all. And what it all means is a point guard matchup to be savored because we may never get something like it for a looooong time. It’s closest thing that we will probably get seeing a 1971 Oscar face off against a 1981 Magic in the playoffs. And that fact almost makes other players and the winner of the series itself incidental – at least historically speaking…
Ahhhh, the rest of the teams… CP3 vs. Jkidd isn’t the only intriguing matchup. Dirk Nowitzki vs. David West… Josh Howard vs. Peja Stojakovic… Byron Scott vs. Avery Johnson… Ultimately, this is where the series will be decided. Will the Hornets “just be happy to be there”? Because after last year’s first round exit, expect the Mavs to come out with guns blazing. And expect no player to have a bigger chip on his shoulder than Dirk Nowitzki. Dirk was expected to wilt and fold down the stretch at the end of this year, but didn’t follow the “soft” tag he earned last year. People also forget that two years ago, he willed the Mavs past the Spurs. Could last year’s playoff collapse be a Mavs anomaly to be chalked Don Nelson and Stephen Jackson having Dirk’s number. The prediction here is that CP3 will win the PG battle over Kidd, but not the series. Ultimately, we expect an out for blood Dirk to carry the Mavs into a 6 game victory.
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Paul torched my man Kidd in Game 1.
My vote for MVP of the regular season is Kobe but if Paul can keep this up and take his team to the Finals…I may have to regret that vote. The kid showed me that his performance is no where near a fluke. I’ll have my eyes on this matchup for sure.
[…] I stated prior to the playoffs, Paul has obliterated so many of the greatest seasons in point guard history. A season that […]