| BY CHRISTIAN CLARK | Staff writer Willie Green was teammates with Monty Williams on the Philadelphia 76ers for a few months in 2003. Their head coach was Randy Ayers, who is now an assistant under Williams in Phoenix, where Green was the associate head coach for two years. The connections in this first-round series between the Pelicans and Suns are everywhere. One of the strongest links is between Green and Chris Paul. The two became close in the 2010-11 season, when they played for the New Orleans Hornets. They later played together for two seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers after Paul told the team's decision-makers that he wanted Green on the team. “It’s the craziest dynamic in this series,” Paul said. “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.” Paul discussed his friendship with Green and the connection he still feels with New Orleans in an exclusive interview with The Times-Picayune this week. On Friday, Paul will play his first playoff game inside Smoothie King Center in more than a decade. The Pelicans and Suns are knotted at one game apiece. Devin Booker will not play Friday after injuring his hamstring in Game 2. Only five No. 8 seeds have won a first-round series since the playoffs expanded in 1984. Booker's injury does not make the Pelicans favorites in this series, but it has created a real opportunity for them to win. Huge, huge weekend. See y'all at The Blender. -- Christian | 