In a first round series against Jason Kidd and the Mavericks, Chris Paul and the Hornets demonstrated a changing of the guard.

The NBA has a habit of young stars eliminating the stars of the past in the playoffs, and this season is no different.

In the past it was Larry Bird and Magic Johnson that took over for aging stars like Moses Malone and Julius Erving. There have also been players like Michael Jordan who ascended after the dominance of Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas’ Bad Boy Pistons light flickered out.

This year, the young superstars Chris Paul and Dwight Howard are poised to take the spotlight.

In a first round series against Jason Kidd and the Mavericks, Chris Paul and the Hornets demonstrated a changing of the guard.

Jason Kidd has dominated in the playoffs for most of his career, leading the New Jersey Nets to the NBA Finals once. Kidd has made it to the playoffs most of his career and has had several triple-doubles over the years.

However, this year a first time playoff guard, Chris Paul, has proven that Jason Kidd’s career of dominance is just about over.

In the first round series, Paul scored nearly 25 points per game and dished out 12 assists per game. The veteran Kidd averaged just 8.6 points and seven assists.

Paul’s ability to penetrate and create open lanes for his teammates lead to his team moving on to the second round, while Kidd seemed a couple steps behind at all times; he just couldn’t stop Paul from doing anything he wanted to do.

Kidd was brought in to do those same things for the Mavericks, but he was unsuccessful. It’s apparent that his career is nearing its end and is making room for the next great playoff guard, in Paul, for many years to come.

Shaquille O’Neal has dominated teams in the playoffs his whole career, much like Kidd. However, the Big Aristotle is in the twilight of his career, and he is no longer able to be counted upon in the playoffs. There is a young big man who has shown he is ready to accept the torch from Shaq, and he even comes with a cape: “Superman” Dwight Howard.

In the last couple of years, after winning his fourth ring with the Miami Heat, Shaq’s dominance over other post players is coming to an end. O’Neal was swept out of the playoffs last year by the Chicago Bulls, and this year the San Antonio Spurs eliminated his Phoenix Suns in five games.

O’Neal averaged around 15 points and 10 rebounds, but those numbers pale in comparison to what he used to put up in the playoffs. O’Neal was a 30-15 player and a much quicker player then he is now.

He proved his declining status last year against the Bulls when an undersized team swept him out of the playoffs. O’Neal will be missed when he hangs up the jersey, but there’s a new dominant playoff big man that has started his career where O’Neal did in Orlando.

In the first round series against the Toronto Raptors, Howard put up 22.6 points per game and an unbelievable 18.2 rpg. When you’re putting up nearly put up a 20/20 every game in the playoffs, it’s safe to say you’ll be a monster for years to come in this league.

It will be interesting to see if anyone can slow this young beast down in this year’s playoffs.

He has the young Magic headed towards greatness and could have this team contending for the title real soon. Howard is as dominant as a young O’Neal; he’ll carry on building his legacy just as he carries the Orlando Magic.

You never know, but it’s very possible that Chris Paul and Dwight Howard might be facing off sometime in the near future for an NBA Championship.

Enjoy players like Kidd and O’Neal while you can, but look forward to bright stars in Paul and Howard, who will provide us with great playoff memories for many years to come.

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