{"id":2161,"date":"2016-03-28T00:23:23","date_gmt":"2016-03-28T05:23:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/?p=2161"},"modified":"2017-07-08T15:01:01","modified_gmt":"2017-07-08T20:01:01","slug":"blake-griffins-return-to-clippers-a-deal-maker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/?p=2161","title":{"rendered":"Blake Griffin’s return to Clippers a deal maker?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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?\u00a0 After missing over forty games this year, the Clips\u00a0will be\u00a0good 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\u00a0Conference pecking order.\u00a0 Specifically,\u00a0Griffin missed\u00a0the past\u00a041 games with\u00a0a partially torn left quad tendon and right hand fracture when he smacked a\u00a0team\u00a0equipment manager in a fit of rage.\u00a0\u00a0A 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.\u00a0 He practiced Saturday and was given rave reviews for this practice by Head Coach Doc Rivers.<\/span><\/h6>\n

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In all probability, LAC will start the playoffs playing the 5th seed in the west.\u00a0 With Griffin at 100 percent, the home court advantage would put them in a favorable position in that first series.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Sure, it would be an monumental upset, but not out of the question.\u00a0 Injuries for\u00a0Golden\u00a0State\u00a0and playing to their\u00a0potential, LAC does not lack the stars and the coaching in Rivers to make a strong push this playoff season.\u00a0 Look for a\u00a0 close and ugly series between these Clippers and the great Warriors.\u00a0Sure, we are still a ways from this\u00a0meeting to take place, but I am sure that the Clippers are already looking forward to it.<\/span><\/h6>\n

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\"Blake
Clippers forward Blake Griffin gestures during a Nov. 12 game against the Suns in Phoenix. (Rick Scuteri \/ Associated Press)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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With the return of Los Angeles Clippers (LAC) super-star Blake Griffin will his play be…<\/p>\n

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