Sam Smith

There was no way, we all knew, that the New Orleans Hornets, could make the playoffs.

They hadn't made the postseason since 2004 and had never gone past the second round. They faced still another move before this season, back to New Orleans, where the city and arena remained half-filled since the Hurricane Katrina disaster.

We were certain they couldn't hold onto a top four spot in the Western Conference, as they had done much of the season. Certainly not against powers like the Suns, Jazz, Mavericks and Spurs.

And there was no way that young team would be able to stand up to the Dallas Mavericks in the playoffs, even with home court advantage. Not the veteran Mavs with reigning MVP Dirk Nowitzki.

We were sure. So sure.

And now we are even more confident there's no way the upstart Hornets can meet the challenge of the defending champion San Antonio Spurs, who dispatched the Phoenix Suns in five games.

No way. Right?

There shouldn't be. But haven't we (me for sure) underestimated this Hornets team all season? We were certain their youth and relative inexperience would show and eventually take them down.

So do you believe, my brothers and sisters! Say Amen!

C'mon, say it.

"There's always a knock on someone," Hornets center Tyson Chandler, who was that big first round bust in Chicago, told me. "Look at Michael Redd. When he came in as a pro, they said he couldn't shoot. Now look at him. He's the shooter for the USA team. Jeff Bower (Hornets general manager) always tells me, 'As long as you believe, make it a habit.'"

The Hornets have me believing, though again I picked against them vs. the Spurs.

I just didn't see how they'd control Tony Parker. Chris Paul gets a lot of steals and is the best in the NBA in sneaking behind an advancing team after a missed shot and purloining the ball. Yes, Chandler will be the shot blocking presence inside that Shaq isn't. (yes, I'm really writing you may fear Tyson Chandler more than Shaq. What has become of the NBA?). But Morris Peterson, Jannero Pargo and Peja Stojakovic aren't particularly good defenders. Neither is David West. Who's going to play Parker and Manu Ginobili? And I'm not even mentioning Tim Duncan.

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The Hornets really don't even have anyone but Paul who can create their own shot.

Which sounds like I'm making a heck of a case for Paul for league Most Valuable Player.

The media votes for the award and Kobe Bryant should be the winner by a large margin.

But my own informal poll of several NBA coaches had them giving the award to Paul.

Because they have good shooters and he gets them shots.

"If they are making shots — and they'll have to throughout the series — if they're shooting 50 percent and keep their confidence because of that, they'll win," says one coach I spoke with. "The Spurs are more experienced and better, but Paul can find their shooters."

Really, it's a team of terrific role players and one little star guard.

Former Mavs coach Avery Johnson (that didn't take long) marveled after the Hornets closed out his team and his Mavs coaching career in five games, saying "Congratulations to a young Nate Archibald. He is a special player, relentless."

That is remarkable praise as Archibald was the only player ever to lead the NBA in scoring and assists in the same season.

Paul likely never will be that kind of scorer as Archibald averaged 34 points in that season, though his team didn't make the playoffs. Though you figure Paul could do that if he wanted. He's become such a dominant point guard, likely the best in the NBA right now.

If we all didn't recognize it quickly, Bower did. The personnel chief of the Hornets quietly has done a masterful job of team building in an era when too many general managers continue to seek out the multi-star strategy of the old Lakers: Get three stars and you win a championship. It can work. But where do you get them?

The Hornets really have just one, though West made the All-Star team and is an excellent power forward. But a star? Carry a team? I don't think so.

"We knew we had some pieces we could count on and build with in Paul and West," says Bower. "So we started to add players whose style of play and skills blended in with what we had."

It sounds simple enough, though it's rarely done as well.

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Paul has always been good — even back in college — with centers who can go to the rim, catch and get an easy shot. Chandler gets his four or five lobs each game from Paul so is content then to just block shots and rebound, instead of worrying about shooting like he did in Chicago. Stojakovic and Peterson are spot up shooters who thrive off Paul's penetration and West is the kind of power forward who can step out and make a shot and offset Chandler's inside presence. Plus, the Hornets have big men who can come off the bench and bother with fouls someone better like, say, a Tim Duncan.

The one edge the Spurs have long had over so many teams is their chemistry and how well they play together. The Hornets also seem to have that seamless mix because of Paul, who can get into the lane so well and then almost seems to move in slow motion at times to find the right teammate or shot.

Paul is the rare player whose poise and presence seem to inspire his team.

No, the Hornets don't have someone like Bruce Bowen, a defensive stopper they can put on Paul. You can be sure the Spurs will be doing all they can to force the ball out of Paul's hands, which all the great defensive teams do in the playoffs, especially against a team that relies on one player so much.

So the Hornets have no chance. Right? Right? You sure?

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