NEW ORLEANS (AP) — 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 rookie’s 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 don’t make the playoffs, I think they had a heck of a draft,” said Pacers coach Jim O’Brien, 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 you’re able to still maintain a certain level, I think it’s a credit to their coaches and certainly a credit to the guy that’s 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 Collison’s personal coach. Paul is constantly in Collison’s 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 I’m sort of playing through him. So when I see him getting and-ones and make nice moves, that’s why I’m 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.—–Contact The Daily Reveille’s sports staff at [email protected]