The Phoenix Suns were dominant in their Western Conference Semifinals series against the Denver Nuggets, making quick work of their opponents and sweeping the series 4-0. They were able to do so in large part because of NBA superstar Chris Paul being rejuvenated after injuring his right shoulder in their first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers.
With Paul on the court and healthy in this series, Phoenix looked unstoppable at times, which is why they were able to handle league-MVP Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets fairly easily. In this series, CP3 averaged 25.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 10.3 assists and shot 64.9% from the floor, 75% from three-point range. Not to mention, Chris Paul only turned the ball over 5 times in the entire series.
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He had a total of 41 assists against the Denver Nuggets and only turned the ball over 5 times! What Paul did in this series against the Nuggets was remarkable and after they completed the sweep, many believed that Phoenix was the team to beat in this playoffs, but then news broke today that they will likely be without Chris Paul for the start of their Western Conference Finals series against the winner of the Clippers-Jazz series.
It was announced this morning that Chris Paul tested positive for COVID-19 and has entered the league’s health and safety protocols. It is worth noting and it has been confirmed that Paul is indeed vaccinated and received the Pfizer vaccine back in February.
However, Paul did test positive for the virus and therefore will be forced to self-isolate and quarantine, potentially forcing him to miss some games for the Suns. According to the NBA’s Health and Safety Protocols outlined ahead of the start of the 2020-21 season:
“The NBA’s Health and Safety Protocols allow a physician to use one of two strategies for discontinuation of isolation after a positive test. The first strategy is a test-based strategy that requires a player to return two consecutive negative PCR test results, each from samples collected at least 24 hours after the prior sample. The second strategy is a time-based strategy that allows for a player to discontinue isolation after 10 days from either the first positive test or the onset of symptoms, with an additional two days required before a player can return to one or more games or practices. In either scenario, a player must be cleared following medical review by a team and league physician.”
Via 2020-21 NBA Health and Safety Protocols release
So what does this mean for Chris Paul? Well, the NBA did loosen their restrictions for those who are vaccinated and test positive on March 18, but Chris Paul is still expected to be out for at least the next 5 days or so, meaning that he could potentially miss Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.
If Paul is to miss more time than expected and remains in health and safety protocols after the Clippers-Jazz Western Conference Semifinals series ends, then the Suns could potentially be looking at missing their star point guard and leader for the first-half of the Western Conference Finals. There is a lot of unknown right now, but assuming that Paul is to miss a portion of the WCF, what does this mean for the Suns and their chances of winning a title this year?
Obviously Phoenix will want Chris Paul on the floor, but if he cannot go, they will treat him being out a lot like they treated him with his shoulder injury. Cameron Payne will be the guy that the Suns will turn to and lean on for added production in the starting rotation.
Losing Chris Paul means that the Suns will not be able to move the ball as they normally do, nor will they be as good defensively, but not all the weight will solely fall on Payne to be the “do-it-all” guy. Devin Booker has stepped up in these playoffs not only as a scorer, but as a facilitator as well.
When CP3 has been off the court or does not have the ball in his hands on offense, Devin Booker has been the guy making plays for the Suns and he is averaging 4.8 assists per game during these playoffs with a usage rate of 30.3%, meaning that just over 30% of the total plays run by the Suns when Booker is on the court are run for him/with him as the primary ball-handler.
READ MORE: NBA Playoffs: Chris Paul reacts to leading Phoenix Suns to Western Conference Finals
The best case scenario here for the Phoenix Suns in regards to Chris Paul being in the league’s health and safety protocols right now is that the Clippers-Jazz series goes the distance and they play a Game 7. If this series is extended to a Game 7, that game would be played on Sunday, June 20, meaning that Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals would not begin until Tuesday, June 22, giving Paul a solid amount of time to possibly get out of quarantine and be ready to go depending on his test results.
Right now, all the Suns can do right now is just wait and be patient in terms of their leader being available. Testing positive for the virus has crippled many teams during the regular season and while less and less players have been affected by the virus, it still exists and is going to play a role in these playoffs unfortunately.
As of right now, it looks like Chris Paul will be missing Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, but anything can happen and there is still hope that Paul could be out of health and safety protocols by the start of the series.
