Checking in with Chris Paul: Sixth Installment
On Thursday evening, the Hornets sustained one of their toughest defeats of the season, dropping a 93-92 decision to the Houston Rockets at the Ford Center. However, Hornets.com’s Jim Eichenhofer learned that Thursday wasn’t entirely bad for the former Wake Forest star, because Paul’s least favorite college basketball program was ousted from the NCAA Tournament by LSU on the same night. In the latest Checking in with Chris Paul, the cover subject of the March 27 issue of ESPN The Magazine discusses a range of topics.
Eichenhofer: You were part of the Hornets’ bus tour that traveled through some of the devastated parts of New Orleans on Monday. What were your impressions of that trip?
Paul: I don’t think it was something that words can explain. I don’t think the TV does it any kind of justification as far as how much destruction there is. Actually going out there and seeing it first-hand, that’s something I’ll never forget.
Eichenhofer: You were among the players selected to try out for the U.S. Olympic team. What do you think the U.S. needs to do in international competitions in the future, in order to be more successful, and how much have you followed it in recent years?
Paul: I watch it all the time. I think what some people fail to realize is that the other countries have really caught up with us. They are really good. I had the opportunity to play on the U.S. under-21 team two summers ago. It’s all about competing, and hopefully the U.S.A. will get back to its dominance.
Eichenhofer: I wanted to ask you about the NCAA Tournament. Who are you picking to win it all?
Paul: I’m picking UConn. I’m pretty good friends with Rudy Gay; I think they’ve got a really good shot of winning it.
Eichenhofer: When you watch Atlantic Coast Conference teams in the tournament, do you root for them because they are representing the ACC, or against them because they are Wake Forest’s rivals?
Paul: As far as ACC teams, I’m not cheering for Duke! I’m definitely not cheering for Duke. If Wake was in it, I’d be good. I actually have a couple friends who played for North Carolina, so I wouldn’t have minded seeing them advance. But I’m not cheering for Duke.
Eichenhofer: Have you heard any trash-talk from some of your Hornets teammates about how their colleges made the tournament? Has Brandon Bass said anything about LSU still being alive?
Paul: Oh yeah. Guys talk junk all the time. That’s the fun thing. That’s partly why I wish Wake was in it. I don’t think people realize how much guys in the NBA pay attention to the tournament.
Eichenhofer: You were part of the Hornets’ bus tour that traveled through some of the devastated parts of New Orleans on Monday. What were your impressions of that trip?
Paul: I don’t think it was something that words can explain. I don’t think the TV does it any kind of justification as far as how much destruction there is. Actually going out there and seeing it first-hand, that’s something I’ll never forget.
Eichenhofer: You were among the players selected to try out for the U.S. Olympic team. What do you think the U.S. needs to do in international competitions in the future, in order to be more successful, and how much have you followed it in recent years?
Paul: I watch it all the time. I think what some people fail to realize is that the other countries have really caught up with us. They are really good. I had the opportunity to play on the U.S. under-21 team two summers ago. It’s all about competing, and hopefully the U.S.A. will get back to its dominance.
Eichenhofer: I wanted to ask you about the NCAA Tournament. Who are you picking to win it all?
Paul: I’m picking UConn. I’m pretty good friends with Rudy Gay; I think they’ve got a really good shot of winning it.
Eichenhofer: When you watch Atlantic Coast Conference teams in the tournament, do you root for them because they are representing the ACC, or against them because they are Wake Forest’s rivals?
Paul: As far as ACC teams, I’m not cheering for Duke! I’m definitely not cheering for Duke. If Wake was in it, I’d be good. I actually have a couple friends who played for North Carolina, so I wouldn’t have minded seeing them advance. But I’m not cheering for Duke.
Eichenhofer: Have you heard any trash-talk from some of your Hornets teammates about how their colleges made the tournament? Has Brandon Bass said anything about LSU still being alive?
Paul: Oh yeah. Guys talk junk all the time. That’s the fun thing. That’s partly why I wish Wake was in it. I don’t think people realize how much guys in the NBA pay attention to the tournament.
