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DON’T look now but the New Orleans Hornets are on top of the
standings in the tough Western Conference. In the preseason, they
were not even in the radar of many analysts but now, they are
lording it over teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio
Spurs, and Phoenix Suns with a 49-21 record. In recent weeks, the
Hornets have beaten the Spurs, the Lakers, the Houston Rockets and
the best team in the NBA—the Boston Celtics to prove they are more
than just a flash in the pan.
Of course the Hornets lead in the West may seem
precarious since there are three teams just one game behind but
I’m sure that Chris Paul and Co. are savoring every moment at the
top. Additionally, the Hornets have a tough closing schedule with
most of their last 12 games on the road. This includes trips to
Boston and Orlando—two Eastern Conference powerhouses.
Point guard Chris Paul is the main reason for
the resurgence for this hard luck team that saw their homecourt
destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2006 and injuries to key players
last season. For the first time in his young career, Paul is poised
to enter the play-offs and show the world that he is indeed the best
point guard in the league. There are even loud whispers that Paul is
one of the favorites for the Most Valuable Player trophy (MVP) along
with Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. He is definitely in good company.
Outside of the 22 points he scores every game
day, Paul is the best playmaker in the league since he dishes out
11.2 assists and is a ferocious defender (2.72 steals). His ability
to create plays and pressure the defense with his penetrations and
outside shots has allowed his other teammates to blossom. Center
Tyson Chandler and power-forward David West are having career
seasons. Chandler has become the league’s leading rebounder while
West has upped his scoring.
In what could a be a preview of the NBA Finals,
Paul was sidelined in most of the game versus the Boston Celtics on
March 22 due to early foul troubles. Paul hit two clutch shots in
the dying minutes to secure the victory for the Hornets and
embarrass the Celtics who were leading almost the entire game. In
another recent game with LeBron James in Cleveland, Paul drew three
defenders before passing out to West in the dying seconds to take a
1-point victory.
The Hornets will definitely make the play-offs
but questions still remain whether a young and inexperienced team
can beat the likes of Utah or Dallas in a seven-game series.
Additionally, the Hornets don’t have a deep bench like most
Western Conference contenders. Still, the Hornets can’t wait to
prove their critics wrong.
Please e-mail your comments and suggestions
to raffyrledesma@yahoo.com
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SIDELINES. Petron’s Tulong Aral
education program will graduate the first batch of scholars (1,137
students) this Saturday (March 29) at the SMX Convention Center.
Tulong Aral is a long-term, strategic initiative that helps sends
poor children to school, keep them there and make sure they learn.
Through Tulong Aral, Petron is sending poor children to elementary
schools in Metro Manila and Mindanao. Now on its sixth year, the
company has more than 6,000 scholars under the program.
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