Chris Paul Injury: Who replaces CP3 in Clippers starting lineup?

The Los Angeles Clippers will be without Chris Paul for the rest of the playoffs, but who is going to replace the All-Star guard?

Maybe the Los Angeles Clippers really are cursed?

The Clippers lost any chance they had of winning that elusive NBA title when Chris Paul was injured during Monday’s playoff game against the Portland Trail Blazers and will be lost for the rest of the playoffs.

Paul broke his hand and will be reevaluated in 4-6 weeks, but in the interim, the Clippers have to find a way to get past the Blazers to have a shot at the San Antonio Spurs in the second round.

So who will replace Paul in the starting lineup?

Paul is backed up by Austin Rivers, the son of Clippers head coach Doc Rivers, and will start in Paul’s place on Wednesday.

Clearly, Rivers isn’t the player that Paul is but he’ll have an opportunity to prove to himself, his teammates, his coach and the rest of the NBA that he is a starting-caliber NBA player.

No one will expect Rivers to suddenly morph into Paul, but if Rivers can showcase some nice ball-handling skills, direct the offense and sink a couple of big shots, he could be the difference in getting to the second round.

Overcoming injury is a part of sports, but the Clippers were dealt a bad blow with Paul and Blake Griffin out of the playoffs with injuries on the same night.

Rivers averaged 8.9 points, 1.5 assists and 1.9 rebounds in 67 regular season games this year.

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