Houston Rockets Report: Chris Paul’s timetable just got a bit more defined
The Houston Rockets have soared through the competition without event and most of the journey has been undertaken without Chris Paul, who may return by the middle of this month.
The Houston Rockets have hit the pedal to the medal to start out the season. Through 11 games, they’ve amassed an 8-3 record, currently tied for tops in Western Conference with the Golden State Warriors and among the best in the league. At this point last season, they were 6-5 and still trying to get acclimated to the new style of offense that Mike D’Antoni brought to Houston.
But now with this team relatively intact after one season together, it’s now time for the chemistry to fuse together even more with Chris Paul, the most important acquisition of the off season. As you can see, Paul is needed but we certainly can still be successful without him. But this eerily demonstrates in regard to how good we will be once he returns back to the hardwood.
When will he return? The Houston Rockets were vague at the beginning of the season in regard to his return but as this month has unfolded, things are becoming more clearer for him. The Houston Rockets have continued to reiterate that there’s no timetable for his return but they just want him to be fully healthy when that happens.
D’Antoni has hinted that he could be back as early as Nov. 16 but he has backed away from that assertion just in case anything goes awry with his recovery. This would certainly mean that he could be back within the next two weeks.
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NBA Insider Sam Amick of USA Today confirmed as such through the piece he wrote earlier this week.
Furthermore, here’s what D’Antoni told the Chron’s Jonathan Feigen about Paul’s malady:
"“Every day that goes by we get a little bit closer,” D’Antoni said. “It can’t be close enough. He’s getting there.”"
Paul has been participating in minimal knee impact activities such as boxing and swimming — he was cleared to participate in shooting drills this past Saturday, certainly meaning that things are on the up-and-up.
He hasn’t been allowed to resume practice yet but once he gets the green light, we can start counting the days to when we’ll finally get to see CP3 in Rocket Red on the regular.
He has been battling a bruised knee since the preseason where he bumped into Mario Chalmers back Oct. 17. He did participate in the season opener on the road against the Warriors a week later but has been held out of action since.
This is absolutely the correct move for the Houston Rockets as he’s going to be vital when this team starts to hit its stride and starts a trajectory toward a solidified high playoff-seeding.
Adding a floor general like Paul will certainly relieve some offensive pressure off of James Harden, who seems to be handling it quite well as usual.
The Beard posted a career high 56 points as well as 13 assists off 19-for-25 shooting, 7-for-8 from three and 11-of-12 from the charity stripe in 137-110 rout of the Utah Jazz this past Sunday. He was flirting with the franchise record of 57 points scored in a game set by one Calvin Murphy — who’s that guy? — back in 1978.
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But with Paul returning soon, this will give the back court a solid jolt and will bolster the bench once again as Eric Gordon moves back to his usual spot as the 6th man.
It’s right around the corner and I can’t wait!
Go Rockets!