The Los Angeles Clippers’ run of bad luck continues. The team announced that point guard Chris Paul will miss six to eight weeks with a torn ligament in his thumb. The injury, suffered in Monday’s win against the Thunder, will require surgery.
BREAKING: Chris Paul will need surgery for a torn left thumb ligament. Likely out 6-8 weeks.
— Rowan Kavner (@RowanKavner) January 18, 2017
Paul had previously missed a large portion of the season with a hamstring injury but had largely been phenomenal when he played. The floor general has averaged 17.5 points and 9.7 assists per game, leading the Clippers in the absence of Blake Griffin as he nurses his own injury.
This is obviously a crushing blow to the Clippers who are currently 29-14 and in the fourth seed of the Western Conference. The good news is that these injuries are happening earlier in the season, hopefully foreshadowing better health in the postseason.
Paul’s absence could mean a slide all the way to the seventh seed which may actually be a blessing in disguise for the Clippers. It would likely pin them against the Spurs who are at a disadvantage against LAC’s athletic frontcourt and would allow them to avoid the Warriors in the second round.
But of course the most important thing here is Chris Paul’s health. Hopefully he can return at full health before the postseason to have another shot at prolonged team success.
