Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers thinks the odds are 50-50 point guard Chris Paul will return tonight to try to help the Clippers build a 2-0 lead over the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference semifinals.
Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau has no such concerns about his franchise point guard after Derrick Rose suffered a shoulder stinger in their Game 1 win over Cleveland. Rose said he’s raring to go in the other Game 2 set for Wednesday night.
“The shoulder feels great,” Rose said Tuesday, one day after scoring 25 points in their 99-92 victory in the Eastern Conference semifinals. “It’s not sore or anything. So that’s a good sign.”
Paul missed Game 1 against the Rockets with a left hamstring that was strained in the Clippers’ stirring Game 7 victory over San Antonio. The Clippers surprised many by opening the semifinals with a victory in Houston, but Rivers said that would not affect the timeline for Paul’s return.
“It’s a hard injury for your trainer because he at some point is going to give you the thumbs up and he’ll be sweating that whole night,” Rivers said. “That’s an injury you just don’t know. … You’ve got to trust your player, which is the worst guy to trust in this situation. At some point he’s going to play and we’re going to be sweating because we’re going to not know until he gets out there.”