You would think the fact that Chris Paul is reportedly not expected to play for the Houston Rockets in Monday's Game 7 of the Western Conference finals would quietly please Steve Kerr, but the Golden State Warriors head coach has nothing but sympathy for the veteran point guard.
"More than anything, I feel bad for Chris," Kerr told reporters before Game 6 on Saturday. "The guy is a phenomenal player and competitor, and pretty much willed his team (in Games 4 and 5). He's just been haunted by these types of injuries in his career, and it's a shame."
Paul missed time during the 2015 playoffs when he injured his left hamstring; late in Game 5 on Thursday, he hurt his right one.
That the issue could cost Paul the biggest game of his career speaks to its severity. Through his first 12 NBA seasons with New Orleans and the Clippers, Paul never got beyond the second round of the playoffs. This season, the Rockets obtained him to put them over the top and give them a fighting chance of beating the Warriors.
"I hate when anybody gets hurt," Kerr said. "These guys train so hard and they're here and they're competing, and you want everybody to be healthy, but it's just the reality is it usually doesn't work out that way."