Chris Paul/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers

Chris Paul this past season played all 82 regular-season games for the first time in his 10-year career. It’s a cool achievement, particularly for a point guard.

Coach Doc Rivers played the position for his entire 13-year career. It’s taxing, he said.

“You gotta come back to get the ball, you gotta push the ball up the floor, you gotta start the offense, you gotta make sure everybody’s in the right place and then when the other guy has the ball, you’re up full court  because he has the ball,” Rivers said. “So the point guard spot is no joke. It’s a hard position for everyone.”

Rivers was asked this week if Paul’s goal this season should again be to play every game in the regular season?

“That should not be a goal of his,” Rivers said. “His goal should be to play … how many games in the playoffs to win it? If it’s 16 wins, I’m all for that.”

Paul, 30, conceded his position is hard.

“Oh, no question, definitely tough,” he said. “After the regular season, I told a big thanks to our training staff and all the people who helped through that.”

Paul didn’t bat an eye when asked if he has a similar goal for this season.

“We’re going to see how it goes,” he said. “If I’m healthy enough, Doc knows I want to play every night.”

Paul, entering his fifth season with the Clippers, played 80 games in 2007-08 and 2010-11.

Interestingly, Rivers played all 82 games just once in his career as well – in 1986-87 with Atlanta; he played 81 his rookie season in ’83-’84.