The Los Angeles Clippers are going to need to step up again without Blake Griffin: Doc Rivers says he doubts he’ll return against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday.
The Los Angeles Clippers did it again on Monday night. They rallied behind Chris Paul and J.J. Redick’s career night to defeat the Houston Rockets 140-132 in overtime, and they did so without Blake Griffin. It’s a testament to their resolve in his absence, as depth and mental toughness have always been two major flaws of these Clippers. Yet, as Redick burned the Rockets with a career-high 40 points while going 9-of-12 from three-point range, they improved to 10-1 since losing Griffin.
If they want to keep winning, though, more nights like that from Redick and the Clippers’ wing players are going to be needed. Paul also continued to rise to the occasion without his All-Star running mate with 28 points, 12 assists and six steals against the Rockets, Jamal Crawford and Wesley Johnson combined for 28 points, while DeAndre Jordan made his return from pneumonia with 16 points, 15 rebounds and two blocks.
The game could have easily slipped away, though. The Clippers blew the fourth quarter 42-28, and if they didn’t allow the Rockets to score so much late on, overtime wouldn’t have been needed at all.
At least it’s still another win to add to their recent hot spell, as besides the Miami Heat and Rockets since their 10-game win streak started, every opponent has been under .500. Still, they couldn’t be doing much more without Blake.
Dan Woike of the Orange County Register has reported Doc Rivers’ comments on Griffin, saying that he doubts he’ll return for the Clippers’ next game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night.
Doc said he doubts Blake Griffin will play against Cleveland
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) January 19, 2016
If there was going to be one game that the Clippers would need Griffin for, it’s their matchup against the Cavs. With Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love back into the mix, they no longer need to rely so heavily on LeBron James and they’re the class of the Eastern Conference at 28-11. That being said, while they are the best of the East, they got demolished on Monday night against the Golden State Warriors to the tune of a 132-98 defeat.
They looked completely out-matched. Stephen Curry scored 35 points and hit seven threes, Draymond Green nearly had another triple-double with 16 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds, and their defense and ball movement simply proved too much for the Cavs to handle. They consistently created open looks as Cleveland failed to double team successfully or close out on shooters quick enough, and the Warriors gave them hell in transition with eight steals and 21 points off turnovers.
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However, while the Clippers’ play as of late has been impressive, they aren’t nearly on the same level as the Warriors right now. It goes without saying, and their matchup against the Cavs is going to be incredibly difficult to say the least.
Not only will LeBron be playing angry to redeem his team for their worst loss of the season, but it looks like the Clippers won’t even have Griffin to help.
Until Thursday, Blake at least has some more time to keep recovering and rehabbing after partially tearing a quadricep tendon. The Clippers also have no games before facing the Cavs, so the rest of the team can fully recuperate. Guys like Cole Aldrich and Paul Pierce are going to need it with their increased minutes since Blake went down.
Next: Clippers Trade Rumors: L.A. linked with Rudy Gay
Like every fan in L.A., the Clippers want their superstar back. But in the meantime, they’re doing remarkably well without him.
Now, they just need to go at the Cavs with everything they’ve got after the reigning NBA Finalists were blown off their home court in embarrassing fashion.