Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Woodson is trying to come up with a game plan that will slow down the Hornets when they meet on Wednesday night at the Arena at 7 o'clock.
With Paul in the lineup, the Hornets (3-0) are hard to stop. At least that's the opinion in 29 other NBA cities.
The Hawks, who are attempting to start their season at 3-0 for the first time in 11 seasons, comes against a player considered to be the most unstoppable force in the NBA.
Before Monday's games, the Hornets were the second highest scoring team in the league (106.6)m behind Detroit (108,5). The Hawks' defense has been quite good, too, through two games, They're giving up a league best 86.5 points per game (tied with Utah).
"You've got to make adjustments when you play Paul," the Hawks coach told ajc.com "He's a player. A dang good player. He's pushed his team to the max and his supporting cast is pretty good as well. We've got to come up with a game plan. What that is, I don't know.
"He's a triple threat. He can shoot, he can penetrate and he can find people. And he defends. It's not like he's shying away from trying to defend. The kid gets after you defensively. We have to try N figure it out."
The Hawks' Josh Smith the Hornets should be concerned about the Hawks despite Paul.
"We've got Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson in the backcourt," said Smith."I think teams are worried about us, too. Those guys are going to be some work for the Hornets, too. People better not sleep on them?
Johnson has scored 60 points in two games and Smith already has blocked seven shots and has seven steals for the Hawks this season, while they held opponents to 39 per cent shooting.
Even with starters Peja Stojakovic and Tyson Chandler both out with sprain ankles for last Saturday's home opener against the Cavaliers, the Bees still won 104-92. Stojakovic and Chandler are considered day-to-day and could return against the Hawks.
"In the NBA and especially in this Western Conference, every win you get is very valuable," said Paul. "At the end of the season, we're going to look back on these wins and say, 'Man, that was a good one. We've got to keep piling them up."
James Posey has been a big plus to the Hornets since joining them after helping Boston in their run to the NBA title last season. He is 10-of-16 (62.5 per cent) from beyond the arc while averaging 13 points.
"We have very unselfish guys," said Posey about his new team. "You have Chris making plays for me and everybody else. You move the ball and yo get wide open shots."
SOME HITHER, OTHERS YON: Nick Saban said there's still one worry about returning to Baton Rouge to play LSU on Saturday. Saban's first return to Tiger Stadium as No. 1 Alabama's coach also means his wife, Terry, will meet up with some of her friends, who like to shop and spend money. "P just hope it's not too much shopping," said the coach. "She's got some Triple-A rated shopping buddies there, and I get nervous every time she hooks up with them." His wife still has endless numbers to call for gossip, where his children still have childhood memories. "We have memories and friends in Baton Rouge,: said Saban. He said he respects everything about his former program at LSU and has :no ill feelings" toward the Tigers fans. Last year, Saban ended he game hugging his former Tigers players which he called mutual respect and admiration." There will be extra security at the game to keep unruly LSU fans from getting too close to the coach. "I have a lot of respect for the people there, and we don't have any concerns," said Saban. "Anything that the Sabans have ever done has never been to hurt anyone at LSU or in the state of Louisiana, nor will it ever be." LSU Police will be taking special precaution for Saban's return/ "We're going to reallocate some of our resources and concentration on getting more police officers around where the bus unloads in case the fans try to throw things at the players or coach,: said LSU Police spokesman Maj. Lawrence Rabalais.
"We're not going to be adding numbers, just relocating positions where the officers will be placed."...
Saban is expecting to be booed. "Regardless of anything, my focus is on our team and the job that we have to do," said Saban."We can't control any of that stuff so we're not concerned about it. LSU has great fans and I told our younger guys they're going into will light a fire under you. It's going to be exciting. It'll have you wanting to run through a wall."
Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Woodson is trying to come up with a game plan that will slow down the Hornets when they meet on Wednesday night at the Arena at 7 o'clock.
