Clipperholics
Fansided

LA Clippers: J.J. Redick, Blake Griffin talk getting over the playoff hump

By Tom West

Dec 14, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) react after scoring late in the fourth quarter during the fourth quarter of the game against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Detroit Pistons 105-103 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Leon Halip-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 14, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) react after scoring late in the fourth quarter during the fourth quarter of the game against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Detroit Pistons 105-103 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Leon Halip-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

To discuss various topics and how the LA Clippers can get over their playoff hope and find new success in 2016-17, J.J. Redick invited Blake Griffin on his podcast.

NBA podcast connoisseur and LA Clippers guard J.J. Redick continues to deliver off the court. Each episode of his podcast for The Vertical has been worth listening to so far, and his latest with teammate Blake Griffin to discuss the team is definitely worth your time.

Before asking Griffin what he thinks the Clippers need to do to get over their playoff hump, Redick emphasized how difficult it is to judge what last season was. Griffin was out for 47 games in the regular season and was ruled out early in the first round of the playoffs along with Chris Paul, leaving the Clippers far from their potential throughout the year.

Griffin acknowledged the need for a little luck, which couldn’t have been further from the case this year with such devastating injuries:

"“I mean, like Doc always says, it takes a little bit of luck. You know, you have to be healthy, guys have to be not just healthy to whether they can play or not, but healthy to where they can play at 100 percent or close to 100 percent, because I don’t think anyone is playing at 100 percent in the playoffs. I think that’s what it takes.I think getting over the hump for us… like, we’ve been there, like you said. It’s been so, so close, and it’s just, I don’t know, falling through on it. I mean, you can talk X’s and O’s and players and rosters and all that…"

More from Clippers News

Redick then chimes in, asking whether he thinks it’s all a mental game now:

"“I think a lot of it is. Once you start hearing things over and over, it starts to get in your head a little bit… but you know you can do it. It’s not, like, a thing where you doubt yourself.”"

Redick added that he believes the experience of losing can “weigh on you”. So many near losses, as the Clippers have experienced over the last few years (the 3-1 lead loss to Houston in 2015 and elimination due to Paul’s and Griffin’s injuries this year), can be hard to get over and remove from your mind.

Perhaps the weight of losing such a near win was a factor in Kevin Durant‘s free agency decision this summer. His Thunder losing their 3-1 series lead over the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals likely played a part in his choice to go to Golden State.

Redick commented the following:

"“For me, it’s the experience of what happened against Houston, against OKC; that weighs on me. The lost chances, the “what ifs”; those are what weigh on you.”"

More from Clipperholics

Finally, Griffin discussed mentality:

"“I think part of it, too, is just having that team where you just go out and you just do it… No matter what the series is at, no matter how much you’re down by, you just have to keep playing. Doc talks to us about it all the time, you’re never out of a game.”"

To conclude their thoughts on what the Clippers need to do, both Redick and Griffin referred to what Doc tells them, saying that the team needs to play without madness and play “clutter free,” removing distraction, worry, and memories of past losses from their minds. If that can be achieved, both Redick and Griffin believe the Clippers have had what it takes, and still do from a talent standpoint.

A rock solid mental edge is clearly something the Clippers have strived for over the years. Even though the simple lack of a bench and sheer exhaustion for the starters was encouraging disaster, there was a mental aspect in play against Houston in 2015, too.

Next: 3 ways Clippers, Blake Griffin can take the next step

Hopefully for the LA Clippers and their fans next season, they can at least have the best season in franchise history with a trip to the Western Conference Finals. Unfortunately, the behemoth Golden State Warriors will likely be waiting for them.

Home/Clippers News