New Orleans will miss the playoffs ?

The plan called for first-round draft pick Darren Collison to spend his rookie season learning the NBA in a backup role behind Chris Paul.
The harsh reality is New Orleans will miss the playoffs if Collison is unable to produce in Paul-like fashion while the Hornets three-time All-Star remains sidelined with a left knee injury.

Judging by the rookies recent starts, the postseason may still be within New Orleans reach in a couple of weeks, when Paul is expected to return from arthroscopic surgery he had on Feb. 4 for a meniscus tear.

Collison has averaged 23.6 points and 8.7 assists in his last six games, during which the Hornets have gone 4-2 and moved one game behind Portland for the eighth and final playoff berth in the Western Conference -- and two games behind San Antonio for seventh.

Whether they make the playoffs or dont make the playoffs, I think they had a heck of a draft, said Pacers coach Jim OBrien, whose team lost to the Hornets last week when Collison recorded his first career triple-double. Any time you have somebody out at the level of a Chris Paul and youre able to still maintain a certain level, I think its a credit to their coaches and certainly a credit to the guy thats filling in.

Paul, who has played in 38 of the Hornets 56 games this season, has averaged 20.4 points and 11.2 assists.

During New Orleans last 10 games, Paul has been on the sideline in a suit, acting like Collisons personal coach. Paul is constantly in Collisons ear when the rookie comes to the bench.

Sometimes I actually expect him to tell me to shut up or leave him alone, but he never does that, Paul said Monday before the Hornets left for a Tuesday night game at Cleveland. He knows how badly I want to play and right now Im sort of playing through him. So when I see him getting and-ones and make nice moves, thats why Im off the bench and going nuts.

Collison, an agile ball-handler with exceptional quickness, has strung together a slew of highlight-worthy plays lately -- everything from blow-by lay-ups to tough running floaters off the glass, breakaway dunks, clutch 3s and pinpoint alley-oop lobs.

What I like about DC is, when he makes a mistake, he makes it at full speed. But thats exactly how he does damage, at full speed, shooting and getting the ball to the open man, Paul said. I love it.

Collison was drafted 21st overall last summer after spending four years at UCLA and helping the Bruins reach three NCAA Final Fours. Hornets coach and general manager Jeff Bower said he was counting on Collisons maturity to help him be a quick study and reliable fill-in in his rookie season.