Chris Paul is doubtful for Wednesday's Game 2 against the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference semifinals, but his official status won't be determined until closer to gametime.
"I'm going to see how it feels this morning at walk-through and get with the training staff and we'll see," Paul said.
Paul was set to participate in the Wednesday morning shootaround at the Toyota Center.
"Every day is better. Hopefully, we'll see if it's ready by tonight," Paul said.
Paul missed the Clippers' Game 1 win over the Rockets with a left hamstring strain, an injury sustained in the first quarter of the Clippers' Game 7 win over the Spurs at Staples Center.
"I've just been with the training staff all day, every day doing everything possible to try to get back on the court," Paul said.
Paul was in good spirits Wednesday, his 30th birthday, laughing and talking with his teammates while taking some shots.
It hasn't been easy sitting out for one game of the postseason. Now it could be two.
"It's really tough, especially with the way I play," Paul said. "There's only one way I know how to play. It's one of those things where you don't want to make it any worse than it already is."
Doc Rivers said he knew immediately after Paul made the last-second, game-winning shot in Game 7 -- playing on his injured hamstring -- that Paul wouldn't play in Game 1. He doesn't think he'll play in Game 2, either.
"I pretty much doubt it, to be honest, just from talking to him, but we'll see how he moves around and go from there," Rivers said of whether Paul will play.
Paul also knew after the game-winner that he wouldn't play in Game 1.
"That's why I was so emotional when I hit the shot," Paul said. "I was telling our trainer on the bench it was almost a bittersweet moment. I was happy we were advancing. I sort of knew I wouldn't be able to go. At least that first game."
If he misses Game 2, Austin Rivers is expected to start again. Rivers scored 17 points in his first career postseason start on Monday. The teams return to Los Angeles on Friday for Game 3 at Staples Center.
"I'm not even thinking about Game 3," Doc Rivers said. "We'll find out today. Right now, I don't think so."
Paul was like a coach on the bench Monday, helping give advice to players and cheering them on in street clothes. That wasn't easy, either. Paul has long said he would never want to coach in the NBA, even though he could have a coaching career if he wanted one.
"Man, I told them if I was to miss the night I'd probably have to take some type of anxiety pills," Paul said. "That's a lot more nerve-racking being on the bench than it is in the game. We're such a team. Guys just really showed a lot of resolve. This is probably a reason why I'd never coach. Not at this level. Maybe my AAU kids. Not this. This is too stressful."
Paul didn't fight Doc Rivers on not playing in Game 1, and Doc Rivers said he wouldn't have listened anyway.
"There wasn't any convincing," Paul said. "I knew. One thing about me is if I can play, I'm going to play. You ain't got to worry about that."
