Something was off about Chris Paul in Game 7 of the Phoenix Suns-Dallas Mavericks series. It was clear that the Point God wasn't quite himself the entire game. It's not rare for Paul to struggle occasionally, but to see him be taken out of his element was rather peculiar. Well, a recent report revealed the potential reason for this struggle.
Marc J. Spears reported that Paul walked out of the building with a noticeable limp after the Suns' game. He would also say that sources reported that Paul had a left quadriceps injury. However, the star would decline to comment on the matter of his supposed injury.
Earlier in the post-game interview, Paul announced that he was healthy and was ready to go for next season. It seems like the Suns star is intent on not using his injury as an excuse for his performance. (via ClutchPoints' Austin Turner)
Paul was visibly struggling in the entire game against the Mavs. The Suns star failed to make a shot until the third quarter of the game, when the Mavs were up by 40 already. Considering his string of bad games prior to Game 7, it's fair to wonder whether Paul has been nursing this quad injury for a long time now.
What's done is done, though. Even if Paul wasn't at 100%, the Suns would've had a chance at winning if their other guys stepped up. Unfortunately, they didn't. Devin Booker's first Game 7 was unforgettably forgettable, as he failed to produce at a high level. It was a humbling experience for a team that has been riding a high all season long.