The Los Angeles Clippers are preparing to face the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the NBA Playoffs tonight and they have been blessed with the return of Blake Griffin who has been recovering from a couple of injuries throughout the regular season.
It’s safe to say that Griffin is certainly an X-Factor if the Clippers make it deep in the Playoffs. Honestly I would love it if my boy Damian Lillard averaged 30 against them and managed to beat them in the same fashion he dispatched the Houston Rockets a couple of years ago. But the Clippers are certainly the favourites in this series and some of that is due to Blake Griffin’s return. Even though he isn’t 100%, the Clips are grateful to have him back.
“I don’t know the answer,” head coach Doc Rivers said. “I think we’ll see. He’s had not only five games, but he’s had some practice time. Obviously, it’s not the exact way you would have wanted it, but we’ll take what we can get. We got him (Griffin) back, and that’s better than not getting him back. So, I’ll take that.”
“I think every game he’s played a lot more and a lot better,” big man DeAndre Jordan said. “So, it’s still going to be a transition period, but I feel as far as gelling-wise with our team it’s great. But, for him, I think it’s more of a timing thing and just getting more minutes.”
“After the first couple games and feeling good afterwards,” Griffin said, “for me it was more getting my rhythm and feeling better on the court, not feeling so out of sync and felt much much better. And I felt even better at practice yesterday. I’m encouraged by all of that.”
I mean he’s injured but he’s still getting those alley-oops off so at the bare minimum he was Blake from a couple of years ago and that’ll most likely help them get through this particular series.
