Funny I come here to see this after just reading TSN's report on the Hornets...
The comparisons that he and Deron Williams will face for the foreseeable future are unfair for both players. While they are both top-tier pass-first point guards, they both play very different styles for very different teams. Perhaps it should suffice to look at them as two sides of the same coin; one is a master in the lane while the other can hit shots from anywhere. One plays in a wide-open Princeton offence while the other plays station-to-station in a rigid motion offense. One dazzles with his creativity off the dribble while the other sets the offense from the top of the key. One averages 17.3 and 8.9 while the other averages 16.2 and 9.3. Let's just call it a wash and leave them be.
I'll take Paul, I think. Their pretty similarly productive scorers and passers, but Paul turns the ball over a significant amount less. He also rebounds better and forces more turnovers on defense, though Deron probably plays better man-to-man defense.
PER gives a big edge to Paul (22 to 17). I don't think the difference is quite that big, but I think it's pretty important for a PG to limit his own turnovers and force turnovers on his counterpart, and that's what swings it to Paul for me.
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"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less."
"The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many different things."
"The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master— that's all."
Ability-wise it's so close, but upstairs I just love what Deron brings. He has a certain moxy about him, and that is dangerous when coupled with his smarts for the game and his decision-making. Chris Paul is much the same way in terms of decision making and smarts for the game, but he has yet to impress me the same way Deron has when it comes to the killer instinct. That may be because he hasn't had the chance though, but until then, I have to give the nod to Deron.
Deron outplayed both Baron Davis and Tony Parker in a playoff series. That is remarkable for a 2nd year player. What he did this past year reminds me of Dwyane Wade in his rookie year when he totally came on in the playoffs and emerged as the Heat's best player without question. I think Deron did that this past playoff run and is going to emerge in a big way the next couple seasons.
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The Bulls are back in business.
You will though you will Nothing against Deron though. He's great.
Paul is gonna be a legend he's got the "how did he do that" factor. Hornets are about to go from worst spaced team (Chandler, Mason) to ideally spaced (Healthy West, Peja, and Mo Pete) and suddenly it's gonna look like defenses are turnstiles for him.
My threads going out on the limb for some of you but I know I'm right so it's cool.
Chris Paul or Deron Williams
Nothing against Deron though. He's great.
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