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It's the unfortunate truth that frankly no one wants to admit. The L.A. Clippers would love to have a healthy lineup, but playing without Blake Griffin is familiar territory for the team.
In their first game since finding out the power forward would undergo the minor surgery, the Clippers went out and manhandled the Denver Nuggets 119-102 behind stellar performances from the Chris Paul (16 points, 15 assists, and eight rebounds), J.J. Redick (27 points, 7-9 3PT), and DeAndre Jordan (13 points, 13 rebounds).
Without Griffin in a highly-competitive Western Conference, there's no time to think about the injury and ‘what ifs'. The mentality for the team has to be ‘next man up,' something their leaders have already discussed within the team.
“We talk about it as the ‘next man up' mentality,” says Paul after the C I know there have been games that I have missed and that is why we have the depth that we have. Other guys can step right in. Paul pierce hadn't played a lot of minutes this year and stepped right in. Brandon Bass was ready, Alan Anderson was ready, and that is why our team is structured the way it is, because you just never know what is going to happen.”
“We are not the same team without Blake, but we have to make due with him being out. I think other guys have to step up in their roles. Me and DJ talked about it before the game. It is probably going to have to be me and him in the pick and roll situations. He does a great job rolling and opening the court up.”
Last season, the Clippers played 45 consecutive games without the services of Griffin due to the quad tear and the hand injury he sustained in December 2015 and January 2016. After recording a 30-15 record from December 25th until Griffin's eventual return on April 3rd, it's safe to say the Clippers know what to do in his absence.
“Having gone through three months last year without Blake [Griffin], it seemed like there as some familiarity with out lineup in terms of spacing, and our switches on defense,” said guard Redick on playing without Griffin.
“I said this last year, Blake uses a lot of possessions and someone else has to use thoe possessions and it's not like you can play out of yourself. You can't replicate what Blake does. You have to be great at what you do, and for everybody that has to be the mindset.”
Considering the incredible offseason additions of Marreese Speights and Raymond Felton to a team that badly needed help to it's bench, this Clippers team is the most ready to play through injuries to key players.
The Clippers are already off to a great start, defeating both the Denver Nuggets and San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday and Thursday. L.A. has the Mavericks and Lakers on Friday and Sunday night, respectively.
