Game notes - Apr 19, 2008
Mavs @ Hornets
- The Mavs controlled the game in the 1st half and seemed to be headed to a victory; the Hornets looked about to fall apart when Chandler got a technical foul midway in the 3rd for shoving Dirk after the refs whistled him for a foul.
- But after the break the Hornets came out a different team. Chris Paul looked like a man possessed. He was into that “I will take over the game and no one can do anything to stop me” mode that only true superstars get into. He had his game face on, he was pumped up and he delivered, and got his team-mates pumped up
- Josh Howard did not fit well in the Mavs offense. He killed the ball movement, over dribbled or just kept the ball in his hands way too much, probably waiting for a clear-out so he can try and take his man one-on-one. I wouldn’t be too surprised if the Mavs traded him in the offseason.
- I wonder who expected this series to become a really physical one with cheap shots from each side and with the teams looking from the 1st game as if they truly and deeply hate each other. If the series goes to 7 games, the hate between these 2 teams may get to late ’90s Heat - Knicks proportions.
- Again, there are not enough words to describe how good Chris Paul is. Not only is he great as a player, but he manages to lead his rather inexperienced team to unbelievable performances
- Kidd didn’t play bad himself and was close to another triple-double, but you could see how sometimes the offensive movement of the Mavs stopped and he was left waiting for a cutter or a screen that never came
- This is nothing new, but the Hornets will go as Chris Paul goes. This game just showed once more how much they depend on him.
