Expect to see Chris Paul, the star point guard of the New Orleans Hornets return from his injury shortly.
As Ryan noted, prior to the Lakers game on Tuesday, Paul was seen on the court shooting jump shots. He also was working on his dribbling and some spin moves, while moving at a good pace.
The inflatable cast has been off for a few weeks and he’s been working on getting back into game shape.
Today he was reportedly back at practice participating fully.
After practicing at the Alario Center, Paul said he was just glad to actually get back on the court. He described the the effort as decent, claiming he did play “through some of the pain.”
Gm/Coach Jeff Bower was encouraged by the practice, noting that it was Paul’s most strenuous since the injury occured. He also said he would check with Paul on friday to determine if there was any lingering pain from the practice.
Paul has shown throughout his career that he is a quick healer, so it’s no surprise that he’s made such quick progress in returning from his injury.
Judging by the range of motion he exhibited during warm ups and the news that he’s participating in practice, I predict he will make his return sometime between December eighth and 11th, when the Hornets have stretch of three must win games against bottom dwellers.
The Hornets are eagerly awaiting Paul’s return. While they had playoff aspirations before the season began, they stand at only 7-11.
On the year, Paul is averaging career highs in points (23.8), field goal percentage (59.4 percent), three point shooting percentage (65.5 percent), and he is averaging a career low in turnovers (2.1).
From a fantasy standpoint, Paul’s return should make him a constant in your lineup, while Darren Collison, Marcus Thornton, and Bobby Brown can all expect significant decreases in playing time.