[Western Conf. 1st Round] Denver Nuggets vs. NO Hornets

I'm pulling for the Nuggets, because Chris ball puncher Paul is a b****.

 

I like Billups, too. I just won't put too much stock into 1.5 games against an inferior opponent. Let's see how he does in the later rounds. He very well may step up big but this series doesn't mean that much in the big picture, especially if you are using it to define his HOF worthiness.

 

How do you feel about Ron Artest?

Would you still talk trash about Paul if he was a Houston Rocket?

 

I agree with you. CP's personality has long infected the Hornets. His attitude dominates the attitude of their team as much as any star player in the NBA.

BB, I agree with you on Chauncey. He won't keep it up.

 

I wish NO would make this a game.

 

A_3P0,

Do you think the Hornets would be better off trading him and rebuilding since you believe his personality is infecting the team negatively (if that's what you meant)? Honest question. Not being a smartass.

 

No, they wouldn't be better off trading him. CP is too talented and they wouldn't get equal value in return. They need to add a veteran or some other player (or coach) who would take over the role as the emotional leader and behind-kicker the other players would take their cue from.

As he gets older, CP may improve in this regard. It could be a matter of maturity.

 

Billups' composure and decision-making are the things that impress me most about him.

Anthony is gonna ride his coattails out of the 1st round for the first time.

 

Good point. CP needs a Billups at SG or SF for the Hornets to contend. Get what I mean? (They were NOT really contenders last season).

I don't mean to put CP in the same category as Melo, but you get my point.

 

For those that criticize CP3 or can't stand him for whatever reason, which PGs in the league would you take over him if you were building a team and had your choice?

Don't consider long-term factros either, just base it on how you think that player could perform for you next season.

 

I hear you. I think you're saying the Hornets need that vet presence, a psychological leader to keep the team focused, motivated.

I'm not sure I agree but I hear your point. I think Paul generally shows plenty of composure, esp. considering his age. Not necessarily emotional composure in Paul's case but in how he plays and runs the offense. He's not Billups cool but few players are. I think Paul simply needs more talent around him, moreso than Anthony and the Nuggets needed a leader.

The Nuggets couldn't have found a better fit. Billups' experience, clutchness and extreme cool under pressure are all perfect complements to the Nuggets roster. He's almost the prototype of what they needed to take that next step.

 

This Denver team is nothing, they'd get pwnt by the Rockets, Spurs, and Lakers. They're just having it easy right now because they are playing a one-man team.

 

They just need a different psychological leader than CP. He ain't ready yet to be the #1 alpha dog on a championship team. Maybe time will change that.

To answer your question? CP's combo of skills & speed are unmatched at the PG position. Give Derrick Rose another year or two and maybe things will be different. Right now, he is clearly the best PG in the NBA. I do not like him, but you shouldn't let personal feelings cloud obvious facts.

 

Really? I think Deron Williams is clearly the best PG in the NBA.

 

Did N O Over Acheive last year? Just don't have the horses this year?
Or has Chris Paul been exposed and is now easily contained?

Rocket RIver

 

I called the Honey Bees season last year a magic carpet ride, never to happen again. Everything went right. It isn't so much that CP has been exposed, it's that their team is exposed. Peja played the best he possibly could have and was healthy. That won't happen again. Tyson Chandler had his career year last season and was healthy. He is not the same player now, probably because of injury. Mo Pete's performance has dropped like a rock even though he was their main weakness as a starter last year. Butler is Butler, which is mediocre at best. Posey, who was brought in to bolster their SG position, hasn't been all that great. I think the Honey Bees overestimated how good he was. They regret that signing. David West has been steady; he's not the problem.

The Honey Bees need more talent but they are stuck with the contracts of Peja, Chandler and Posey. The immediate future doesn't look promising. It isn't CP's fault and, no, he isn't easily contained. He stops himself.

StanleyHartwell, D-Will is the one other player where there is a debate PG. He's the only Jazz player I like.

 

I don't think they overacheived, but they do have some issues. Julian wright didn't take the next step, chandler was traded then brought back, peja has been a injury waiting to happen since 03. Its like I try to tell people in the garm that clamor for a pg like him or williams. CP3 needs play finishers on his squad. He isn't as effective if he doesn't or if he doesn't have the ball in his hands. Chandler not being healthy takes 2-asst out of him and not having a catch and shoot peja robs him also. Then not to gloss over it, denver is a one of the most talented teams in the league. I mean u can attack their mental lapses and stuff, but they are equal to La in terms of talent.Plus they have a leader like chauncey, they're the only team in the west that matchup with la.

 

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Agree. The Hornets' pick and roll defense is atrocious, and their transition defense is atrocious (especially for a walk-it-up-and-down team in the playoffs). Byron Scott is an idiot for thinking that Rasual Butler actually has a decent shot at guarding Billups (and he has been really overrated for a while now). And their front line of one-legged Chandler+a handful of scrubs is getting pulverized by the Denver bigs every single minute.

The truth is that New Orleans was going to get crushed no matter who their opponent was. Even Phoenix was probably a better playoff team than they are. Billups is just having fun doing what he does best against an opponent that is clueless about how to stop him.

 

Agree with all of this, especially the CP comments. And to be honest, I would take Williams over Paul if I were in that situation. Obviously I'm not really qualified to make a decision like that, but Paul is really unimpressing at times, whereas Deron never fails to piss me off and amaze at the same time.