Detroit Pistons head coach Dwane Casey knows how important Blake Griffin was to the LA Clippers, so he is thankful that the All-Star forward is now in Motor City.
The Clippers lost to the Pistons 109-104 at home, thanks to Blake Griffin who undoubtedly came out with the hunger and motivation to win.
Griffin, who played the Clippers at Staples Center for the first time since being traded to the Pistons, finished with 44 points, eight rebounds and five assists to pace the Pistons to victory.
The highly athletic big man got loud cheers from fans during pregame introductions. Griffin also received a standing ovation following a first-quarter video tribute from the Clippers, the team that drafted him in 2009.
Although Griffin thanked the crowd for their appreciation, nobody thought he'd come out firing right from the get-go. He had 15 points in the first quarter and 26 after the first 24 minutes of the game. Griffin made it known that this was going to be his night, and his former team offered little resistance.
After the game, Pistons coach Dwayne Casey said he is happy to see Clippers fans showing love and appreciation for Griffin. He even acknowledged how important the All-Star forward was to the franchise
Pistons coach Dwane Casey on Blake Griffin: “He was here [w/ the Clippers] when it wasn’t glamorous… They won 50 games how many years?… We’re glad we have him. He’s the foundation of our program… He showed tonight he’s playing at an All-Pro, not All-Star, All-Pro level.” pic.twitter.com/RXvh1GFKvD
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) January 12, 2019
Griffin was part of the Clippers' “Lob City” era together with Chris Paul, who's now with the Houston Rockets and DeAndre Jordan, now with the Dallas Mavericks. They led the team to the playoffs multiple times but wasn't able to get past the second round.
It's safe to say that Griffin is trying to do his best to bring the same glory and success to the Pistons.
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