Blake Griffin impresses in workout for Clippers
By Lisa Dillman, LA Times
These events were neatly paired to take advantage of the presence of the national media here for the NBA Finals, to show off the Clippers' swank practice facility and to show off the national college player of the year from Oklahoma in front of 100-plus on- lookers, consisting of media, season-ticket holders and sponsors.
Usually, pre-draft workouts involving individual players are shrouded in mystery. Transparency had its benefits: Griffin displayed a quick first step, impressive athleticism, nifty ballhandling skills for a big man and an engaging, low-key sense of humor after his 63-minute session.
Of course, there's the other side of transparency: Griffin's misfiring jump shot. It was a byproduct, perhaps, of nerves but sure to be over-analyzed in this era of instant analysis.
The interesting thing about Griffin was that his displeasure with his shot happened to be among the first words he uttered once the cameras and tape recorders moved in to surround him.
"It felt all right. I wish I could have shot a little better," he said. "I was a little tight out there. But overall it felt good. . . . I'd really like to just come in and fill a gap that they don't have. They have a great cast of veterans and a great group of young guys. I think we can definitely turn it around and start winning."
Blake Griffin’s workout…
By Lang Whittaker, SlamOnline
* We went out to Mike’s rental car, spent about 10 minutes figuring out how to find the Clippers’ new practice facility, then set out. It wasn’t far away, and when we rounded the corner and saw the facility, Mike nearly swerved off the road. For years the Clips scrimmaged at a small local college, but this place, which opened a few months back, was huge and gorgeous, with a big LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS on the side of the building and a blinking LED readout on the front that read “The Clippers Welcome Blake Griffin.”
* Then came the shooting drills, and to be honest, it wasn’t pretty. At all. Griffin shot a lot of midrange jumpers, and he didn’t make very many of them. His release point was all over the place, he seemed to fade on most of his shots. At one point he missed 6 of 8 shots from the wings. The only place he really looked comfortable was on the baseline, where he swished a lot of jumpers. But from everywhere else, he was all over the place.
* Blake Griffin came over next. I ended up standing right next to him and was impressed by his size — he’s a legit 6-9 or 6-10. Immediately, Griffin noted that he wished he’d shot better (said he felt “a little tight”). He said he didn’t know there were going to be so many people there, that it was the biggest group of people he’d ever worked out in front of. The ballhandling came naturally — he was a point guard in fifth grade — and he said he planned on working more on his perimeter game the rest of the summer.
Griffin and Clippers still want each other
By Ken Berger, CBS Sports
* Griffin, the consensus college player of the year, showed off his speed, agility, and frightening athleticism in an hour-long workout for the team that already has proclaimed it will select him with the No. 1 pick in this month's draft. He also displayed a shaky mid-range jumper, balky stroke from the free-throw line, and maybe a little bit of nerves. Once he got past the initial jitters, Griffin said it was an environment he could handle.
"I'm not used to guys bringing me towels in between drills," Griffin said. "That was kind of nice."
Mike Dunleavy, the Clippers' coach and GM who's decided to stake his reputation on Griffin, raved about his character, athleticism, and ball-handling. Griffin's jumper? Eh.
"There's some things with his shot that he has to work on, and he will," Dunleavy said. "But he shoots the ball well enough from mid-range that you have to guard him."
* Either way, even Dunleavy admitted that someone will have to go once Griffin arrives. "The math isn't great," he said, noting that he already has Marcus Camby, Chris Kaman, and Zach Randolph at the power positions before Griffin puts on a jersey. "Obviously," Dunleavy said, "we're going to explore other options."
Clippers take first official look at Griffin
By Solange Reyner, AP
* Blake Griffin showed off the high-flying dunks that helped him become college player of the year in a very public pre-draft workout Saturday for the Los Angeles Clippers. But that wasn’t what most impressed coach Mike Dunleavy. Griffin’s handling three basketballs as part of a dribbling drill, his final trick before finishing the hour-long session, was what got the attention of his possible future boss.
“The last part was something you probably don’t see too often from a 6-10 guy, doing two ball and three ball ballhandling drills. I thought we’d save that part for last,” Dunleavy said.
Well, it was Griffin’s idea. “I don’t think he believed me at first, but I hope he does now,” said Griffin.
* And his character. Dunleavy said he got a chance to connect with Griffin while out to dinner at Mastros, a top notch steakhouse, in Beverly Hills. Griffin ate salmon—he stays away from red meat—and asked Dunleavy questions about how he would fit in best with the organization.
“I asked him how he could use me or how he wanted to use me and he said later on down the road we’ll figure out where I’m most comfortable,” said Griffin. Dunleavy sees the power forward’s potential as flexible and sees him being able to fit in anywhere on the front line.
Glimpse of Clippers' Future
By Howard Beck, NY Times
* It takes some boldness and creativity to siphon attention from the Los Angeles Lakers during the finals. The city’s other N.B.A. franchise showed a little of both Saturday afternoon. The Clippers held a workout for Blake Griffin, the presumptive No. 1 pick in the draft, and invited members of the news media to watch. About 45 reporters, as well as 30 season-ticket holders and corporate sponsors, attended the workout at the team’s training center.
* For his grand finale, Griffin showed off uncanny ball-handling skills, dribbling two and then three balls simultaneously — “something you probably don’t see too often from a 6-10 guy,” Dunleavy said. Griffin spoke hopefully about leading a Clippers renaissance. That would be his most impressive trick of all.
