Chris Paul Ditches Plastic Boot

Shapecity · Nov 23, 2009

MIAMI — Three consecutive wins before Sunday night’s game against the Miami Heat is an indication the New Orleans Hornets could be heading in the right direction on the court.
And the news is good off the court, as well. Injured All-Star guard Chris Paul now is walking without the aid of a hard, plastic boot that immobilized his badly sprained right ankle since the injury occurred Nov. 13 against the Portland Trail Blazers at the New Orleans Arena.

Paul attended the team’s shoot-around Saturday morning at the Arena, and he was wearing a shoe at Saturday and Sunday night’s games.

"I still don’t know," Paul said of a timetable for his return, which has been left open-ended since the team announced results of an MRI exam that was performed on the ankle Nov. 14. "(Saturday) was my first day without the boot. As long as I’m walking, I’m good."
There is a slight limp in his gait, however.

Quickly helping out: Throughout his unwanted stay on the bench, Paul has almost taken on the job of a fifth assistant coach, especially helping with the development of rookie guards Darren Collison and Marcus Thornton. ¶

The first-year players contributed 43 points to the Hornets’ 96-88 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday on combined 17-of-29 shooting. Collison had a career-high 22 points and 11 assists for his first career double-double. Thornton had a career-high 21 points.

"I can’t do too much right now, so I’m kind of living through them," Paul said. "I’m excited about the energy they’re bringing, and that’s how we’re winning."

Thornton also has brought the ability to score in bunches to the Hornets’ two-guard position, a weapon that had been lacking until he joined the rotation Nov. 9 against the Los Angeles Clippers.

He has scored 20 or more points in three of his past five games and 12, 19 and 21 in New Orleans’ three consecutive wins. He had 24 points Sunday night.

"Everybody knows he’s a scorer," Paul said. "A lot of times when he’s aggressive like that, people just see him shooting 3s. But he’s someone who can take it to the basket, he can shoot it. When he’s going like that, he’s dangerous."

Winning at home: The Hornets’ identity turnaround that began when Jeff Bower took over as coach Nov. 12 resulted in the team’s first three-game winning streak since games 72-74 of last season, when the Hornets beat the Spurs, Kings and Clippers. ¶
It also pushed New Orleans’ home-court record to 5-2.

And the most repeating facet of the winning streak has been defense. The Hawks, for example, who scored 65 points in the first half of last week’s victory at the Philips Arena, didn’t get to 65 until 8:46 of the fourth quarter Saturday night.

"You could see from the (first game of the homestand against the Clippers) we made progress in every game," forward Peja Stojakovic said. "And every time we have good transition defense, we can get a good rebound and get an open floor and from that point, we can run our offense. And our ball movement has been fantastic."

Diogu still out: After a medical evaluation on his strained left knee, New Orleans forward Ike Diogu will sit out another two weeks to rest the injury.

"Unfortunately, we have to give it more time," Diogu said of the strain that occurred during an offseason weightlifting session. "They’ll try me in another two weeks. It’s total rest. That’s the best thing for my body right now, just resting, and see if that works.

"The ligaments and everything are good, so it’s just a matter of just resting it. There’s no swelling. There’s some pain in there. We just want to try and settle everything down. That’s the main thing."

Diogu, who signed as a free agent this summer, said he is frustrated by the inactivity. He has been sidelined since the beginning of training camp.

"I looked at this for me as a big year and a big opportunity," Diogu said. "It’s tough, but it’s one of those things where it’s out of your control."
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Source: NOLA

CelticKing · Nov 23, 2009

Leave him on the bench, you'll win games that way. lol

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Chris Paul Ditches Plastic Boot

Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

CelticKing The Green Monster

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Chris Paul Ditches Plastic Boot

Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

CelticKing The Green Monster

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