The Clippers have some concerns, and they go beyond entering Game 2 Monday night trailing 1-0 in their first-round series to the Golden State Warriors.
Clippers guard Chris Paul expressed his right hamstring that he injured in the Clippers’ Game 1 loss on Saturday as “okay” after receiving treatment. But how much concern does coach Doc Rivers have?
“I don’t know,” Rivers said trailing off before being asked why. “I don’t know. I don’t talk about that.”
Meanwhile, Rivers conceded that Clippers shooting guard J.J. Redick hasn’t fully recovered from a bulging disk in his back, an injury that sidelined him for 25 games this season.
“He’s feeling better than what he did, but there’s going to be no 100 percent for him this year for sure,” Rivers said. “We know that. We’re prepared for it if we have to miss a game. We know that could happen. We know that’s realistic. Anyone who has had a back understands that. We’ll play him until he needs a break. When he does, someone needs to cover for him.”
A tall task considering Redick scored 22 points on 8 of 11 shooting in Game 1 in 30 minutes. HE returned on April 3 to play for five games averaging 12.4 points on a 42.5 percent mark before sitting in the Clippers’ season finale. But Rivers conceded Redick “was close” toward shutting down for the entire season.
“There was a time he wasn’t coming back. I was getting myself comfortable with that idea,” Rivers said. “Then all of a sudden, he decided, ‘I’m going to go play. If we have to do something this summer, we’ll do something this summer. But I’m going to play.’ It’s been good for us.”
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