As the Hornets' season resumes on Wednesday night against the Mavericks in the Arena, they lead the West at 36-15.
"We are playing some of our best basketball right now, but the real test will be how do after the All-Star break," said Paul, who had 16 points and 14 assists in the All-Star game. Against the Mavericks in their first game of the season, Paul had 33 points, 12 assists and 9 rebounds in a 112-108 Hornets win. He's averaging better than 22 points and 12 assists in the Hornets' current four-game winning streak.
The Mavericks have gotten 36.5 and 12 rebounds from Dirk Nowitzki in the last two games, but it's fair to wonder how smooth they will look in Jason Kidd's first game with only one practice and a “shoot-around”: on his current Dallas resume. Kidd is shooting a career-low 36.6 per cent from the field and Nowitzki was just 12-of-31 from the field in the last game before the All-Star break.
Former LSU All-SEC performer Brandon Bass has gone just 6-of-21 from the field in the last three games before the break.
"I know a lot of people aren't giving us much of a chance to be in the NBA finals, but we're going to see what we can do," said Hornets coach Byron Scott. "When it's all said and done we feel we will have something to do with it. We haven't gone out and made any moves like some teams have because we feel pretty good about our team."
The Hornets are now a target for the star-studded teams in the West.
"The future is going to be tougher," said Stojakovic. "We've got to be ready to respond. We have to stay focused, stay consistent, get even better because we know the teams are going to come after us. We have one of the best records and you have to meet the challenge. You have got to respond."
Stojakovic, among 77 non-US NBA players from 30 nations, missed most of last season with back surgery, but has returned with vengeance. He averages 16.3 points, and has made 139-of-291 shots (47.8 per cent) from the three-point range and is the Hornets' most accurate free throw shooter, hitting 67-of 72 from the line.
"He has shown the last four or five weeks that he is on a major roll," said his coach. "He feels really good about the way he's playing. He has a lot of confidence and the guys have confidence in him."
Chandler is second in the league in field-goal percentage at .606 and is averaging 12.1 points and 12.5 rebounds a game. West is averaging 19.8 points.
"Players on other teams were saying that we were going to be a good team except we don't have a bench," said Chandler. "They were saying, 'Oh, we really don't respect their bench. The first five is great, but the dropoff is so huge, we can make our runs when they're not on the court.' And coach took it to the bench and told them that, and also challenged them. He told them, 'Look, starters get paid to get out there and to set the tempo and get the momentum for you guys, but you bench players get paid to give guys more energy when they don't have it.'
"It was like, 'You guys aren't doing your job.' A lot of trade talks and speculation came up and I think guys on the team took it personally. We've got some prideful guys, and they've been showing it.
"Right now, I think we're strong with the team we have, but you never know what's going to happen."
SAINTS LOOKING FOR LINEBACKER
Off the typewriter...
Veteran linebackers Dan Morgan and Zach Thomas visited the Saints earlier this week as the team searches for a new starting middle linebacker. Morgan was released be the Panthers and Thomas was let go by the Dolphins, but is expected to sign with the Patriots, who offered him a contract. Morgan was been classified as "damaged goods" by insiders because he has a history of concussions and suffered a partially torn Achilles Tendon last season. Thomas, 35, the leading tackler in the history of the Dolphins, missed all but five games last season because of a concussion and ensuing migraines...Saints stater Mark Simoneau is an unrestricted free agent this year, The free agency signing period begins on Feb. 29...Tulane will have a standing-room-only crows on Wednesday night at Fogelman Arena when they host Memphis, the No. 1 college team in the country. It has been 48 years since Tulane entertained the No. 1 team in college basketball....
LSU football coach Les Miles said he plans to meet with the media next week to discuss his long-range plans for suspended quarterback Ryan Perrilloux, who is expected to weather another storm...The Tigers held their baseball media day on Tuesday and there was some talk of "Omaha." Tigers footballers Chad Jones and Jared Mitchell are playing baseball this season and Miles will throw out the first pitch opening night. Collegiate Baseball ranks LSU No. 30 in its preseason poll and the SEC coaches pick the Tigers to finish fifth in the six-team Western Division. LSU opens its season Friday against Indiana...Only in America do people order double cheeseburgers, large fries and a diet coke.
