LOS ANGELES – The LA Clippers have dealt with a number of injuries this year, none bigger than the one to Blake Griffin suffered at the end of November. Immediately after the injury, there was concern that Griffin would miss an extended period of time with the knee injury, but there came a sense of relief once the MRI results confirmed no tears or structural damage to Griffin's left knee.
Originally slated to miss close to two months recovering from the injury, Griffin could now return on Friday when the Clippers take on the rival Los Angeles Lakers, just four weeks after originally suffering the injury. Ironically, Griffin suffered the injury against the Lakers on November 27th and has a legitimate shot to return December 29th against them.
“I don't know yet,” said Griffin about a return Friday. “Just taking each day one day at at time. I haven't really put a lot of thought into anything other than just attacking the rehab and every challenge that they give me every single day. It's all kind of subjective on how things go.”
The decision won't be Griffin's alone however. Doc Rivers and the coaching staff as well as head athletic trainer Jasen Powell and the training staff will all come together to decide on whether Griffin is ready for a return or to hold him out for another game.
“I think everybody [will decide],” added Griffin. “That's why we have team doctors, thats why we have the training staff that we do. they've done a great job so far putting together an awesome rehab plan and pushing me and getting to this point so it'll continue to be a team thing.
“This has probably been the toughest road for me. I was joking with them (the trainers) like, ‘I hope nobody get hurt ever again,' because their whole simulated game and conditioning stuff that I've been doing over the past 2 and a half weeks has been crazy. I feel like my wind is as it's good as it's been.”
Griffin has worked out the past couple of days in the team's practice facility, including one workout with their G League affiliate Agua Cliente Clippers. Doc Rivers issued a similar statement about Griffin's status, saying that some more work will give the team a better idea.
“We don't know yet. He looked good yesterday, just rusty. Conditioning wise, he's a bit behind. Everything else, he's really good. We'll go through the day & then decide tomorrow. We don't know yet. If he practices today and he doesn't feel great then we won't play him.”
The Clippers have gone 6-8 over the 14 games that Griffin has missed, including wins over the Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards, and Houston Rockets. 13 of the next 19 games will be home games for the Clippers, and that includes road matchups against the Lakers, Warriors, and Kings. Griffin's return a month before he was expected to and before a huge stretch could end up being the difference maker in their season.
“They're all important now,” said Doc Rivers about the upcoming stretch. “We don't have a chance to look and choose anyways. We've had so many injuries and the fact that we didn't bury ourselves says a lot. And now, we got guys coming back, but then you lose your rhythm. You're worried about all that. It's a hard season for us. It doesn't really matter if its home or not.”
Rivers added that while he hasn't received word of it, he is expecting the training staff to put a minutes restriction on Griffin as he works his way back into game shape.
“I haven't heard yet that to be honest,” relayed Rivers. “We haven't gone down that road yet. The first time I asked, they said no, but I have a feeling somewhere, they'll say yes tomorrow.”
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