Looks like that frontcourt depth is going to come in handy from outset.
After being named the likely starter in the Clippers’ opener prior to Friday night’s preseason game against New Orleans, Blake Griffin is questionable for Tuesday after injuring his knee on this play:
Marcus Camby is nursing an ankle sprain, though the prognosis on his injury has improved since Friday. If neither Camby nor Griffin were able to start Tuesday night, the candidate pool at the 4 would be reduced to Craig Smith and DeAndre Jordan. Alternatively, Mike Dunleavy could elect to slide Al Thornton over to power forward and play Rasual Butler at small forward.
Griffin’s knee will go under examination today.
UPDATE: From Lisa Dillman of the Los Angeles Times:
Clippers’ rookie Blake Griffin remains questionable for Tuesday’s opener against the Lakers, seeking a second opinion on his sore left knee. He aggravated the knee in Friday’s exhibition season finale, against the Hornets.
Thus, grim was the prevailing mood at the Clippers’ training facility in Playa Vista on Monday with body language matching the injury updates. Griffin left for treatment before talking to the media.
“The first one said, ‘we know it’s a bone bruise,’ ” said Clippers Coach Mike Dunleavy, of the doctor. “There’s some swelling. It just depends on the swelling going down, the comfort level, as far as him being able to play or not.”
So, why the second opinion?
“Because all players have a right to have a second opinion,” Dunleavy said. “You can have a second opinion any time you want.”
The power forward reinjured the knee late in the third quarter after an explosive dunk in the New Orleans game.
“I think it’s better. But I don’t know if it’s good enough to play,” Dunleavy said.
Officially, Griffin and point guard Baron Davis (foot) are being called game-day decisions. Davis did not practice, either, on Sunday or Monday. Marcus Camby (sprained ankle) has been able to practice the last few days and is expected to get some minutes against the Lakers.
27 Responses
Give the start to Smith. He’s earned it.
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Posted on October 26th, 2009 at 11:13 am
Deandre also deserves it, he has played hard
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Posted on October 26th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Lakers are gonna start Bynum C, Odom PF, Artest SF, Kobe SG, and Fisher PG. Clips go with Kamen C, Butler SF (guard Odom?), Thorton PF (guard Artest), Baron and Gordon. If Butler can’t guard Odom the it has to be Thorton playing Odom and bring in Craig Smith to keep Artest off the boards. Gotta watch the three from Artest though. I think that Smith is just too short to guard Odom.
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andrew Reply:
October 26th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
yeah, watch him miss. Everytime I see artest plays he sucks at 3’s horribly.
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Posted on October 26th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Coolest way I’ve ever seen someone hurt a knee.
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Posted on October 26th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
I hope this injury give Blake pause and he finds away to be powerful but less reckless going to the basket. He is a serious injury waiting to happen if he does not tone it down a little. This is his third injury already and the season hasn’t even started yet.
Last thing the Clippers need is a repeat of Danny Manning…….
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FireDunleavy .com Reply:
October 26th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
You want him to lose a killer instinct? The moment you pause and think about injury is when you lose your competative edge. He’s pretty solid, not like Livingston. If I’m gonna pay for a ticket, I’m gonna want to see those dunks.
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Stian Reply:
October 26th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
I could care less what you think you’re entitled to for your ticket price. I want Griffin to be around for a long time and as injury free as possible.
He needs to chill the fuck out on some of this stuff; you can still dunk with authority without turning it into something out of Cirque de Soleil every time!
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Posted on October 26th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
I’m surprised no one is worried. This is how it starts.
Come Blake, suit up. F the curse.
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Ian Reply:
October 26th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
uh, i’m worried…
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Posted on October 26th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Its true.. it does seem Blake needs to back off a bit.. hes aggressive but has his 3rd injury BEFORE THE SEASON STARTS when he was basically injury free in college…
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andrew Reply:
October 26th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
no, he had a concussion in college I forgot how he got it though.
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neiljphx Reply:
October 26th, 2009 at 11:35 pm
i dont remember who, but he got thrown to the wood.
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Newtybar Reply:
October 26th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
He’s also had a couple knee injuries. One requiring surgery.
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Posted on October 26th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
C’mon say it ain’t so BG and BD out? Jeez…. they’re just trying to change the Lakers plan the game right?
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Posted on October 26th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Blake went in for an MRI. Well. Fun while it lasted.
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Posted on October 26th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
I’ll be soooo fuckin pissed if BG is out with a serious injury!!! When I saw him wincing after dunking the ball, I couldn’t believe MDsr left him in the game!!! It was a fucking preseason game and he was aggravating an injury. What does it take to hire a new training staff? And not some scrubs from Cal Poly. They’re waiting for the whole team to blow out knees
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Posted on October 26th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
when is the Clippers medical staff going to get shitted on for being probably the worst in the league?
i wouldnt be surprised if they were not able to do anything with blake and hed be gone for a long ass time
they are worthless
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pez Reply:
October 26th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
it does seem that way…i wonder how many games you have to lose to injury before you can call it more than just bad luck.
Phoenix’s training staff is the only one I know that gets any special consideration for being good or bad.
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The Clippers are being very careful with Blake…we don’t need to start talking about curses yet…i do hope this bone bruise is nothing
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Newtybar Reply:
October 26th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
I brought this up to Ralph Lawler and basically got owned (Amare out for 29 games, always injured, etc.).
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Posted on October 26th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
It should be the other way around. You are basically saying that it’s the staffs fault we have SOFT and/or INJURY prone players. A good mechanic can only do so much. At some point you gotta realize that car you keep bringing isn’t very durable.
Let’s face it, Blake is injury prone. Primarily because he plays reckless and throws his body around.
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Posted on October 26th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
Griffin insisted on getting a second opinion. Even he knows how bad the Clippers medical staff is. The only curse we have is being cursed with a tight wad owner who won’t spend to get the best treatment for his horses.
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Posted on October 26th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Show Blake the tape of Livingstons knee disintagrating on a layup and tell him to cowboy up. We bought tickets to see Blake not Craig Smith.
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Posted on October 26th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
I don’t think it’s a good sign that he wanted a second opinion…
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BG is a beast Reply:
October 26th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Anyone think he got a second opinion to make a case to let him play? Just thinking.
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Posted on October 26th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Griffin has a stress fracture. ANnounced by the team.
OUt for 6 weeks.
UNREAL
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Posted on October 26th, 2009 at 10:19 pm
NOOOOOOO!
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Posted on October 26th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
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