This is the first interesting matchup of the season for us.  The point guard matchup is one for the league.  Perennial all-star Chris Paul is up against emerging leader Rajon Rondo. 

 

I have to start by saying I think Rondo got the shaft on the defensive team.  He is clearly an all-NBA defender while Paul got on the first team.  Since Michael Jordan, I don't really trust all-defensive teams, he never was a very good defender and neither is Kobe Bryant, who is on the list about every year.  Offensively, all thre of the teams are some of the best, but the sports punditry world is in hte business on promoting players instead of objectively reporting on them.

 

With all of that said, New Orleans has started the young season 1-1, losing handily to the San Antonio Spurs and barely beating the sub-par Kings, 97-92.

 

In this season, the Hornets offense isn't clicking yet. Paul is leading the team in scoring with 28.5 a game, his assists are under 7 a game, pretty low for him.  Emeka Okafor and David West are averaging around 15 a game. 

 

The best way they can beat us is by Okafor locking down the Celts up front, he is about the only player who can. 

 

Coming into this game, Rajon Rondo is averagins 12.6 assists a game.  He is a key defensive player to a team that is holding its opponents to under 80 points a game and a .190 3-point percentage. 

 

The key to the Hornets offensively is for Chris Paul to regain his touch in passing.  He has got to get his team involved.  This is hard considering Okafor has never been particularly aggressive offensively and Peja Stojakovic has gone very cold in his career. 

 

Still, this is a team with a lot of pride and will be a very good test for us.