Paul winning games and hearts in New Orleans

Averaging almost 22 points and more than 11 assists per game, Chris Paul has played a role in almost 50 percent of the points his Hornets have scored this season. Greg Nelson/SI

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Sometime in the next month it will become obvious the New Orleans Hornets are better than their skeptics had imagined. Or so thinks coach Byron Scott.

"That's what I envision: the Western Conference finals, and then seeing what happens after that," says Scott, who has played or coached in eight NBA Finals. "I think everybody in [our] locker room feels we can get there."

The mainstream thinking has been that the Hornets are too thin off the bench and too young overall to get by their postseason elders in San Antonio and Phoenix, not to mention Kobe Bryant. But the facts are getting in the way of that story: As of Tuesday, the Hornets remain atop the West, tied for first with the Spurs entering their final 10 games, a position reached through the mature leadership of 22-year-old MVP finalist Chris Paul.

Could the Hornets' rise, though, also be a product of playing all season in New Orleans, where they may have been inspired by the needs of their city? Have they grown up quickly by living in a community that faces a much braver mission than overcoming Steve Nash, Tony Parker and Deron Williams?

"That might have a little bit to do with it," says Scott of the Hornets' year of community service in New Orleans. "But I really think it's just the people that we have. They've been raised extremely well. You meet Tyson's (Chandler) parents, you meet David's (West) parents, you meet Chris' parents -- you can see why they're all still very humble and you can see that they've all grown up in the church. I think that has a lot to do with the way they are as people.

"I tell people all the time, I'm so blessed and fortunate to be able to coach these guys because they just don't give me problems. Whatever I ask them to try to do, they go out there and try to do it. There's no conflict with me yelling at one and him yelling back. It's like a dream job. Its unbelievable, really, and I think a lot of it has to do with the way they've been raised."

Which leads abruptly and surprisingly to the season Paul has been having. He's going to be the first player in 15 years to average 20 points and 10 assists, dating to Tim Hardaway with the Warriors. Paul has either scored or assisted 49 percent of his team's points, which is the highest percentage since John Stockton accounted for 52 percent of the Jazz's offense in 1990-91. And he has had 10 games of 20 points and 15 assists, which is two more than the rest of the league combined.

Simply, Paul is the main reason the Hornets have earned the best record against the West (31-14) as well as the best road record in the conference (23-12). The third-year pro dominates the ball without playing selfishly; at 6-feet and 175 pounds he's strong enough to finish at the rim and smart enough to kick out to the open teammate when a defense collapses.

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