Chris Paul Expects to Be Ready on Opening Night

Chris Paul is able to now play without a brace on his hand for the first time since he underwent right thumb surgery. From ESPN: “Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul went through basketball drills without a protective brace around his right thumb for the first time Monday, and said he anticipates playing in at least one preseason game and being ready for the Clippers’ season opener Oct. 30 versus the Memphis Grizzlies. ‘Today was the first day they actually allowed me to shoot layups so today was the best day ever,’ Paul said. ‘I hope I get a preseason game in before the season. I probably have to start off the season wearing a brace but I get to wear the brace less and less. I wear it when I go to sleep but I’m on track. I go to rehab every single morning at 6:30 a.m.’ Paul underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb last month after injuring it during Team USA’s training camp in Las Vegas back in July. ‘The scariest part was when I injured it in Vegas. During the 30-minute ride to the hospital, me and some of the Team USA staff were acting like we were riding to a funeral,’ Paul said. ‘The worst thing they would have told (me) is I wouldn’t have been able to play. So when it came back and they told me I was going to have to have surgery, I said I’m going to tape it up. I wasn’t going to miss the Olympics. I wasn’t going to miss it.'”