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Houston Rockets: NBA Finals berth hinges on Chris Paul’s leg

By Michael Saenz

OAKLAND, CA - MAY 22: Chris Paul #3 of the Houston Rockets takes an open three-point shot against the Golden State Warriors during Game Four of the Western Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at ORACLE Arena on May 22, 2018 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - MAY 22: Chris Paul #3 of the Houston Rockets takes an open three-point shot against the Golden State Warriors during Game Four of the Western Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at ORACLE Arena on May 22, 2018 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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An NBA Finals berth for the Houston rockets lies on the health of Chris Paul

The Houston Rockets are on win away from the NBA Finals.

Say it out loud; it’s still crazy.

Even after beating the Golden State Warriors in the pivotal Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, it was difficult for Rockets fans to be all that happy. That was because of the look on Chris Paul’s face and his body language.

Mike D’Antoni didn’t bring any calamity at all in the postgame press conference, either.

But I find it hard to believe that Chris Paul won’t be on the floor for Game 6. Paul and the Rockets are one game away from the NBA Finals, and Paul is a fighter. He played – brilliantly – on a bad leg against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 7 a few years ago.

Have to think we’ll get the same kind of gutting performance from CP3, if necessary.

However, even if he is on the floor, there’s no question that he won’t be 100 percent. Instead, the question will be: How healthy will he be?

Not beating around the bush, the fate of the Houston Rockets and their hopes of making the NBA Finals lies on Paul’s hobbled leg.

In the last two games, you can make the argument that Paul has been the best player on the floor for the Rockets – maybe even the Warriors, too. Even though he had an off shooting night in Game 5, Paul was the leader that Houston needed to hold off the Warriors.

He hit timely buckets, played stingy defense and – literally – left it all on the floor.

In the last two games, Paul has scored 20 and 27 points respectively. But he’s been a calming force in crunch time. He’s the exact player that James Harden needed to take the pressure off, and it’s working perfectly.

Harden has struggled with his shot over the last few games in this series, and has missed 20 straight 3-pointers. Still, the Rockets are one win away from the NBA Finals. It’s actually quite amazing.

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Without Chris Paul in the lineup, there’s no question that the Golden State Warriors likely win the next two games. I mean, they still might win them either way. But with Paul in the lineup, the Rockets will at least have a fighting chance.

The Houston Rockets are one win from playing for the ultimate prize, and it’s a shame that it will likely all come down to how healthy Chris Paul is.

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