While the debate continues regarding whether Deron Williams and Chris Paul will emerge as the best point guard drafted in 2005, the fact of the matter is that just about any team in the league would be happy with both. We’ve already seen Williams go nuts against the Pistons this year; tonight, it’s Paul’s turn as the Pistons visit New Orleans.
How high is Paul’s ceiling? My HOOPSWORLD colleague Preeton Bhattacharya examined that question recently and found that Paul’s third season in the NBA compares favorably to the third years of some NBA greats like Jason Kidd, Gary Payton and Steve Nash, not to mention another guy many of us spent years watching:
Adding someone else into the mix, Paul’s numbers and wins both parallel an all-time great statistically – although many tend to forget that Isiah Thomas was an absolutely amazing basketball player, Paul and Thomas have almost identical numbers in their third year.
Chris Paul: 36.6 MPG, 19.6 PPG, .479 FG%, .385 3P%, .917 FT%, 4.3 RPG, 10.1 APG, 2.9 SPG, 3.06 TO
Isiah Thomas: 36.7 MPG, 21.3 PPG, .462 FG%, .338 3P%, .733 FT%, 4.00 RPG, 11.1 APG, 2.49 SPG, 3.74 TO, 49 wins
Interesting, to say the least. The ball tips at 8pm on FSN. As usual, leave your thoughts in the comments.
It’d be really nice to watch this game but right now nba.com is showing the houston-griz game on the pistons-hornets link.
You might not to watch anyways… We are down 9-23. Saunders needed to take a timeout long ago.
Ugh.
I want to watch no matter the score
Yeah same with me Matt Gibson.. Leave a message here if nba.com fix it.. But yeah it would be really nice to see
We cut the lead to down 5.
… to 1!
BTW, I don’t have League Pass (stupid WOW cable …), but I do know that the NBA closed the loophole that used to allow non-subscribers to watch the game on their site. I’m sure there are still ways to watch it, but it’s not as easy as before.
They closed a loophole but there still is a loophole that just requires someone to be generous and you to be quick with the copy and paste. Right now I’m watching the houston-griz game on the pistons channel hoping nba.com will realize their mistake and change the channel.
The loophole that is still open works as I watch any game on league pass I want every night.
Oh nice — I stand (mostly) corrected.
As for the game, the Pistons have tied it and Chauncey is at the line for the lead just before halftime. I’m a little shocked after that first quarter.
We are up 2 (44-42) at the half, back from 15 points down. Not to shabby.
Oh yeah, I like the new bigger text in the reply section.
You guys get to watch a comeback, I get to notice that Yao’s shorts would probably be pants for me
well if anybody figures out the loophole with the game it would be greatly appreciated…
…because I want to watch the game, too..
if nba.com changes the channel I’ll point you in the right direction Diablo
Thanks for look-out Matt!
OMG! They finally have it!! http://cbox.ws/?n=3-2705974-3850 And request a link to the pistons, then quickly copy and paste that link into windows media player > file > open url.
It’s on! Rockets game switched to Pistons just as Rasheed made a 3-pointer!
there goes maxiell–watching the pistons flash thingy.
dyss with 4. will have 5 in double figures by the end. wish i could watch this game. Pistons are rollin’ lately!
Ouch, nice spin layup by Dyess.
COUNT THAT BABY AND A FOUL!
Funny thing is that SI.com has this tam ranked higher than the Pistons…..
missed that link by moments i suppose.
any more trick-it works if i login with a free registration to NBA league pass, then use a proxy? anyone in the know?
looks like this game is locked-thats impressive!
I think that might work lopez but I usually just go with the mms links that people give me. If you try a mms link and it doesn’t work just wait for the next one. The links expire after like a minute and a half, so new links are posted all the time.
Nice win on the road. It’s nice to pull away in the 4th Q against a good team. Not sure what happened in the last game or practice but Flip gave Amir, Afflalo, and Fourth Quarter Slaughter all DNPs. Coach flexing his muscles! I like it.
I missed the link and the game….
Good win. Not sure if it counts as a road game since Hornets are much worse at home, but they are a great team with a healthy lineup.
It’s so funny how little respect the Pistons have had from the media in the last 5 years. They have put together a monster franchise, built on consistency and excellence, yet people still rank other teams higher than them. I wish people would resign themselves to the fact that, yes, the Pistons are still good. Deal with it.
I just love this team. They are not mailing in 3rd quarters like they did last year…
This team always plays better with something to prove, so let the national media continue to sleep on them. It’s the same thing with San Antonio really (though they’ve had even more success): they’re ignored, then they win a ‘chip. Then they’re the favorite, and they lose. Then they’re considered to be past their expiration date and they win again. This year San Antonio is considered a favorite and the Pistons are supposed to be a declining, fractured team in a stronger Eastern Conference. The stars are aligned…
It’s fine in respect that the Pistons play better with a chip on their shoulder, but I think the NBA is missing a trick. I think the Pistons are one of the more popular teams in the country, I’m always surprised at how many jersey’s i see and how many “Sheed” chants I hear in other arenas. Stern has banked on promoting stars and not teams, but I think the Pistons are a team you could build some excitement around.
Sheed is one of the most popular players in the NBA.