A few Blake Griffin interviews (Dime, Slam & ESPN)

[mkwest]

Dime: Looking forward to next year, what kind of goals do you think the Clippers should set for the future?
BG: Definitely the playoffs. That should be the goal for us every year and like I said we laid the foundation this year and we got to keep taking that next step forward and making sure that we’re headed in the right direction.

Dime: What’s missing that will help you guys in that playoff push next year?
BG: Majority of our guys will be back next year so trying to get in and get the experience is huge. But also they had a brand new coaching staff last year, so going into this season kind of knowing what to expect, knowing the players, knowing the coaching staff and all that will help get us on the right foot to start off the season.

Dime: The end of the season is approaching what are you planning to do in the off season? Going back to Oklahoma?
BG: I’ll be in L.A. for the most part, working out. I’ll shoot back to Oklahoma every now and then. I don’t have any vacations planned yet just really looking forward to getting in the gym working and knowing exactly what I need to work on.

Dime: Heading into the draft with an early second round pick what kind of player do you think would fit in well with the Clippers? Anyone really excite you?
BG: I think we just need a utility guy that can do a lot of different things and play defense. Someone that can come in, know his role and do his job.

Arie Stark, Dime Magazine

[DangerCurtis]

Hopefully the NBA lockout won't have too much of an impact on the season next year and gotta see the Clips in the playoffs or else it'll be a bust.

Nonetheless, it was definitely a year of laying a foundation and saw a bit of improvement from last year. Just got to build off of it.

[mkwest]

Hopefully the NBA lockout won't have too much of an impact on the season next year and gotta see the Clips in the playoffs or else it'll be a bust.

Nonetheless, it was definitely a year of laying a foundation and saw a bit of improvement from last year. Just got to build off of it.

This year, you can blame it on the youth, new coach/direction and even injuries. Next season, none of those need to be excuses. We showed that we can beat the top teams in the league with or without some of our best players. The youngsters logged quite a bit of game time, but will be expected to be more consistent. As far as injuries go, some can be unexpected, but those are of a freak nature. Other little nagging injuries seem to bother players that are injury/accident prone or poorly conditioned. If we do move Kaman for someone with a better track record when it comes to health, then we're going to be better off over the course of a season.

I don't know what the scheduling is going to be like next season, but the team is going to have to overcome whatever schedule they receive. There can't be any 1-13 starts or stretches of 2-12 and expectations of meeting the playoffs.

[mkwest]

Q+A With Blake Griffin

SLAM: Once you’re out of the Playoff picture, what do you use to motivate you on a nightly basis?

BG: Right. It’s just finishing up the season strong for me, and making sure that I’m getting better every game. Missing my whole first year—obviously—I’ve got a lot to catch up on. So this experience is good for me and I’m trying to use it for the best.

SLAM: What are your summer plans?

BG: Man, I’m just gonna be working out. That’s about it.

SLAM: Where you gonna be working out at?

BG: L.A. for the most part.

SLAM: What do you think you need to do to get better?

BG: I’m gonna be working on my shot. Working on extending my range. Keep working on everything, and really studying the game.

SLAM: You know what you need to do to get better. What does the team need to do?

BG: Just come together a little bit more. We need to be able to pull out games in the fourth quarter, you know, that’s when a lot of teams win their games. You look at the Dallas Mavericks, they’re probably the best fourth quarter team in the League. All these teams that finish out games, they’re all veterans teams and they do a good job at it.

Tzvi Twersky, Slam Magazine

[mkwest]

One-On-One ... To Five

Q: What's your relationship like with [Clippers owner] Donald Sterling?

A: I don't know him real well. I've obviously met him and talked to him on several occasions. I've heard this and heard that, but for the most part, as long as we keep moving forward as a franchise and he's making moves that are good, then I don't really have a problem with anything that's going on. A: I don't know him real well. I've obviously met him and talked to him on several occasions. I've heard this and heard that, but for the most part, as long as we keep moving forward as a franchise and he's making moves that are good, then I don't really have a problem with anything that's going on.

I think [the Clippers' image is] getting better, to be honest. Definitely since last year. I think the excitement that our team has brought this year has helped. But at the same time, I think everybody knows that the Lakers are the team in that town. Obviously they've won it all the past two years, so they've earned the right. I think [the Clippers' image is] getting better, to be honest. Definitely since last year. I think the excitement that our team has brought this year has helped. But at the same time, I think everybody knows that the Lakers are the team in that town. Obviously they've won it all the past two years, so they've earned the right.

Everybody always asks me what it's like to play in the same town with the Lakers. It's not about competing with the Lakers for us. It's about competing with the other 28 teams. I don't have a problem with it. Everybody always asks me what it's like to play in the same town with the Lakers. It's not about competing with the Lakers for us. It's about competing with the other 28 teams. I don't have a problem with it.

Marc Stein, ESPN