Wake Forest Demon Deacons: Chris Paul Out 6-8 Weeks
Former Wake Forest Demon Deacons star Chris Paul can’t seem to escape his bad injury luck.
Some Wake Forest Demon Deacons all the luck. Some of them have all the pain. In the figure of Chris Paul, it seems like both are in order. Paul sprained his left thumb in a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder and will require surgery. That thumb surgery will take Paul out of the picture for 6-8 weeks. It might also open up a reserves spot on the West All-Stars unit.
Paul also injured this thumb in 2012, but it is only the latest in a series of injuries that seem determined to make sure the Los Angeles Clippers never play with their full roster. Star forward Blake Griffin was already out with an injury. Paul also missed some time with a sore hamstring earlier this year.
The Clippers are 5-12 in games without Paul, who is generally considered the best on-ball defender in the league. He is also the engine that makes ‘lob city’ function. The Clippers have struggled to build depth in the position behind him. Former Duke player Austin Rivers and former Tar Heel Raymond Felton occupy those spots at the moment.
More from Wake Forest Demon Deacons
- Webb Simpson wins RBC Heritage Open on Father’s Day
- Four North Carolina players selected in first round of MLB Draft
- Battle 4 NC: Ranking the Top 5 Football Teams in NC after Week 11
- Wake Forest Football: How to watch College Football Playoff Rankings Show
- Surratt, Dimukeje, Acceus Named ACC Players of the Week
The Clippers are also in questionable playoff position. They are the fourth seed in the West as of today. Home court has been crucial in the Western Conference playoffs, so they do not want to lose their two game cushion over the Utah Jazz. Yet they are likely to do just that with Paul out. Fortunately they are a comfortable nine games ahead of Portland (9th place) so they are unlikely to fall out of the playoff picture entirely.
Still, there is a big difference between being at Staples and playing in Houston or San Antonio if the Clippers are not careful. Hopefully Paul can bring them back to the level of play they have displayed at times before the post season starts.