The LA Clippers have been one of the worst franchises in the NBA, from their owner to their idiotic management. Every year it’s the same story; the Clips are in the lottery and talk about how excited they are to get another great young talent. And as the 2010 season ended it was déjà vu all over again. The Clips remained the laughing stock of the NBA.
Since Blake Griffin was out for the season last year many people forgot about him and once again dismissed the Clips. After the NBA draft and during preseason the sports media was all about John Wall. Apparently a few good games in preseason were enough for some to crown him rookie of the year even before the season started.
Then about three weeks into the season on November 20th, 2010 in a game against the Knicks Blake Griffin exploded for 44 pts and 15 boards to go along with several sensational dunks that many will remember for years to come.
Griffin ran a break to perfection and spun to his right past Galinari. BOOM-SHAKALAKA! It was the closest thing to an NBA Jam dunk you could get in real life.
As Blake Griffin came on the scene people everywhere were talking about the Clippers. Suddenly the Clippers became must see TV.
Today, people are tuning in from all over the world to watch him play. One Dutchman even writes "I wake up at 4:30 in the morning when I know the Clippers are playing to watch him play, and I hate waking up early, but seeing him is worth it."
With the All-Star game upon us, there is no doubt he belongs there. No, not in the rookie v. sophomore game: The All-Star game.
Now he might get snubbed because his team is 18-28, but that shouldn’t be the reason he’s not picked. Chris Bosh was picked as a reserve in last year’s All-Star game even though his Raptors had a losing record, and ultimately ended up missing the playoffs.
Griffin is averaging 22.8 pts, 12.7, 3.6 assists and is ranked ninth in FG% among power forwards at 51.8%.
Lebron wasn't an All-Star as a rookie, but it can be argued that his draft class was much better than Blake Griffins’. Carmelo, Bosh, Wade, David West, and Chris Kaman were all his competitors his rookie season.
The only players who come close to Blake's talent from the 2009 class are Tyreke Evans and Stephen Curry. Everyone else from the 2009 lottery on the other hand have yet to become elite players in the league.
The 2004 All-Star game was not held in Cleveland but in LA. This year it’s at the Staples Center again which happens to be the home of Blake Griffin and Kobe Bryant. Having either of those players absent from the game would cause every LA fan to protest the selections.
Could you imagine if Cleveland did get the game in 2004 and James was not on the roster? Riots might have broken out!
Griffin would be the first rookie selected as an All-Star since Yao Ming in 2003.
So if you were lucky enough to get a ticket to this month’s All-Star game who would you rather see a reserve? Griffin, Love, or Randolph? Griffin would win in a landslide.
And that’s the thing about Griffin for me, any game he is in I’d want to watch in a heartbeat.
Let’s imagine for a minute that Griffin was selected…
“Paul runs down court, throws an alley-oop to a cutting Griffin.” BOOM-SHAKALAKA!
The reserve votes were due today at 3pm... and I have a feeling that everyone is keeping their fingers crossed.
-Mario J. Sanchez
