Rowan Kavner
Chris Paul (hamstring) is still questionable for Friday night’s Game 3 against the Rockets, but Matt Barnes believes the starting point guard will try to play.
Paul took part in shootaround and will test the hamstring again before the game. He felt fine after the shootaround, and if he still feels that way before the game, he could return to the court for the first time this series.
“He said he’s playing tonight,” Barnes said. “You just hope that he’s ready, because his game is so much stop and go, and he’s such an integral part of our team. I hope he can stay healthy throughout the game. We’re going to need him for this run.”
Barnes said Paul is “a warrior,” and that scares the team.
The fear stems from Barnes’ own experience dealing with hamstring issues since playing the Bulls earlier this year. He knows how much Paul wanted to be on the court the first two games of the series and how Paul will do everything he can to get back as quickly as possible.
“I told him tonight, I expect the CP I’m going to see at like 50 (years old) at the YMCA,” Barnes joked. “Like an older Mark Jackson out there, controlling the sets, running the team, coming off pick-and-rolls, making plays, but still picking and choosing his spots. He was definitely hurt in Game 7, had a lot of adrenaline going and carried us offensively. We’ll have to see what he has in store for us tonight.”
Paul averaged 22.7 points and 7.9 assists in the first round of the playoffs against the Spurs, scoring 27 points in Game 7 despite straining his hamstring, sending the Clippers into the second round with a game-winning shot.
Barnes said the team doesn’t do much from a physical standpoint at shootarounds, so he couldn’t provide an honest gauge of how Paul looked or felt.
“It’s tough,” Barnes said. “He’s a competitor. I think my injury is different because I’m 100 miles an hour. He’s 20 to 80 back to 30 back to 100. Mine is fast and stop, he’s stopping and going constantly. His injury’s going to affect him a little different than mine did.”
The Clippers still managed to win one of two games to start the series in Houston, using a variety of players at point guard while starting Austin Rivers. Barnes said it was tough to play without one of the best point guards in the game and the team misses him, but he tipped his hat to all the players who had to chip in at point guard with Paul out.
“We have a very deep and talented team, and whether Chris can go or not, we’ve still got to be ready,” Barnes said. “Houston doesn’t care.”