Blake is 100% pain free, not likely to play in Summer League

Post #1 » by **mkwest** » Mon May 10, 2010 9:47 pm

Spoke to Taylor Griffin before the game and he said Blake is looking good and could play summer league if asked

Jonathan Abrams via Twitter

It would be great to see him back on the court, but I do have mixed feelings on him player this summer. It would be nice for him to see some court action, but they are meaningless games for him and not really worth the risk imo. I do think that he should probably work out with the team though.

Sofia · Post #2 » by **Sofia** » Tue May 11, 2010 3:22 am

Yeah he should definitely work out with the very small team that we currently have.

As for the games, I don't have a problem with him playing a few minutes to be honest. If he can't play spot minutes for a bit of a run in the summer, it could be a long next 3 seasons...

cavsfan_osiris · Post #3 » by **cavsfan_osiris** » Tue May 11, 2010 5:20 am

I wouldn't want him running in the summer league at all. He's not going to gain anything from that.

DangerCurtis · Post #4 » by **DangerCurtis** » Tue May 11, 2010 7:15 am

cavsfan_osiris wrote:I wouldn't want him running in the summer league at all. He's not going to gain anything from that.

I have to disagree. He hasn't played in about a year, and the summer league - along with the preseason - will get him in shape and adjusted to the flow of the NBA. Of course, if he isn't fully healed from the injury by that time, then it's definitely not worth the risk.

Post #5 » by **mkwest** » Tue May 11, 2010 9:24 am

DangerCurtis wrote:I have to disagree. He hasn't played in about a year, and the summer league - along with the preseason - will get him in shape and adjusted to the flow of the NBA. Of course, if he isn't fully healed from the injury by that time, then it's definitely not worth the risk.

That's the thing. How healthy is he? Summer League gives him some burn, but it's not really that important. The competition is not really at NBA level. If he is 100% and ready to go, then I wouldn't have as much of a problem with him playing some minutes (although I'd be very concerned), but if he's not then I'm totally against it.

Post #6 » by **thanumba2clippersfan** » Tue May 11, 2010 4:01 pm

He should just work out with the team in Vegas and stay out of the games.

madmaxmedia · Post #7 » by **madmaxmedia** » Tue May 11, 2010 8:34 pm

It sounds like he is healthy, IF so he should play some games. He needs some actual game time to get the rust out, better to get an early start in Summer League.

We're expecting him to be our power forward, if he can't play a few games of summer league ball without getting seriously hurt then we got bigger problems.

ejftw · Post #8 » by **ejftw** » Wed May 12, 2010 6:37 pm

I would like Blake to play in the summer league only if he is fully healthy because him, Gordon and DeAndre really need to develop some on court chemistry, not to mention whoever our#8 pick is.

Em1 · Post #9 » by **Em1** » Thu May 13, 2010 3:27 pm

Hell no. Blake sit yo ass down.

pageC4 · Post #10 » by **pageC4** » Fri May 14, 2010 2:53 pm

Blake does need to play in the summer league. He would benefit greatly from the minutes and shake off some off some of the rust. I don't think we should prevent him from playing for fear of injuring his knee. If indeed he is an injury prone player then he will get hurt either in the summer league games, preseason, or regular season so it really doesn't matter. However, this is a great opportunity for him to play with some of the guys on our roster and figure out how to play with them.

Tucker74 · Post #11 » by **Tucker74** » Fri May 14, 2010 9:20 pm

pageC4 wrote:Blake does need to play in the summer league. He would benefit greatly from the minutes and shake off some off some of the rust. I don't think we should prevent him from playing for fear of injuring his knee. If indeed he is an injury prone player then he will get hurt either in the summer league games, preseason, or regular season so it really doesn't matter. However, this is a great opportunity for him to play with some of the guys on our roster and figure out how to play with them.

Exactly. If he's healthy, you play him. If not, you don't. We only lose by babying him and if there's still a risk of injury because he's not fully healed then you hold him until he's ready. Even if he had a successful rookie year I'd say he would still benefit from summer league work of some kind.

Post #12 » by **mkwest** » Sat May 15, 2010 3:22 am

Tucker74 wrote:Exactly. If he's healthy, you play him. If not, you don't. We only lose by babying him and if there's still a risk of injury because he's not fully healed then you hold him until he's ready. Even if he had a successful rookie year I'd say he would still benefit from summer league work of some kind.

Most successful rookies don't play in summer league a 2nd time. Some may hang out with the guys and may even practice with them, but they don't usually suit up and play. Although, Blake is in a little different situation since he's a red-shirt rookie. I could see him playing for the fact that I know that he's anxious to get back on the court and wanting to get some actual game time experience. I'd enjoy watching him, but he doesn't really need Summer League.

madmaxmedia · Post #13 » by **madmaxmedia** » Mon May 17, 2010 10:24 pm

Yeah, for Blake the purpose would be totally different. For rookies it is more about slowly getting acclimated to the NBA game, and for coaching staff to start developing a feel for these guys.

For Blake, it's more a way to start shaking off the rust from losing last year.

Post #14 » by **mkwest** » Wed May 19, 2010 2:28 am

Clippers said that all restrictions have been lifted on Blake Griffin and that he has been pain free in his workouts

Doesn't sound as though he will play in Summer League in Vegas. More a case of Been There, Done That.

Lisa Dillman via Twitter

Post #15 » by **mkwest** » Wed May 19, 2010 4:42 am

Griffin working out with no restrictions

Blake Griffin, the Oklahoma star who missed all of his rookie season with a stress fracture in his left kneecap, has been fully cleared for all basketball activities.

"Right now Blake is working out with no restrictions, at full speed, 100 percent to the point where [strength coach] Rich Williams asked me to talk to Blake about dialing it back a little bit," Clippers general manager Neil Olshey said.

"He's working out in May like we were ready to tip off in October. The only guy I feel bad for is the first one of his teammates that shows up and wants to play one-on-one with him."

"I don't know if playing five games in Vegas in July really makes a difference for what we need in October. But if he doesn't play with the team, it'll have nothing to do with health issues."

Olshey said that doctors have indicated Griffin's stress fracture was a "freak thing" that won't be a concern now that it's healed properly, and that his knee is actually feeling better than before because his tendonitis healed because of the extended layoff.

"The interesting thing is we're going to end up with a better rookie than we would've nine months ago just because of all the time he's spent in the gym working on his shooting mechanics," Olshey said. "He's in there every day.

Ramona Shelburne, ESPN Los Angeles

Post #16 » by **loflin3hree5ive** » Wed May 19, 2010 6:38 am

If any big FA targets of the Clippers are still on the market by the beginning of summer league, I could see him making a cameo as a teaser in Vegas. Other than that scenario, he won't and shouldn't play IMO.

Post #17 » by **mkwest** » Wed May 19, 2010 7:21 am

Summer League doesn't officially start until the 9th and it seems like we rarely play on the first couple of days. Players can sign on the 8th, so I would think that the big names are long gone by that point. Now if they want to come to the training facility for a visit during the courting period and Blake and the other guys just happen to be there...then maybe a close look at him there would be a little more convincing. :dontknow:

The worst thing about him missing his rookie season is that he may be seen as an unknown.

Post #18 » by **thanumba2clippersfan** » Wed May 19, 2010 3:41 pm

I was glad to read that Blake is 100% healthy. Like I said before Blake doesn't have to play in summer league, but he can work out with the team.

Post #19 » by **mkwest** » Fri May 21, 2010 6:17 am

thanumba2clippersfan wrote:I was glad to read that Blake is 100% healthy. Like I said before Blake doesn't have to play in summer league, but he can work out with the team.

Ralph said he'll likely be in Vegas with the guys but is doubtful to play.

Here's a quote of his from Facebook...

Ralph Lawler wrote:It was Great seeing him out there looking like a player rather than the flat-footed shooter I saw a month ago. Do not expect him to play in SL but he will be in Vegas to work out w/guys and coaches.

TheNewEra · Post #20 » by **TheNewEra** » Sun May 30, 2010 6:39 pm

He should play one game getted warmed up for preseason