Paul’s Injury Putting Clippers Hopes In Jeopardy
- Updated: April 26, 2016
To Steve Ballmer and the Los Angeles Clippers this is a public service announcement that the time is NOW to rectify your franchise as being one of the laughing stocks of the NBA and possibly win an NBA title. Do not mistake possibly for probably, but you have been given a hand the guys next door, (the Lakers) could only dream of. Stephen Curry has been knocked out for two weeks and the series against the Portland Trailblazers is nearly over. But wait, Chris Paul, injured again? Say it ain’t so.
Chris Paul was playing at an MVP level but will now have to lean on Jamal Crawford for the rest of the playoffs. A day that started to optimistically for the Clippers has ended in a tearful reminder that this franchise just can’t seem to find a way to get over the hump.
Ironically the hand that gave Blake Griffin hope with two months to heal is now the hand that Doc Rivers is being dealt. It’s like playing blackjack well having an ace only to quibble into a bust.
The goal at the beginning of the day was to finish off a very stubborn Damian Lillard with sidekick C.J. McCollum. Now the goal is to see how the Clippers can stop the ship from sinking.
In order for the Clippers to turn the series around it will ultimately come down to performances by DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin. Jordan needs to get more than five shots per game and Griffin needs to become the player that can use his all around skills to dominate the game. For being so quick and agile, Griffin has not proven that he can take a team on his back and ride it to victory. Having a game similar to Lebron James by demanding the ball well still being a playmaker. Did we mention getting the ball to DeAndre Jordan or does the center not exist in today’s NBA?
The series is tied at two but still plenty of basketball to be played. Ultimately the ball is in the hands of Blake Griffin. Can he do what Magic Johnson did for the Lakers when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar got injured against the Philadelphia 76ers or will he be practically invisible. Meanwhile Lillard and McCollum continue to impress their will in the Clippers inconsistent defense.
The biggest question for Blake Griffin is about to be answered. Whether the Clippers got a player that can be both a highlight reel and a winner packaged into one. Is Griffin up for the challenge? We’ll see game five.
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