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In the first installment of 3-on-3, three ClipperBlog contributors discuss Blake Griffin’s 2010-2011 season, his potential and his greatest need for improvement.  More...

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images North America)

While there was much to dissect, discuss and debate with ESPN.com’s #NBArank project, the most controversial ranking clocked in at No. 7 – Kobe Bryant.

Ask any generic NBA fan, and they will likely tell you that Kobe is the second best, if not the best, player in the league. Ask most bloggers, writers and analysts where Bryant ranks, and you get more of a divide. The consensus, however, appears to be borderline top-5.  More...

Found Objects – 10.25.2011

• Unfortunately, it appears the NBA will be canceling another two weeks of games, leaving the earliest start date to the season at November 29th.

• The Oklahoma exhibition on Sunday came down to the wire, as Kevin Durant and LeBron James’ squad edged out Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony’s team 176-171 in overtime. Daily Thunder’s Royce examines the top-10 takeaways.

• Ian Levy of The Two Man Game and Hickory High takes a look at creating shots in the clutch, and finds that Eric Gordon is a lot more clutch than most people think.

• What were the best things to happen to the NBA in 2011? Check out yesterday’s 5-on-5. (The end of the lockout will trump all, if it happens.)

• Kevin Arnovitz speaks with Warriors’ COO Rick Welts on his role with the Golden State Warriors and his role in men’s team sports moving forward.

• Who’s to blame during this lockout? According to the Miami Herald’s Dan Le Betard, it’s the selfish owners vs. the selfish owners.

• Check out the latest BS Report from yesterday, in which Bill sits down Billy Hunter and talks about the biggest obstacles in the lockout.

Twitter: @JovanBuha

Found Objects – 10.20.2011

• Blake Griffin was forced to pull out of an Oklahoma City exhibition game because of a cut on his right foot. The game is co-headlined by Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Chris Paul.

• Because of his injury, Griffin’s participation in a late October/early November exhibition tour featuring most of the NBA’s top stars (Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, Carmelo Anthony and many others) seems to be in serious doubt. The tour will be making stops in Puerto Rico, London, Macau, and Australia.

• Who are the NBA’s most overpaid and underpaid players compared to their #NBArank? ESPN’s Larry Coon examines what players should be making compared to their current salaries (Blake and EJ ranked seventh and ninth, respectively).

• With the lockout strong and steady, what is Vinny Del Negro to do? The L.A. Times’ Helene Elliot says all Vinny can do is wait:

Every few years they seem to be on the brink of something good but get derailed by injuries, fleeing free agents or ineptitude. This season seemed different — they’ve never had a player debut as monstrously as Griffin did — but their attempt to reach those ever-elusive better days has been delayed while league executives and the players’ union argue over luxury taxes and percentages of revenue.

Rarely has a Clippers coach had as much reason to look forward to a season as Vinny Del Negro has now. But there are no practices for him to run, no new game film to analyze. His internal clock says he should be conducting chalk talks for players. The league’s lockout rules say he and other coaches can’t talk to — or about — any of those players.

• You think jumping over a Kia was impressive? Then check out Blake Griffin’s latest stunt dunk.

• Eric Gordon doesn’t see the players giving into the owners any time soon, according to the AP.

• Chris Kaman’s brother was recently visited the ER after injuring his shoulder in a pick-up game. Kaman tweeted out a picture, but never updated us on the situation (look at Kaman in deep thought).

Twitter: @JovanBuha

Blake Griffin, as ranked by ESPN’s expert NBA panel, is the 10th best player in the NBA. Or, to be more detailed, the panel ranked every NBA player from 1-10 and Blake happened to shake out with the 10th best score.

Needless to say, this high rating was not agreed upon by all. There are Blake doubters out there, gang (at least to the point that they don’t buy him as one of the 10 best players in the NBA). You can guess the arguments — poor defense, limited offense, the fact that he’s on the Clippers and they weren’t a particularly good team last season.  More...