Blake Griffin injury

[BBert]

God what a crazy season.

 

[BBert]

Just don't overlook them. That's all I'm saying.

I meant the Blazers better not overlook them.

Obviously, it doesn't matter whether we the fans do.

 

[Cippy91]

I'm not gonna overlook them, anything is possible but we should of had that second game, we were right there up until the 4th quarter. Take Chris and Blake away, that's huge. I predict this series is over Friday and we move on

 

[Sinobas]

This is such a big blow to the Clippers, I just am afraid Portland is going to get nervous because they are suddenly not the underdogs. I remember when the Thunder came to town without Westbrook, Durant and Ibaka and we barely won.

I've seen it happen a lot where a team comes in so beligured by injury and yet the game ends up being very close.

 

[rasheedfan2005]

The reason im still confident is Damian lillard. I guarantee our young leader immediately said its not celebration time yet boys. Now is the time to work, we are going on the road and going to see a new look as far as match ups. Sure, a less skilled line up, but different. That means the game plan will likely require adjustments at half time after we see what kind of looks we are getting and what they are taking advantage of. Stotts will be tested. The game plan that won the last 2 will likely have to change. Dont get over confident, stay confident and under control, take care of fucking business.

 

[BBert]

My game plan:

Dame goes for 40.

CJ goes for 30.

Blazers win by 20.

I get drunk and celebrate.

Rinse / Repeat.

 

[Nhawz]

No Good Clipper Left!

 

[LuckyShot]

Rivers: Dame
Redick: Harkless
Mbah Moute: CJ
Green: Aminu
Jordan: Plumlee

I agree using Harkless on Redick would be good, but I can also see using someone long guarding Rivers, so they can shut down the passing lanes--not that Rivers passes that much. When Redick is out, then use Harkless or Crabbe on Crawford.

Give Davis plenty of minutes to eat up whoever is at the 4.

I also wonder if Redick will get many minutes with his bum heel and the stars our for the count. Even if he is in, not sure how effective he can be.

I don't see why we don't keep defending them same way we have been. Harkless on the PG, Dame on SF. If we put Dame or CJ on the PG, I think they'll still do what they wanted to do with Griffin, which is set a ball screen to force a switch, and then post up Dame with a bigger player. Green is no Griffin, but he can still out muscle Dame in the post and he's a decent scorer. They might even look to do it with Jordan now, since he's about all of the star power they have left.

I expect to see a lot more Redick running off of screens, and more Crawford shooting midrange jumpers, because we've been giving him those all series. I do think Crabbe especially did a great job contesting Crawford in game 4 though. Best thing is to not over-think this, and just attack the shit out of them on both ends and play as if they had all of their starters.

 

[KingSpeed]

We have the better team by FAR. All we have to do is play full out and we'll win the next two easily.

 

[Draco]

Im wondering if it makes sense to have Harkless saved for Crawford and go back to starting Vonleh or someone else

Nah our starters have a great rhythm don't mess with that. Hendo and Crabbe are capable of defending Crawford.

I'm really more worried about Green, Rivers and Aldrich than Crawford.

 

[Draco]

I don't think they can play Mbah at all. With CP3 you could play 4 on 5 offensively. Now they need to do everything they can to score. I bet Wesley Johnson plays a lot more, he's a decent defender. He made over 100 three's this season.

Jeff Green is a wild card. He carried Boston to wins when Brad Stevens first started coaching. He's the type of guy who can get hot for a game and has been a primary offensive option. Aldrich has some post moves which we really struggle to defend inside.

Austin Rivers has had huge games too. He started in place of CP3 in the second round last year against Houston and had 17 points then 10. The next game he had 25 off the bench. Four straight double figure playoff games.

I wouldn't be shocked to see them do some unconventional lineups. Play DeAndre along with Aldrich. Send even more traps at the Blazers. Dare Plumlee to shoot those 5 foot shots. Over a 7 game series we destroy this opponent. But with a best of three and two on the road this thing is far from a lock.

After Griffin and CP3 are ruled out the sportsbooks only have us as a 2 point favorite.

 

[fumanchu]

So yeah the only one I'm technically worried about is Pierece channeling his shit like he did for the Wizards last year... Or for the Celtics in the past.
It is unlikely though.

Yeah nobody is talking about him, but Pierce immediately comes to mind as the big X factor for the Clipps.

 

[Natebishop3]

Can't be understated.... ?

http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/117295/chris-pauls-value-cant-be-understated

 

[e_blazer]

Can't be understated.... ?

http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/117295/chris-pauls-value-cant-be-understated

The lack of editorial review these days is astounding. And that's an understatement.

 

[Natebishop3]

The lack of editorial review these days is astounding. And that's an understatement.

When I was a writer, nobody proofread my stuff, but I was on a rinky dink site. This is ESPN.... they seriously don't have anyone looking at this stuff before it goes live?

 

[MARIS61]

Can't be understated.... ?

http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/117295/chris-pauls-value-cant-be-understated

True story. I've never, ever heard anyone understate Chris Paul's value.

Often overstated, never understated.

 

[Draco]

Yeah nobody is talking about him, but Pierce immediately comes to mind as the big X factor for the Clipps.

I just don't see any reasonable chance of it. The guy is almost 40 and hasn't created offense all year. His points have came from wide open shots when defenses ignore him. Thats when they had 4 stud starters drawing attention. Now they have one. If we had Meyers Leonard guarding Pierce as earlier this season I might be concerned.

But how is he going to get efficient shots with any of Harkless, Aminu, Hendo, Crabbe guarding him? I welcome Pierce trying to take it upon himself to be an xfactor.

Now I wouldn't leave him wide open from three; the guy can shoot. If we need to double it should come from somewhere else. But you don't have to worry about him doing anything else on the court.

 

[Chris Craig]

Steve Kerr on meth

 

[Scalma]

Not that they need any more motivation in the playoffs, but I think the Stotts snub will probably add even more wood to the fire.

 

[theprunetang]

View attachment 8820

Steve Kerr on meth

Is that Rickety Cricket?

 

[Draco]

Not that they need any more motivation in the playoffs, but I think the Stotts snub will probably add even more wood to the fire.

I think it'll help more in the second round if we beat the Clips. Even with out Steph they have two all stars and the COY. We have none. They should beat us. They'll be talking about how they matchup with SAS/OKC the whole series.

 

[Reep]

When I was a writer, nobody proofread my stuff, but I was on a rinky dink site. This is ESPN.... they seriously don't have anyone looking at this stuff before it goes live?

All their staff is busy looking at employee's facebook and twitter posts to see if any of their free speech violates ESPN political preferences.

 

[blue9]

Just saw Rivers and Green into starting lineup. Guess they will keep Crawford in 6th man role.

Nailed it.

 

[blue9]

The game plan that won the last 2 will likely have to change.

Yeah, it's HIGHLY unlikely that we'll win two games in a row on the back of Aminu's shooting. I hope we run the same play, but have Aminu attack and pass, rather than shoot the open J. I think he's done it a grand total of 3 times this series, but it creates a much higher-percentage shot and puts a lot more strain on LAC's defense. If he's jacking open 3s all game that leaves the door wide-open for LAC.

 

[Natebishop3]

All their staff is busy looking at employee's facebook and twitter posts to see if any of their free speech violates ESPN political preferences.

Nah, that's just one or two guys, the rest of the staff is making sure that none of their employees are criticizing Roger Goodell and/or the NFL. Protect that shield!

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Color me confused. They keep calling it a Quad injury, but Griffin is grabbing the skin that attaches his quad to his kneecap. Aren't those ligaments, not muscles?

 

[Reep]

Color me confused. They keep calling it a Quad injury, but Griffin is grabbing the skin that attaches his quad to his kneecap. Aren't those ligaments, not muscles?

It sounds like it is a tear somewhere around the Quad insertion point on the knee end. The tendon there is short so the injury is likely at the tendon/muscle junction just above the knee--or very close to it.

 

[Reep]

Also, remember that the Quadriceps is a group of four muscles, with four different attachments. It could be any one of the four, but given where he has been rubbing it I'm guessing it may be one of the lateral muscle groups:

 

[Schilly]

The biggest shift that occurs here IMO....

Now their starting back court is the tandem that is pressured to play D, and frees up Dame and CJ to focus more on making the offense flow. Paul is a scrappy defender but also forces us to defend the PG intensively... Rivers, not so much. The next step of this is that now our Combo of Aminu and Harkless match up very well against Mbah a Moute and Green.

 

[Schilly]

It sounds like it is a tear somewhere around the Quad insertion point on the knee end. The tendon there is short so the injury is likely at the tendon/muscle junction just above the knee--or very close to it.

On the TNT broadcast they zoomed in on Griffin massaging the area just above his knee cap with his thumb.