One of the most coveted unrestricted free agents this season has been James Posey, formerly of the world champion Boston Celtics. As of today Posey is now a New Orleans Hornet. The deal is worth an estimated $25 million over four years. He brings with him a winning attitude having won 2 rings in the past 3 seasons. Posey also plays in your face defense, something that will sit real well with coach Byron Scott.

The Hornets traded away their draft pick to Portland for cash money to be able to land a free agent like Posey. Also helping was not having to shell out guaranteed money to a rookie as well. Because of future luxury-tax concerns, Boston was apparently reluctant to offer Posey more than a two or three year deal starting at the league's mid-level exception.

 It was a really tough decision for him," Bartelstein said. "Boston was an incredible experience for him every way you look at it. If he was going to leave Boston, he wanted to make sure it was for a team that would compete for championship immediately and the Hornets certainly are in that world."

If the Hornets can now re-sign Janero Pargo, they'll have all the peices they may need to compete with the likes of the L.A. Lakers, who are still the best team in the West.

New Orleans also may have just surpassed the Spurs as the second best team with this signing. That however remains to be seen as the Spurs, though some feel are getting old are still a very good basketball team with proven veterans.

 With Posey the Hornets can use him at the SG/SF position which is something they most definitlely lacked coming of the bench. Question is what happens with SG Morris Peterson now. Do they shop him around to get someone to take on his contract and can they?

Whatever the Hornets choose to do they will once again be in the thick of the NBA playoffs as they were this year. Giving Chris Paul another weapon to work with has to have some teams in the conference shaking their collective heads. There's a huge buzz already in this city anticipating what might happen next season. Just imagine what it's like now. I'm sure plenty of the fans are watering from the mouths thinking they may get their first taste of what it's like to have a major sports championship in the Crescent city.

The Hornets Chris Paul could have signed a deal worth about $80 million over 5 years. That's a huge amount of money for a 23 year old man. However Paul instead signed a 3 year deal worth that's figures to come out at about $68 million. For Paul it was all about keeping the other players around when their contracts were done.

It's rare to find such a player like Paul in todays league. Heck it's rare to find such a person in todays society that has a me first attitude.

"I'm trying to make sure those guys are here with me," Paul said Wednesday at the New Orleans Arena. "When those guys' contracts are up, I want them to sign another one to stay with us. Everyone who knows me knows that I'm not big on change. So when I find out that someone in the office has left, I want to know what's going on."

Photo by:Ted Jackson / The Times-Picayune 

New Orleans Hornets Coach Byron Scott pats Chris Paul on the shoulder after praising him and his work ethic during a press conference announcing his contract extension at the New Orleans Arena.

Paul's new contract will not go into effect until the 2009-10 season, because he has one year remaining on his rookie contract that will pay him $4.5 million this season.

Under his new deal, Paul will make $15 million per season for three seasons. The contract escalates to $23 million for the fourth year if he does not opt out.

The man known to his teamates and fans as CP3 sought the advise of his two best friends in the league, LeBron James and D-Wade. Both signed 3 year deals themselves in 2006 instead of long term for more money.

"I know how important it is for him to know that he has an opportunity to win every year," Hornets Coach Byron Scott said. "If he doesn't, then obviously he wouldn't be very happy. Money is not the object -- that's not his purpose. It's to win ballgames.

"He's one of the smartest guys in this league. I'm sure he asked his agent or somebody what is David's contract, Tyson's contract and what they have left."

Paul said this was a business decision based on having options after the third year of the deal.

"After putting all that stuff together, considering my age (23) and how I felt like I am as a player, our organization, things like that, this was the best deal," Paul said. "I never thought about opting out; it was never an option to me. I couldn't imagine playing for another team other than the Hornets. That's why I'm happy it's done now.

"It's all about winning, that's why this moment is so crazy. I never think about how much I get paid and all that different stuff."

The deal was done after 6 hours of discussions with Paul's agent lance young. George Shinn the Hornets majority sees Paul having a fuure with the franchise well beyond his playing career.

"Whatever he wanted, he was going to get," Hornets owner George Shinn said Wednesday. "Really, there was no hard negotiating. This guy is the best point guard in the league. We had to do what we had to do. There's no way to calculate what you would lose if we didn't step up and pay the price."

"He could be an asset either in the front office or coaching," Shinn said. "What a sweet kid, and what a player. He could have stiffed-armed us and probably ended up anywhere he wanted to go, but he's not that kind of person."

Paul definitely reflects the attitude of most New Orleanians, a city he has grown to love and embrace. A city that has more years now to show him that same love right back.

First let me apologize for posting this in the NFL section. For whatever reason it wouldn't post in the NBA section. Now on to what this post is about.

The Hornets are a team of now says coach Byron Scott. Which was evident when they traded their first round pick (27th overall) Darrell Authur to the Portland Trail Blazers for $3 million in cash.

Posey is one of the top free-agents this off season and is being looked at from a few teams including the Lakers and Pistons. Whether Hornets GM Jeff Bower can pull of this deal is uncertain. It will take a full mid-level exception worth 5.8 million for him to even consider coming to New Orleans.

It isn't until Wed. that free agents can begin signing contracts but Hornets GM and Posey's Agent Mark Bartelstein have been in constant talks. Bartalstein also represents Janero Pargo who the Hornets are trying to re-sign. Pargo has drawn interests from a few teams like New Jersey and Denver.

The Hornets also have expressed interest in Pistons free
agent Jarvis Hayes. Whatever happens it's important that the Hornets find a legitimate #2 guard and Posey can be just that man. With Julian Wright showing signs of promise at the small forward position and Chris Paul now locked up for 3 more years, the Hornets will look to recapture the same type of success and move even further in the post season in '08-'09.

New Orleans is a very unique city in America. We love to eat and drink probably more than what's healthy for us. It's home to two of the largest music festivals within the united states, Jazz fest and Essence fest of which the former just passed a few months ago and the later is this weekend. New Orleans is also home to what us locals call "Carnival" officially beginning on the Feast of epiphany, which locals sometimes refer to as "Twelfth Night". The Carnival season is often known (especially by out-of-towners) by the name of its last day, Mardi Gras (Frenchfor "Fat Tuesday"), which is held the Tuesday before the beginning of the Catholic liturgical season of Lent, which commences on Ash Wednesday.

One other thing we love and take much pride in is our sports teams. New Orleans is home to a wide variety of sporting events. Most notable are the home games of the New Orleans Saints(NFL) and the New Orleans Hornets (NBA), New Orleans Voodoo (AFL),The New Orleans Blaze are a women's football team in the National womans football association.

The annual Sugar Bowl, the annual Zurich classic (PGA Tour) and horse racing at the Fair grounds race course, the nations third oldest thoroughbred track. Also, New Orleans regularly hosts the Super Bowl, the college football BCS National Championship game, and the NCAA college basketball Final Four.

Special Football Games:

 Special Basketball Games:

Coach of the year Byron Scott has an option to way since his Hornets have been bounced from the NBA playoffs by the S.A. Spurs. Does he want to stick around a few more years or sell himself to the highest bidder? Ofcourse there's a team named the Chicago Bulls who not only have some great young talent already on it's roster but also just so happen to own the rights to the #1 pick in the upcoming draft. That's something to really think about. At this time that seems to be the furthest thing from his mind.

"I expect to be here," Scott said. "In my mind right now I hope to be hear unless something crazy happens."

Scott earns about 3.5 million a season right now. The Hornets majority owner George Shinn says he plans to make Scott a fair extension offer which would make Scott one of the highest paid coaches in the league.

"Byron has done an outstanding job for us," Shinn said. "I'm tired of flip-flopping and firing coaches. I want somebody to stay that I like. ... I'm not going to be stupid. I'll be as fair as I can to get him to stay with us."

Scott just so happens to be the Hornets third coach in three seasons. Which makes it easy to understand where Shinn is coming from. Scott has turned this franchise completely around since coming over. Ofcourse having the oportunity to land PG Chris Paul had something to do with it as well.

He also had to deal with the teams relocation to Oklahoma city after being displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Something few coaches might have been able to handle. After returning this season back to New Orleans he helped lead his young team to a franchise record 56 wins and a Southwest division title.

Shinn said that the teams top priority right now is a long term extension for Chris Paul who would be a restricted free agent after next season. GM Jeff Bower said they are well prepared to offer that extension because they have been preparing for it for several seasons.

Shinn says that Scott's extension is the next  priority on his list.

"It's a great scenario for him. He's worked hard to develop the players he has," Shinn said of Scott. "If we can pay the same as somebody else why would he leave."

Scott said he wouldn't if what Shinn said on wednesday comes thru.

Pheonix is also searching for a coach to take over after D'Antoni left for...browner pastures in N.Y. but both Chicago and Pheonix aren't exactly easy jobs to walk into. No if Shinns offer is fair as he says he'll make it, then the right thing to do would be for Scott to stay with his team. A team that knows what he expects from them and has already shown they will work hard for him. The sky's the limit with these young Hornets. Scott is just the man to continue with them on that journey to the NBA's version of the promised land.

First of congrats to the Spurs and their fans. Very classy franchise and the fans are no different. With that out of the way this is how I seen the game and what went wrong for the Hornets.

The energy that was there for the first two games and game five wasn't nowhere to be found. I thought the Hornets came out a little a little sporadic. San Antonios defense gets credit as well and on the offensive side they was just on fire the whole night paticularly from the three point line where they shot 12 for 28 to the Hornets 4 of 17.

The offensive rebounds in the first half were huge as well. Not to mention the total rebounds for the Spurs which was 51 as compared to the Hornets 42. Credit the Spurs to with keeping Paul from scoring no more than 18 points.  Fouls were pretty even which was good to see. A few bad calls on both sides here and there but nothing that impacted the game that much. Missing a few free throws didn't help the Hornets cause either.

The biggest thing I seen was that the Spurs were able to dictate the pace of the game. That's a credit to an experienced and confident team. Bad shot selection also by all the Hornets. There wasn't many shots that the Spurs let them have that wasn't contested well. Great game for the Spurs and they deserved this win. They were the better team tonight.

So for Byron Scott and the Hornets it's a long Summer but the future is very bright. CP3 will only get better and should be an MVP candidate again next season. David West is still young and a very good player. Hopefully Chandler can work on his offense which has gotten better since joining the Hornets. Rookie Julian Wright looks to improve and should be able to contribute to this team next season. I'm very excited about what the future holds for this franchise. Also very proud of them and what they accomplished this season. Which is more than what anybody believed they could.

Once again congratulations to the Spurs Organazation and it's fan base and goodluck in the Western conference finals. Should be a great matchup with the Lakers.

             @

Forget all the media coverage of Robert Horry's pick that sent David West to the floor in pain during game 6. Forget that the Hornets are an upstart young team with no experience. Forget that the Spurs are the defending champions. Forget all the other endless media coverage of everything but the game itself. Neither of those things will have any bearing on who wins tonights game.

No it will simply come down to one thing and one thing only. Whoever makes the least amount of mistakes wins this game simple as that. Now mistakes can include a few different things such as turnovers, fouls,missed free throws are just a few things that come to mind.

That'll be the only story to tell once the buzzer sounds to end this game. Which team made the least amount of mistakes won this game.Well that is for the first few minutes until the talk is then directed towards the Western conference final showdown with the L.A. Lakers.

Yesterdays practice for the Hornets was as normal as it gets. Players joked and watched a usual one on one pickup game between Janero Pargo and rookie Julian Wright. In other words every player was loose and if nervous it didn't show. Doesn't mean that they aren't taking the Spurs serious. I'm pretty sure they are, because if not then they lost already.

So in a few short hours tip off will begin and I for one just want to see a good hard fought game by both teams. One in which we don't have to listen to endless talk of the whole Horry/West non-story. What has happened is done and over with. It's time to just go out and do what you love to do and that's play great team ball and win.

Goodluck to the Spurs and it's fans. Even better luck to the Hornets and it's faithful fans as well. This will be one heck o####ame 7, that is if the refs don't make it one sided for either team,which would just totaly blow.

My prediction: Hornets win by 5 100-95

 Hornets forward David West is expected to play Monday night during what should be a very exciting game 7 In New Orleans. West was hurt in game 6 when trying to jump up and reach for a pass he was hit in his already sore back on a screen by the Spurs Robert Horry. A screen some have said was a cheapshot, including myself.

 Hornets players look on as David West is in agony after hurting his back again in game 6

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images/NBAE

Although West may play how affective he'll be is the more concerning question. In the 2 of the 3 wins for the Hornets at home David West has been the best player on the court for the Hornets. There was no official diagnosis reported on the injury even though ESPN announcers were calling it a pinched nerve on thursday, the team is calling it a bruised back.

The Hornets were given Friday off to rest,coach Byron Scott decided to just cancel practice. The team returned to practice this morning and all eyes were on West and how his back will respond after the rest and treatments.

Come Monday the Hornets defensive pressure will be another factor in whether they can move on to face the L.A. Lakers in the Western conference finals. In all three home wins against the Spurs they forced San Antonio to play unlike itself and for the most part held Tim Duncan in check.

The excitment and electricity that will fill the "Hive" will be unlike anything New Orleans has seen with the exception of Mardi Gras and 2006 when the New Orleans Saints hosted two playoff games in the Superdome.

Win or lose it has been an incredible season for this young Hornets team. A season that nobody could havce forseen except maybe the players themselves. Just think Hornets fans all this in just a few seasons and with bright young stars like West,CP3 and Tyson Chandler this just may become a regular thing in the very near future.Byron Scott has done a masterful job with these young players and showed why he was rightfully named "Coach of the Year."

"Fan Up" has been the slogan around here since the playoffs began. Come Monday that's just what those that will be in attendance will have to do. The Hornets will need every loud cheer, the voices all saying "D-fense" in one collective tone and as loud as 17,000 plus fans can boo one guy named Robert Horry when he touches the floor.

Befor I get into my rant let me first say that the Spurs played an excellent game on both offense and defense to force a game seven. Coach Popovich also made great adjustments to everything the Hornets did to win game 5. Now for my rant on what I saw in this game.

I'm not the one to complain much about nothing (except for this damn cast I have on my arm because there is an itch I can't scratch) either way the officials were terrible in this game. I've been saying how inconsistant (as has most fans have been themselves) the refs are. This game however was by far the worst I have seen so far in the post season.

Sure CP3 did clear out twice early in the third quarter to pick up two quick fouls. However the fouls on David West one fighting through the screen and one on the offensive side aginst Duncan were just terrible. Those fouls gave West his third and fourth fouls of the game. Which also caused him to say whatever it was to get a Tech. thrown his way as well.

Throughout thie whole game though it was apparent the calls were going to be rediculously in favor of the Spurs. I do not blame San Antonio in no way whatsoever. The officiating crew for tonights game just seemed to have it in for the Hornets for what ever reason.

Also Robert Horry who I admired up until tonight laid a hard foul on David West that was just uncalled for. Sure he was called for it but let's not forget the foul on Steve Smith during last seasons playoffs that turned the whole series around. Though I'm pretty sure it wasn't a master plan by coach Popovich it does make one wonder about the mentality of Horry.                         

Would you trust a guy who looks like this? Looks devious if you ask me.

Just look at the guy with the nice smile and charming looks, those people can be sneaky and dangerous. He kind of reminds me of a cartoon character of a cat with a huge grin on his face and the bird is missing from it's cage. Who knows what affect this will have on West and the Hornets as a team, especialy if West is not able to play in game seven.

Sorry Horry but I have just lost all respect I have ever had for you. Thing is he may have caused himself more problems than he could have ever wished for. You see Mr. Horry people still believe and practice Voodoo here in New Orleans. Besides if you did it with malice in your heart and mind let me tell you Karma is a real ####!

Let me end this because I have to get up early to start finding everything I need to make a Voodoo doll that looks like Robert Horry. That shouldn't be to hard of a task i'm sure. Game seven will be an interesting one and the Hornets best be ready because these Spurs mean business.

Food for thought : I ran across an article last season that was about a technical foul called on Tim Duncan by referee Joey Crawford which ended with crawford being suspended and missing out on working the post season. something he has done more than any other NBA ref. to date. Think maybe these guys are a little intimadated? Things that make you go Hmmmm?

David West of the New Orleans Hornets was very upset with his play in game four of their Western conference semi-final matchup with the San Antonio Spurs. Tonight in game 5 in the hive he was unstoppable. West carried the Hornets through the first half to keep the game close enough that when they went on a run in the third and took the lead they wouldn't relinquish it.

                                           Photo courtesy of  Chris Graythen / Getty images

West finished the game with playoff carreer highs of 38 points (one point shy of tying a club record set by Glen Rice with 39) and 14 rebounds through in 5 assist and 5 blocks he showed that he is a superstar in the making.

Scrappy and relentless defense is what helped the Hornets in games one and two, something that was missing in games three and four in S.A. but turned it back on at home. Forcing the Spurs into 10 total turnovers and holding Tim Duncan to just 10 points was enough to give them a 3-2 lead heading back to San Antonio and put the pressure on the Spurs.

Chris Paul struggled a little in the first half but turned it on in the second to finish with 22 points 1steal and 14 assist. Not to mention his decision making throughout the game was exceptional. He consistantly worked the pick and roll to perfection with David West or found Morris Peterson wide open beyond the arch for threes. Mo Pete ended the game with 12 points 2 steals and four rebounds. The 12 points made up for the lack of scoreing by Peja who only had 9 points but added 11 reb. and a steal. 

                             Photo courtesy of Layne Murdoch/NBAE/Getty images

As young and inexperianced as this Hornets team is, they make up for it with confidence and good team defense. Something that has made the Spurs the champions they have been for so many times this last 9 years.

Take nothing though from the Spurs, they are every bit of the great team they have been for so long. However the third quarter was the key. West with a tweaked back just wouldn't be denied and Paul drove the lane fast and hard to keep the Spurs defense off balanced.

The Hornets played Tony Parker hard and he seen the floor up close almost as many times as he seen a shot fall for him. He finished the game with 18 points but only 4 assist. The Spurs best offensive weapon tonight was Manu Ginobli who had 20 points and 7 assist. That however wasn't enough as the rest of the team couldn't make a beach ball land in the ocean.

Game 6 will be a good one and the Spurs backs are against the wall. However they are a extremely good team and by no means will they just lay down and accept defeat. The Hornets will have to come out with even more intensity and defensive awareness than this game if they hope to knock off the defending NBA champs.

Note: The team that wins Game 5 in a best-of-seven that was tied 2-2 has gone on to win 83.7% of the time.

As I said befor for the Spurs to win tonights game it was imparetive that Tony Parker keep pace with Hornets PG Chris Paul. That's just what he did with 31 points 4 reb. and 11 assist. Credit goes to the defending champs for hanging in and not folding up like some lawn chairs.

The Hornets kept pace with the Spurs until the end of the third quarter but after that the Spurs did what an experienced and defending championship team does. They mentaly and physicaly beat up a young and upcoming team.

For the Hornets Chris Paul was still exceptional 32 points 2 reb. 9 assist and a steal but missed free throws and stupid fouls by teamates made a huge difference in this game. Something that plauged the Spurs in the first two games at New Orleans.

Starting Manu Ginobli was a smart move by coach Popovic as well. He provided a spark that the Spurs most desperatly needed being down 2-0 and now with another win this weekend again on their home court the Spurs can even this series up and put themselves in prime position to take the lead by the begining of next week.

This has turned into every bit of the dog fight I anticapated it would be. Playoff basketball at it's best and there is still more to come. However as I have said befor if the Hornets come away with atleast one win in San Antonio it will be tough for them to win in New Orleans.

The Spurs are a great veteran team and nobody should have expected them to be swept. If you did then shame on you for believing in your foolishness. I for one didn't and wouldn't belive in that happening. The Hornets are a young team and more than likely put pressure on themselves and as the saying goes "pressure busts pipes" but one thing is for certain and that's the Hornets are a tough team. A team on a mission and that mission is to be respected and earn a birth in the western conference finals. Something they'll have atleast two more chances to accomplish.

There is no doubt in anybody's mind (except a select few Spurs fans) that if San Antonio allows the Hornets to walk away with a win tonight then this series is all but over. The Spurs have to do more than just win though, although a win would go a long way to help rebuild their confidence if they allow New Orleans to keep it close it'll not be enough to keep them (Hornets) from coming into game four still confident they can win this series.

Let's face it the Hornets are already confident with a 2-0 lead on the defending champs. Not to mention they have blew the game wide open in the fourth quarter of both games. Add the fact that by winning both games at home it guarantees that this series ends in New Orleans no matter what and you have a real confident team.

Tony Parker is the key, if he keeps allowing Hornets PG CP3 to out play him on both ends of the court then they might as well throw in the towel and use the famouse words of one Roberto Duran when taking a pounding from Sugar Ray Leanord and yell to the refs "no mas" because that's what this has become...a beat down!

It seems the Spurs have no answer for the one -two punch of Chris Paul and David West. In game one David West torched the Spurs. When game two came around the Spurs put the handcuffs sort of speak on West but had no answer for Chris Paul who put up 30 points himself. Throw in the fact that Peja is hitting threes like he did in his days as a Sacramento King it's as if the Spurs have been punched in the mouth with a long stiff jab.

Although they are not K.O.'d yet just a few more blows and the 10 count could be in their forseeable future. Youth VS experience and so far the youth has landed the most punches. It's been a long and thrilling ride for the champs but I can't see them lasting to much longer in this fight to remain the undisputed NBA champions. Change is inevetable and it seems that time has come. It's time for a new team to start it's path to glory. That team just may be the New Orleans Hornets.

   The San Antonio Spurs and it's superstar PF Tim Duncan were not going to go out like game one. The plan was to not let Hornets All-star forward David West have the same impact he had last game. However it seemed they forgot that there was another Allstar for the Hornets on the floor who goes by the nickname CP3. Just as he did to many opposing PG this season and in game one, he abused Tony Parker and any other defender thrown at him enroute to a 30 point and 12 assist night.

   The Spurs had no answer at all for Chris Paul and now find themselves in a very difficult position down 2 games to none. The series moves on to San Antonio now but the Spurs have not only ever been able to be repeat champions but have never comeback from a 2-0 deficit.

   Sure it's not over till the fat lady sings but it sounds like she is warming up her voice to be ready to sing the song na, na, na, na, hey, hey goodbye. That is if the Spurs do not take these next two games at home that is.

   From the start of the season I have said the Hornets are flying under the radar. Some people agreed and still others laughed at me as if I said the greatest joke ever told. Well people who's laughing now? Certainly not the Spurs fans and they are finding out that the same team that beat their beloved team out for the division just might leave them at home wondering if next season will be better than this one.

   So as the series moves to the beautiful city of San Antonio I predict the Hornets will come away with atleast one win. They'll close the series out here in New Orleans and sit back to see whether it will be the Lakers or Jazz that they'll be facing in the Western Conference Finals. A series with either just may be one for the ages.

Side Note:  In various places over the internet I have read of fans (mostly Lakers) say that the Hornets and CP3 play dirty ball. Are you kidding me! This is a game with 10 pretty sizeable guys huddled up fighting and scrapping for a ball and a win. Contact is part of this sport you know. Players from any team will do whatever it takes to help it's team win, even more during the playoffs. Get a grip folks and grow up already.

The Hornets David West has been on a mission. Just a few nights ago Houston PG Rafer Alston made a statement about Mr. West befor they were to play the Hornets. In an interview with TNT Alston said people were saying they beat New Orleans befor that game because the Hornets were without David West. He went on to say that David West isn't a superstar like Yao Ming.  Needless to say West helped lead his team to victory and made Alstons statement seem pretty stupid in my opinion.

Fast forward to lastnights game and West looked like he had been a superstar his whole career. Against the Celtics, West just couldn't be stopped. In a sold out New Orleans arena, West carried the Hornets who was without it's lone superstar (depending on who you ask) CP3 for most of the game due to some flaky foul trouble. The result was a Hornets win and David West making every defender that the Celtics threw at him look absolutly silly. So for those of you who believe Rafer Alston and also those that think CP3 makes David West look good only need to watch the highlites of the game lastnight. West finished with 37 points on the night.

CP3 only played 29 minutes because of the foul trouble he stayed in but hit some clutch jumpers late in the fourth quarter. 

"David West single-handedly destroyed us, but Pargo was the most important player on their team," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "They had their leader off the floor, and they actually cut the lead, got the lead, with him off the floor, and that's the time we should have stretched the lead and we didn't." Pargo had 15 points and six assists in 21 minutes, helping New Orleans surge into the lead while Paul was on the bench early in the fourth quarter.

Bonzi Wells has been a nice addition to the Hornets as well. He finished lastnight with 12 points and 8 steals, a franchise record. Being out rebounded 44-29 the many forced turnovers from a relentless defense more than made up for the difference.

If you haven't already it's time to take these Hornets seriously. Many believe they don't have the experience to go far in the playoffs and that may have some merit to it. However the Western conference is tough already down this stretch. Even as tough as it is and will continue to be, the Hornets have in recent weeks beaten the Spurs, Lakers and Rafer Alstons Houston Rockets.

No David West isn't a superstar...yet, however he is an All-Star and  both Houston and Boston have seen just why he was.

Photos of the game courtesy of the AP/Bill Haber

 Much has been said about who the MVP this season should be. Most of the focus has been on two real great players in Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. While there is an abundance of arguments you can make for either player, in my opinion nobody is doing more than the kid they call CP3.

In the past two games Chris Paul has put up almost identicle numbers against the Western conferences two best teams. Just days ago Paul was way to much for Spurs PG Tony Parker to handle.  After the first half the Spurs went with defensive ace Bruce Bowen to try and stop CP3. Paul finished with 26 pts-17 asst. and 3 steals. Which resulted in a huge 100-75 win.

Again last night in a sold out arena and the largest audience ever for a Hornets game Chris Paul was spectacular. The Lakers defense had no answer for Paul who put up 27 pts-17 asst. and 4 steals enroute to a 108-98 win which moved the Hornets into a half game out of first place.

Paul has done everything you could possibly ask of an MVP worthy player.  None more than he has taken a team nobody gave a chance to win and has carried them on his back. At just the young age of 22 what he has been able to accomplish so far is nothing short of amazing. Yes Lebron is young and was fresh from highschool and has been an amazing player as well. Thing is everyone expected that from James. Nobody would have ever guessed Paul is (in my honest opinion) the best PG in the game today.

Leadership is and should be one of the qualities that is looked at when deciding an MVP player. CP3 has shown he is the Hornets leader both on and off the field. He's the first player on the court during pre-game shoot arounds and during practice he's the first player to arrive. Teamates often try to beat him to practice even going as far as leaving early just to beat him and have failed in every attempt.

CP3's defensive skills are second to none. He leads the league in total steals with 165 and is first in steals per game with 2.70 that's pretty astounding for such a young player. He has also managed 2 steals in 47 of 61 games.

Paul is a dominant PG and he is 1st in steals, 2nd in assist, 3rd in assist to turnover ratio, 9th in free throw percentage and 18th in scoring. Paul is also on the verge of possibly becoming the only player in NBA history to finish a season with 20 plus points, 10 plus assist and 3 steals. If that doesn't happen what is even more possible is he'll become the first player in 15 years (Tim Hardaway 92-93) to finish 20 and 10. Something 2 time MVP Steve Nash never did.

If you haven't had an opportunity to watch the Hornets and Chris Paul I feel for you. This is a very exciting team to watch and Paul makes it that way. This Sunday the Hornets take on the the Detroit Pistons on ABC station. It's one of the very rare times that they will be on national T.V. and I recommend to anyone who is a fan of the NBA to watch this young team led by Chris Paul try and dismantle another elite NBA team. I can almost guarantee you'll come away with a new found respect for both the Hornets and Chris Paul.

Anyone can make an argument for a few other players this season. Fact is none of those arguments would be any better than what one can make for Chris Paul. So with all this said I must admit one more thing. I am a Laker fan, are  you surprised?

                        CP3 for MVP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!