Los Angeles Clippers May Have Chris Paul Back vs. Heat

What Are The Odds the Clippers Win the Pacific?

The Heat is on the Los Angeles Clippers, so to speak. With point guard Chris Paul and swingman Blake Griffin battling injuries, the Clippers have won just three of their last 10 games. Now, after jumping out to a great start to the season and holding a comfortable lead in the Pacific Division, the standings are much more crowded. Los Angeles holds a four-game lead, but Golden State is gaining ground.

That’s what makes Friday’s game in Miami so important. Paul has missed the last nine games with a knee injury, but the team is “optimistic” he’ll be able to play against the Heat. That would be a huge boost for the club to say the least. Before his injury, Paul w averaging 16.6 points, 9.7 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game, making him a serious MVP candidate. Now that we’ve seen how this team looks without him, those MVP whispers may get a little louder.

Meanwhile, there’s still a lot of talk of Paul even though he hasn’t suited up in more than two weeks. Avon just announced that Paul will be the face of its “Untouchable” fragrance and he was also named the NBA Eastern Conference All Star team captain.

Of course, Paul hasn’t been the only big-profile player out of the Clippers’ lineup recently. Griffin has missed two games with a strained hamstring, veteran guard Chauncey Billups hasn’t played since Dec. 3, and Jamal Crawford missed Wednesday’s game with a sore shoulder. But things are starting to look up as all three are considered questionable for Friday’s game. “It’s hard because I know even if I played right now, I could help,” Billups told reporters before Wednesday’s game in Orlando. “But I’m not quite ready. And I know we need a little (help), so it’s hard to sit out when we’re struggling.”

Veteran Lamar Odom was a major factor in Wednesday’s win, filling the stat sheet with eight points, six steals, four assists and five rebounds. “You have to go through your ups and downs and it’s all about how you respond to them as a unit,” Odom told reporters. “This is a tough time for us, but it’s a good time. It’s a measuring stick. This is an amazing test for us, but you have to embrace it and hopefully that makes you better.”

This stretch without its big guns will only help Los Angeles down the stretch. As long as Paul and Griffin play most of the games from here on out, the Clippers will nail down first place.