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New Guard Looks Like Old Guard
Hornets Coach Byron Scott says Chris Paul, above, is one of the few players today whose game would translate in any era.
(By Layne Murdoch -- Getty Images)
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In his playoff debut last season, Williams led Utah to the Western Conference finals.
Hornets Coach Byron Scott won three championships with the Lakers, playing alongside Magic Johnson, who revolutionized the position with his size, flair, creativity and court vision.
He likes to talk about how Paul is one of the few players in the game today whose game would translate in any era.
"He's a guy that reminds me of Isiah," Scott said. "The first day he came to training camp, I gave him the ball and said, 'It's your team, you run the show.' I thought maybe five or six years in the league, you would start talking about Chris Paul as an MVP candidate."
Kidd will get to know Paul well over the next few weeks, with the seventh-seeded Mavericks meeting the Hornets in the first round. Paul defeated Kidd twice this season -- he hit a game-winning shot over Kidd in New Jersey and ruined Kidd's re-debut with Dallas with 31 points, 11 assists and 9 steals. But Kidd got some payback in the season finale, posting his 100th career triple-double with 27 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds.
"I think there was a lull, where you'd try to pick five [good point guards] in the league and you'd stop early," said Celtics Coach Doc Rivers, a point guard for 13 seasons in the NBA. "Now, that number is growing. I love that guys are understanding that assists are just as valuable as the shot. Jason Kidd is the best guy at showing you every night the shot is important, but not that important if you can make plays."
Kidd has the lowest scoring average among the four players, at 10.8 points. Paul (21.1 points) became the first player since Tim Hardaway in 1992-93 to average at least 20 points and 10 assists. Williams averaged 18.8 points. Nash averaged 16.9 this season, but said nothing compares to finding a teammate for a score. "I like seeing my team win and my teammates be productive and feel good about themselves," Nash said. "For me, getting an assist is a way to incorporate two teammates. It's more fun for me that way."
