Report: Patrick Beverley won't be able to play in West Finals

If there's anyone in the NBA who would put his long-term health aside to appear in a playoff game, Mr. 94 Feet would be a pretty good bet to be that person.

Much as he may like to make it back for the Western Conference Finals, Patrick Beverley is not expected to be available, according to a report from Marc Stein of ESPN.

This shouldn't necessarily be news, considering Beverley was ruled out for the season in March after undergoing surgery to repair a torn wrist ligament. The timeline established was expected to keep him out until late July and in a cast until sometime in May, leading general manager Daryl Morey to publicly rally the troops and say the team can win a ring without him.

But fair or otherwise, there was always a tacit expectation that if the Houston Rockets made a somewhat unexpected run deep into the playoffs, Beverley could make a return ahead of schedule. Beverley even admitted in April that the prospect of pulling a Willis Reed was on his mind.

With the Rockets having punched their ticket to the third round of the playoffs, Stein's report should kill the hope of Rockets fans wishing for their best defensive guard to return. Without Beverley, the Rockets will have a very difficult time keeping Steph Curry in check, a task that's arduous even with the healthiest high-quality defenders.

In 56 games this season, Beverley averaged 10.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.1 steals, often ceding point guard duties on offense to James Harden while saving energy for the defensive end of the floor.