Zgoda's NBA short takes

By JERRY ZGODA, Star Tribune

Last update: March 29, 2008 - 9:57 PM

Amid all the Kobe-LeBron, LeBron-Kobe MVP talk ... New Orleans guard Chris Paul made his case Wednesday with a 15-point, 20-assist, 43-minute one-turnover performance in the Hornets' 100-99 victory over LeBron and the Cavaliers in Cleveland. "He's the best point guard in the league in my eyes," James said. "Chris Paul is quick, but if he didn't know how to play the game, he wouldn't be any good."

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Shaquille O'Neal to the Boston Globe on his move from Miami to Phoenix: "We have professionals who know what to do. No one is asking me to play with Chris Quinn or Ricky Davis. I'm actually on a team again."

The first response from the former Timberwolf Davis: "You can't take stuff personally in the NBA. You'd go crazy." The second: "It shows his true colors."

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Blaine's Patrick O'Bryant, Golden State's little-used second-year center, sent himself to the NBA Developmental League to show his skills to scouts -- note to Target Center -- as he approaches free agency this summer. He has averaged 16.5 points, 9.8 rebounds and three blocked shots in 39 minutes a game for the Bakersfield Jam. "I had hopes of getting some playing time and being able to prove myself on the NBA court, but it just didn't work out," he said.

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