Eight years later, Paul and Green are involved in another first-round series, only this time they are on opposite sides. In his 17th season, Paul helped guide the Suns to the NBA’s best regular-season record. Green, in his first year as a head coach, prevented a slow start from sinking the Pelicans’ season. New Orleans rebounded after losing 12 of its first 13 games to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2018. “It’s the craziest dynamic in this series,” Paul told The Times-Picayune. “I root so hard for Willie, for the city. When Willie got the job there, I probably had to be the happiest person. Because not only did he deserve a head coaching job, but the city of New Orleans deserved someone like him.”