Clippers Fall To Spurs In Game 2: The 5 Things We Learned

The Spurs don’t have an answer for Blake Griffin

April 22, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) shoots against the defense of San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) during the second half in game two of the first round of the NBA Playoffs. at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

His two late turnovers (one near the end of the fourth quarter and one in overtime) were devastating to the Clippers. They obviously tainted the stellar game that Blake Griffin had been having until that point, but more importantly, they were one of the main factors in deciding the game.

Despite the fact that the Spurs were able to hang on behind the brilliance of Tim Duncan, Griffin won’t be committing two turnovers at such pivotal moments throughout this series.

So what we can take away from his performance against San Antonio thus far, is that they simply can’t handle him.

Griffin has relentlessly attacked the basket in both of the last two games, averaging 27.5 points and 12 rebounds. His athleticism has proved to be too much for the Spurs’ frontcourt to deal with, and whether Blake uses his first step from down-low or drives down a lane to the basket, the likes or Boris Diaw and Tiago Splitter (in particular, poor old Aron Baynes) have had no luck in stopping him.

Griffin has simply abused the weak interior defense of Diaw and Splitter, with the former allowing opponents to shoot 56.9 percent at the rim this year. If Blake has a couple of feet of space in a lane to the basket, that’s all it takes for him to explode to the rim — and no one the Spurs have to offer have managed to contain him yet. He’s said himself for this series that it’s not time for self preservation, and if he keeps this aggressive mindset going there’s no reason why he can’t help make this series go down to the wire.

Of course, his two turnovers were devastating in game two, and he took full responsibility for it by stating “That game’s pretty much 100% on me”. Two big blunders from Griffin won’t be happening every game, though.

Tonight, as the Clippers head to San Antonio, you can be assured that Griffin will be be playing with more intensity than ever and continue to dominate in the paint. Especially now that he’ll be desperate to prove himself after hurting L.A. in game two.