Chris Paul 22 points 8 assists vs Boston Celtics November 1 2009

BOSTON (AP)—Chris Paul gets the individual accolades. Rajon Rondo has the team success.

Together, its enough to make each player a little envious.

Paul outplayed Rondo on Sunday night, but the Celtics beat the New Orleans Hornets 97-87 anyway as Boston improved to 4-0 behind Paul Pierces 27 points. After the game, Paul pursued Rondo toward the Celtics locker room and had to be blocked by Boston assistant coaches.

Rondo is a lucky guy, to play with guys like Pierce, (Ray) Allen and (Kevin) Garnett, Paul, who scored 22 points with eight assists, said with a sly smile.

Asked if that was meant as a slight toward Rondo, the two-time All-Star said, No, no. He is a great point guard and hes a champion. Its my hope to achieve that.

Rondo had even less to say on the matter, which seemed to stem from a second-quarter incident when the two got tangled up under the basket after Ray Allens 3-pointer. Referees stepped between them as words were exchanged and the players were assessed matching technical fouls.

Rajon has requested you not ask anything about Chris Paul now, tomorrow, or any other time, Celtics spokesman Jeff Twiss said when Rondo limped out of the trainers room favoring his right ankle.

We have different styles based on what each team needs, Rondo said. He has to do a lot more than what I have to do. My job is easy playing with these guys.

Allen scored 17 points, Kevin Garnett had 14 and Rondo had 10 assists and six points for Boston, which pulled away with an 11-3 run in the last four minutes to turn an 86-83 lead into an 11-point runaway. But even after it was over, Paul was still upset with Rondo.

The Hornets point guard walked toward the Boston locker room as the Celtics were filing off the court before Celtics assistant coaches stopped him; New Orleans coach Byron Scott came over to retrieve him.

Rondo looked back but kept walking.

The games over; you just want everybody to clear the floor, Allen said. Theyre both feisty; theyre both aggressive, in your face. It can get pretty chippy out there.

But you have to be able to walk off the floor and say, Way to compete tonight. For those 48 minutes, I cannot stand you. I wanted to fight you. I wanted to do everything I could. And when you walk off the floor, you say, Way to battle.

Peja Stojakovic scored 26 as a reserve for New Orleans, including 6-for-10 3-point shooting. Emeka Okafor had 10 rebounds for New Orleans.

The Celtics, who won their first eight in their 2007-08 championship season but just two straight to start last year, have won four games in six nights, including a season-opening victory over the rival Cleveland Cavaliers and All-Star LeBron James.

When you are winning, you can do that, Paul said, without elaborating on what he was referring to. They are on top; we are on the bottom. We want to get where they are. I am a huge advocate for the Boston Celtics. Theyve established themselves as a team that wont beat themselves.

Pierce scored 10 in the first and 10 more in the second as the Celtics opened an 11-point lead en route to a 47-38 score at the half. They led from the 9:41 mark of the second until Stojakovic hit a 3-pointer to tie it 69-all with 25 seconds left in the third quarter.

But Rasheed Wallace, who scored 12, answered with a 3 to give Boston back the lead.

Paul had just five points and three assists but went 6 for 6 for 14 points with four assists in the third quarter alone.

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• November
• 2009

[jojal89]

Celtics team makes Rondo so much better than what he is. Celtics have GREAT defense that makes rondo so much better. when getting the steal and fastbreaks, rondo needs to run down and finish and get point. When they are running offense he just need to drive a little or run a play and swing it to the side and let the 3pointers sink. RONDO is NO MATCH for CP3.

Thumbs up please.

[harlemkiid149]

If Chris Paul was on the Celtics right now the Celtics would be undefeated and they would win 70 plus games.If Rondo was on Hornets theyd be dead last in the NBA.

[WeSkate4food]

All you Rondo haters just look up "Rondo over the shoulder alley hoop " And ask if Paul would EVER & i mean EVER even dream of throwing a pass like that ....NEVER he`s a gun who shoots way to much btw look at the stats head 2 head Rondo has murdered him lol!

[MsYellowmandm]

Fuck Rondo , wit his wack ass always he bad when he's garbage !

[KDurantula]

@Mark53190 i cant watch an NBA finals if my team doesn't get there?

[Mark53190]

@KDurantula your team would have to get there first.

[beasty108]

@harlemkiid149 but see,i seen rondo play some games during the and it looks like his handles and shoot improve majorly.His handles might not be better than some pg but its good enough for pg and honestly i don't see him get ripped constantly and he does some nice crossovers and different move to get to the basket.

This might be a situation where Chris Paul needs to be on the Celtics and rondo on another team to see if you or i was right.

but i kinda see what you mean.

[harlemkiid149]

@beasty108 Rondo is way overrated look at his individual skill compared to other point gaurds. We all know he cant shoot, he a good passer because well sh*t that's the only thing he trying to do,he a great defender but thats it. He cant create his own shot he really doesnt have handles like Drose or CP3 to break down a defender,he's not deadly in the pick and roll game.He's a perfect player with great players around him.If him and CP3 swaped teams you would realize Rondo's true insignificance

[beasty108]

@harlemkiid149 actually when rondo goes off the whole team starts getting involved,cuz rondo is a true point guard.he can get to the basket real well and if you noticed once rondo starts doing work he gets assist and points and obvious once you start getting assist people start scoring. rondo is a player that can make his whole team look good once he gets his chemistry good.he is also very good defensively.

[KDurantula]

i could sleep in a NBA finals if it were those 2 commentator who would comment the game

[ATLchucktaylor90]

If u were able to switch CP3 to the Celtics & Rondo to the Hornets i wonder what everybody would say then.... Jus sayin

[justineheartsmac]

These commentators pick the Celtics side, so it brainwashes the audience. lol. "That's a Chris Paul call" but 6:32 bottoms up, ball don't lie (like Rasheed would say)