With the return of Los Angeles Clippers (LAC) super-star Blake Griffin will his play be the difference in a long run in the NBA playoffs in 2016? After missing over forty games this year, the Clips will be good enough to get a home court advantage in the first round, as they follow the Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, and the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference pecking order. Specifically, Griffin missed the past 41 games with a partially torn left quad tendon and right hand fracture when he smacked a team equipment manager in a fit of rage. A four game suspension begins Sunday and Griffin will be available for the Clippers on April 3 in a home game in Staples against the Wizards of Washington. He practiced Saturday and was given rave reviews for this practice by Head Coach Doc Rivers.
In all probability, LAC will start the playoffs playing the 5th seed in the west. With Griffin at 100 percent, the home court advantage would put them in a favorable position in that first series. With a 2nd round match-up with a possible historic (record wise through a regular season) Golden State, the Clippers could give the Warriors all they want. As they upset San Antonio last year in the playoffs, if Los Angeles could find a way to play their kind of basketball, whatever that might be, a lineup that includes Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin is not chicken salad. Sure, it would be an monumental upset, but not out of the question. Injuries for Golden State and playing to their potential, LAC does not lack the stars and the coaching in Rivers to make a strong push this playoff season. Look for a close and ugly series between these Clippers and the great Warriors. Sure, we are still a ways from this meeting to take place, but I am sure that the Clippers are already looking forward to it.
