Chris Paul has the look of a big time NBA point guard. From the opening tap
last night in Oklahoma City, the twenty year-old made it crystal clear that
he is no ordinary rookie. His numbers from the first half of the game
against Sacramento don't exactly jump off the stat sheet, but in just
watching this kid, it's not tough to tell he has something special to his
game.
A sequence late in the first quarter revealed much about the youngster.
With the clock winding down, Paul beat a double team at the top of the key.
He then took one dribble into the lane and lofted a one-handed shot from
about ten feet. The shot bounced off the back iron and the buzzer sounded.
From a results standpoint, there was nothing much to the play. But after
seeing just how effortlessly Chris Paul got into the lane and got his shot
off with such ease, it's really tough not to take notice.
More than that, the young point guard out of Wake Forest looks very much at
ease on the floor. Tuesday, he was getting his team into their offense
quickly. J.R. Smith and P.J. Brown both seemed to work well with Paul. On
opening night at least, our main man Chris Paul was getting the ball where
it needed to be: in the hands of guys who gave them the best chance of
scoring the ball. Though I must confess, it's easy to snicker at the notion
of this team scoring in such efficient fashion.
It looked like Sacramento simply laid down in the opener. It might have
been a bad night at the office or it might have been something else. It's
too early to know for certain. What is hard to ignore is the fundamental
lack of effort put forth by guys like Brad Miller. He just doesn't do that.
In a 26-point setback to what might be the worst team in the league, a lot
of things don't look right.
And what's this in Philly? Chris Webber actually getting off the floor? I
could have sworn his feet were bolted to the hardwood. Of course, the dunks
and easy finishes look nice when you have a rookie rotating off to help.
Andrew Bogut started at power forward opposite C-Webb. The big rookie
stepped up time and time again -and perhaps prematurely so - to defend
against penetration. Webber simply dove to the rim awaiting dishes from
Allen Iverson among others.
Speaking of Bogut, that kid just eats space. What he lacks in foot speed
and lateral quickness, he more than makes up with some pretty heady play.
Bogut's awareness is fairly uncommon for a big kid coming in. Fans are
going to really enjoy watching him pass out of the post. Against the 76ers
in his career debut, Andrew Bogut went for 13 points and 9 rebounds. The
big Australian also blocked three shots for good measure as his Bucks took
down Philadelphia in overtime.
I find it really difficult to not like what's going on in Milwaukee. If
T.J. Ford is good to go (looked like he is) and fully recovered from spine
surgery, that team has a pretty darn good future ahead of it. Starting now.
