7:33pm: Paul has been ruled out for Game 1, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic.
6:16pm: Suns guard Chris Paul remains in the NBA’s health and safety protocols, and his availability for Game 1 is still uncertain, according to Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic.
Coach Monty Williams provided an update on Paul’s status after today’s practice.
“Because of the climate that we live, things change from day-to-day,” Williams said. “I try to take it one day at a time. I certainly understand the line of questions, but for me, based on the information and based on the history of this particular protocol, everything is day-to-day. So that’s how I have to approach it.”
Paul received the COVID-19 vaccination, but he still returned a positive test earlier this week. He was required to quarantine and will have to register multiple negative tests and be given medical clearance before he can play.
Paul is coming off his best game of the playoffs, scoring 37 points Tuesday as the Suns completed a sweep of the Nuggets. He appeared to be fully recovered from the shoulder injury that slowed him in the first-round series against the Lakers.
Phoenix had been hoping for a seventh game in the semifinal series between the Clippers and Jazz to give Paul more time, but L.A.’s win Friday night means the Western Conference finals will start Sunday.
Cameron Payne will likely take Paul’s place in the starting lineup if he’s not active, Rankin adds, with E’Twaun Moore and Jevon Carter possibly getting more playing time. Devin Booker may also see a few minutes at point guard.
The game is tomorrow at 12:30 local time (there is no DST in Arizona).
I’d say his availability for the game is pretty certain, barring a miracle.
Jevon Carter is a good defensive guard. I think he should get mins against Reggie or Rondo. He grinds out each and every possession.
He was vaccinated. Then why would he test positive. It’s either a false positive test. Or someone close to him is positive. Or it’s a new variant. I just would like a Medical explanation. Is it too much for an expert from CDC to explain it to us.
Vaccine doesn’t guarantee immunity from anything. People get the flu shot and get the flu every year. Vaccines HELP you from catching things, but if you do catch them, it helps lessen the effects of whatever it is. So you can still get covid, but the effects will be much less.
Some people catch it. Most don’t, usually a different variant. But there have been false positives in NBA. Just seems NBA is not sharing this info. Suns not going to Finals with no Chris. Even with no Kawhi.
it also helps u big time to stay out of the hospital.
There’s no proof out there he was vaccinated. Only people saying he was.
Has he posted a pic of his Covid-19 Vaccination Record Card anywhere?
I mean does he NEED to prove it? I have my vaccination but didn’t post it, does this mean I didn’t get it either? 0.0
Are you a professional athlete? I didn’t say he needs to prove it, but there’s no actual proof CP3 has been vaccinated, is there?
Are all professional athlete’s vaccination cards posted socially – except for CP3’s?
im sure his vaccination record was provided to the NBA. Isn’t it a requirement for them?
Clippers ain’t winning without Kawhi. His situation is not looking good. Sorry to say. Seems Chris will play at some point.
after seeing what the Clippers did against Utah it’s hard to believe you’re so confident they can’t Brady Phoenix without him.
Clippers getting their first title due to Terance Mann, a guy GSW refused to draft because they thought Smiley was an NBA player. Cool, hope everyone is counting all these GSW FO fails (I am).
Wow a team missed on a mid 1st round pick. Fire everyone.
Yeah we’re all counting. Your tantrums still winning the count.
tantrums… i think its just the truth.
maybe he’s right, but given all the times he’s well wrong, i can see why someone wouldn’t want to agree with him.
It it never fully correct to say your team should have drafted someone else. Players get skipped over by everyone. It is false usage of the half of a brain you have been gifted with, monkey.
Why would somebody fully featured bother to count these “fails”?
I think we need to take up a collection to get Marty McRae laid…I know the Pro will be extra expensive because they have to tolerate him…Jeez Marty. Every team in the Association passed on Terance Mann. You really need to get a life.
Phoenix still has Payne, Javon Carter, and Langston Galloway, as well as even Etwan Moore, who has size and can score, so they have multiple options…
I think we should probably see more Saric/Kaminsky in this series
Honestly, as I’ve said, this is the only iffy matchup for Phoenix, in my opinion. I think this is the first interesting series of the entire playoffs so far, as I think this is the hardest one to pick. I’m sticking with Phoenix, having picked them to win the championship 3 months ago, but I also didn’t think they would have to play the Clippers. I originally had Phoenix beating Utah in 7, and I think this series likely goes long as well, either 6 or 7 games. Hopefully they wont lose Chris Paul for more than the 1 game
CP3 will never see the finals. He always has a injury or something during the conference finals. Hence, Houston Rockets and Clippers before then. Maybe it’s a curse or just simply running out of gas. He has had one of the best post season any player can have. Just remarkable. I was actually rooting for him to get a ring with what he has done so far.
Dude this is different. He’s not injured.