The Phoenix Suns were dealt a huge blow earlier this week when it was announced that veteran guard Chris Paul tested positive for COVID-19 which meant he had to enter the league's health and safety protocols.
On Saturday, the Suns said that he remains in quarantine ahead of Game 1 on Sunday against the L.A. Clippers, via ESPN's Tim Bontemps:
The Suns say Chris Paul remains in the league‘s health and safety protocols. Phoenix begins the Western Conference Finals tomorrow afternoon at home against the Clippers.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) June 19, 2021
Obviously, there are still 24 hours until tip-off in Phoenix, but it seems likely the Suns will be without their floor general for the series opener. The Suns were able to get past the Lakers in round one with CP3 playing limited minutes though and Monty Williams' squad has shown tremendous depth in this postseason.
The hope would be that Paul is only out for a few games at the very worst. It's hard to imagine the Suns actually beating the Clippers and advancing to the NBA finals without the heartbeat of their rotation. Health and safety protocols typically last 10-14 days though, which means he should be back sooner rather than later.
While Devin Booker will need to keep performing like a superstar, the supporting cast of Mikal Bridges, Cam Payne, Deandre Ayton, and Jae Crowder, among others, must keep playing at a high level to give this team a chance. With the Clippers also missing Kawhi Leonard, both clubs are clearly shorthanded. Nevertheless, it should be a battle.
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