Reason Why Hornets Are Down 0-2

When thinking of why the Hornets did not live up to their lofty expectations coming into this season one name that never comes up in a negative light is All-Star Chris Paul.

His unbelievable play and leadership this season is the only reason the Hornets aren't along with the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Clippers in the Blake Griffin sweepstakes.

This season, he became the first player in NBA history to lead the league in assists (11.0) and steals (2.8) while ranking top-10 in scoring (22.8).

But so far these playoffs, Paul has not been the the best player every time he stepped on the court like he was in last year's playoffs when he averaged 24.1 points, 11.3 assists and 2.33 steals per game.

In fact, he hasn't even been the best point guard on the court in the two games the Hornets have lost to the Denver Nuggets in the Pepsi Center.

Nuggets point guard Chauncey Billups has taken that title with his outstanding performances in the two blowouts the Nuggets have handed the Hornets.

In the two games, Billups has scored a total of 67 points making 18-of-30 shots from the field--12-of-15 from beyond the arc--and knocked down all 19 of his free throw attempts.

What might be the most impressive thing about his play so far in this series is he has yet to register a turnover. The only other player in NBA history to score over 60 points in the first two games of a playoff series without registering a turnover is Michael Jordan, who did it twice.

While Paul's 17.5 points and 12 assists average in the two losses are nothing to frown at, he has not produced that emotinal boost the Hornets need from him to be succesful.

In last year's playoffs, Paul yelling how Dallas point guard Jason Kidd couldn't "guard him", his constant encouraging of his teammates to pick up the pace and to pick up their play, and his circus act, whirlwind and-one plays were what the Hornets needed to keep advancing.

So far in this year's playoffs, he hasn't been able to provide them with those eye-popping, momentum swinging plays to guide the Hornets to victory.

It may be because something he's doing wrong or it might be the result of excellent defense by the Nuggets.

Whatever it is the Hornets and Paul better figure it out fast or they will be exiting this playoffs a lot earlier than they were expecting to before the season started.