Tuesday And-1links: Chris Paul could be back this weekend

Here is our regular look around the NBA — links to stories worth reading and notes to check out (stuff that did not get its own post here at PBT) — done in bullet point form. Because bloggers love bullet points.

• The Clippers have lost seven of nine and need something to get them back to the potential contender status they were playing at the first couple months of the season… like the return of Chris Paul, for example. He has missed eight of those nine games with a bruised knee. That’s not a coincidence. As good as Eric Bledsoe is — and teams want to trade for him for a reason — the Clippers are 5-5 when CP3 sits and he starts this season. Good news for the Clippers is Chris Paul and Chauncey Billups could be back by this weekend, reports Arash Markazi at ESPNLosAngeles.com.

• Here is a great breakdown of what has gone wrong with the Clippers while Paul has been out.

• Speaking of returns, Andrew Bynum is still on target for sometime in February. I know, it’s vague, but it’s the best we can do.

• If you read one thing today, it should be the oral history (and watch the video) of the Costacos brothers poster/wall art empire.

• Zach Lowe at Grantland with an amazing breakdown of how the Chicago Bulls defend the pick-and-roll a little differently than everyone else. And it works for them.

• Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament talks about playing pickup basketball. And how Kurt Cobain used to give him crap about it.

• You want to own the blueprints for the Jordan statue outside the United Center? You can. If you have a cool $100,000 lying around.

• The league made Joakim Noah change the outfit he was wearing on the bench Monday night.

• A Q&A with Nate Robinson.

• Utah’s Gordon Hayward is doubtful against the Bucks on Wednesday because of his shoulder injury.

• In Sacramento, Aaron Brooks is out of coach Keith Smart’s rotation.

• Finally, this baby has more trick shots than you do.