Suns star Chris Paul has suffered a right thumb avulsion fracture and will be re-evaluated in six-to-eight weeks, Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports tweets. Phoenix currently holds the best record in the NBA at 48-10.
As we previously relayed, Paul sustained the injury against Houston on Wednesday night and underwent an MRI on Thursday. He has yet to miss a game this season.
“We’re 48-10 and if we do miss some time, I know the guys are going to hold it down,” Paul said before his timetable was announced. “There’s always going to be a frustration with injury. My hand surgeon is part of my family now.
“… I always want to play. When I felt that in my hand, I was mad for all types of reasons. Obviously we’re not going to (rush it). I’m going to try to heal as fast as physically possible. The second I’m able to play, I guarantee you I will be playing.”
The Suns do expect both Cameron Payne and Landry Shamet to return after the All-Star Break, which is perfect timing with Paul expected to be sidelined for much of the rest of the regular season. Elfrid Payton and newly-acquired guard Aaron Holiday will also be in the mix for backcourt minutes.
Paul, 36, is in his 17th NBA season and second year with Phoenix. He’s averaged 14.9 points, 10.7 assists and 1.9 steals per contest this campaign, shooting 49% from the floor. The Suns are coming off their first NBA Finals trip since 1993.
While the Suns, who have a 6.5-game lead on the No. 2 Warriors, may not need Paul in their lineup in the next few weeks to clinch the top seed in the Western Conference, they’ll certainly need him back if they want to make another deep playoff run. If CP3 is able to return in six or seven weeks, he’d be available for the start of the postseason, but a timeline of eight weeks or longer would carry over into the playoffs.
Now this is huge. I can see Suns getting in on Dragic now. Or even Schroeder if he gets bought out. Suns going to have to show grit now.
Oy vey
Maybe it will be a blessing in disguise. He seems to get pretty nicked up by playoff time. This year he may well be well rested and healthy due to this injury.
Say it with me people, “load management.” No way CP3 takes even a single risk going into the playoffs. This could absolutely be his last real shot.
Why is he playing in the All-Star game tonight??
It was an honorary deal. Wanted him to play then they took him out.
This is obviously a set back, but I think JJ has pieced together the kind of flexible bench that can keep them in 1st seed entering the playoffs. As long as he can make it back for the playoffs, they’ll be fine, perhaps even adding a few more alignments to the mix.
CP3 doesn’t do load management, or deal in a civil manner with anyone (including his HC) suggesting he might. He’ll play as soon as he can, even before the bone fully heals, whether the team wants that or not.
I’ve always loved Chris Paul. But he gets hurt a lot. He’s had no cartilage in one knee for at least 6-8 years now.
The fact is that the old stars – Paul, Durant, Lebron and others get injured more often and take longer to heal. Happens to all of us, and especially to professional athletes over 30.
The NBA season – as most things they do – is a joke. 20 out of the 30 teams make the playoffs. Teams have to really stink badly to miss the playoffs. Home field advantage is really not worth burning players out for. So the best thing would be to rest stars constantly during the season for long periods so they are ready for the playoffs. Of course that would upset fans that laid out big bucks to buy tickets in advance to get good seats to see the stars play…..but who cares about the paying fans?
Now the NBA Commissioner wants an “in season tournament”. ? The NBA season already has no cred, now this? Look at the All-Star festivities – all entertainment, little basketball.
The old expression is “you don’t sell the steak, you sell the sizzle”. Usually works for a while (especially with younger customers). Only a matter of time before fans ask Commissioner Silver: “Where’s the beef?”
I liked the festivities
That was sad. In the midst of your moping you decide to indict older players for faking their injuries. Bully move, like our so-called humanist, Lil’D.
How about not punishing yourself by watching the AS game, like many already don’t across many sports.
“Beef” indeed.
#@ x%sure;
Listen ankle-biter…..
Why do you keep stating as fact something I didn’t write? Have you no reading comprehension ability at all?
Show me were I said older players are “faking injuries”.
And please don’t lump me in with someone that I don’t even know.
Sure, thinking and being objective is hard; stereotyping and pushing agendas has become popular. But in time people see through that.
1. Talk about how older players get injury. Nobody was saying otherwise.
2. Then talk about how some players are taking time off just to rest. Now who would be doing that?
3. Complain about allstar game. (Take a number.). Expect “beef” in an allstar game or else the sport is ruined.
1. Claim innocence about using any rhetorical device that blames older players (Pauk, James) for ruining the game.
Very easy to see through. Why not just say it out loud?— other posters do.
@Samuel
A thumb injury isn’t exactly an old man’s injury. Paul is just unlucky.
Also, seems to me, that 20 teams making the playoffs is a good thing for the fans because more teams have something to play for and unless they’re doing a full blown rebuild, offer more teams an incentive NOT to tank. I mean, the Washington Wizards and NO Pelicans have a legit shot at making the playoffs. Can you imagine if the Nets or Lakers, seen as early favorites by some, end up in a situation where they might lose to a team we thought had no chance in making the playoffs?? Theatrics is what the play-in offers.
@ KnicksFanCavsFan;
If 20 teams making the playoffs are good for the fans, why not all 30?
What’s the point of playing the season and keeping track of games won and lost? Just give every team a participation trophy and draw the teams names out of a drum to determine who plays how in the playoffs. Huh? It would be a great TV ratings extravaganza……and “fair”.
Shooting hand thumb? That’s no bueno at all. He’s not going to be himself for quite a while even after he gets back.
So it’s happening all over again. CP3 is just never going to win a title. He will be playing with a nagging injury in the postseason and will use it as an excuse to justify his poor play. Suns are doomed.
CP3 ain’t coming back before the playoffs, so he will need time to get up to speed during the post-season which really ain’t good, like at all, right?
Goran Dragic back with the Suns
Suns FO added Aaron Holidays for a reason + C Payne and Elfrid Payton there’s no place for Dragic in this roster
Elfrid now is the chance