Entire team getting ready for training camp

[mkwest]

Clipper training center filled with just about Every player each day. (all but EJ) Working hard to be ready for the opening of camp.

Ralph Lawler via Twitter

Just left Clippers practice facilty. Entire team was scrimmaging/working out except Gordon and Aminu. Will post more observations later, but if Blake Griffin is not 100%, then I don't know what 100% is!!

some good matchup battles between BD and Bledsoe.. BD is much slimmer than he was this time last year..

Michael Eaves via Facebook

Aminu had to tend to a family matter, but was entering the training facility just as Michael Eaves was leaving. Later tonight, Eaves will be posting a 1-on-1 interview that he had with Blake.

[PlinkingPanda]

I just got free cable TV and internet from my workplace so I'll be able to catch most of the games unless I work lots of overtime. :3

Really looking forward to this upcoming season cause I miss Clippers basketball.

[DunknDave]

Good to hear the guys are getting together, this bodes well for team chemistry. Good battles between BD and Bledsoe.....that's surprising since I thought it would take awhile for Bledsoe to become a contributor. Here's to hoping Baron takes the young guy under his wing and shows some leadership. Really looking forward to a deeper and much improved backcourt this season. Just a few more weeks to trainging camp and some daily news. Thanks for this info.

[mkwest]

I just got free cable TV and internet from my workplace so I'll be able to catch most of the games unless I work lots of overtime. :3

Really looking forward to this upcoming season cause I miss Clippers basketball.

Will you have to watch it there, or will you be able to watch it at home?

Good to hear the guys are getting together, this bodes well for team chemistry. Good battles between BD and Bledsoe.....that's surprising since I thought it would take awhile for Bledsoe to become a contributor. Here's to hoping Baron takes the young guy under his wing and shows some leadership. Really looking forward to a deeper and much improved backcourt this season. Just a few more weeks to trainging camp and some daily news. Thanks for this info.

Having Bledsoe and BD go at it is a great thing imo. They can push each other ways that will make them more prepared for the opposition. They're both quick, strong and physical guards. Bledsoe is nice on the defensive, so it forces Baron to put in work and outplay the rook.

We have 5 rookies coming in this season, but the good thing is that we don't need them all to come in and produce right away. If they do, then it is great, but we have enough vets that are good enough to contribute. The young players will be able to focus on improving and learning the game with less pressure.

[thanumba2clippersfan]

I've been missing Clipper basketball and I can't wait for the season to start. It's good to hear that the players are at the training facility and I hope this season goes better than the last.

[PlinkingPanda]

Will you have to watch it there, or will you be able to watch it at home?

At home. I work for Charter Communications so one of the employee benefits is service discounts. Premium channels and internet for $0.

[mkwest]

At home. I work for Charter Communications so one of the employee benefits is service discounts. Premium channels and internet for $0.

That's Nice! I had to pay my cable bill today and it wasn't fun.

[mkwest]

Blake Griffin Interview

[PlinkingPanda]

Blake Griffin Interview

Yay more questions about his knee that have been answered about a hundred times..

[DunknDave]

I'm actually okay with the questions about Blakes's knee, he even said himself that it will go in steps. 1st the summer league practices, these scrimmages now, training camp, and finally the early regular season. Once Blake comes through these steps, then, and only then, will he have complete confidence in his knee. Just hoping as he goes through each step without any setbacks and that we'll see the "old" Blake Griffin. He knows that he's a key component of any success this team will have, so let's get this "knee thing" behind him.

[mkwest]

Blake Griffin Interview

Yay more questions about his knee that have been answered about a hundred times..

Actually, Michael Eaves posted the wrong link. I thought it was weird that the interview was from a month ago and conducted by a female. The correct link will be posted as soon as it is available.

Update:

Part 1: Health & Rehab

Part 2: New Teammates & Expectations

[mkwest]

Credit of the link goes BestClipFan of Clipsnation.

The Big "Warrior" Returns

Among Katich’s NBA clients are Dallas Mavericks All-Star forward Dirk Nowitzki, Minnesota Timberwolves center Kevin Love, and former Indiana Pacers legend Reggie Miller. “Baron Davis, who’s been in Africa and China the past two months, just texted me at six this morning and said, ‘Let’s get it going again. I really need you,’ ” Katich says. His Los Angeles studio—aptly named The Yoga Court—boasts 18-foot ceilings, more than enough room for seven-footers with pterodactyl-like wingspans to get into such positions as half-moons, reverse triangles, and downward-facing dogs. He uses basketballs in place of yoga blocks and blares Tupac and Jay-Z during hourlong sessions instead of the typical chants. But it’s his use of hoops-centric poses that’s made him popular among players. Extending one’s arms toward the ceiling while in chair pose elongates the rebounding muscles. Downward-facing dog, or “down dog” as Katich calls it, strengthens the shoulders and extends the range of motion for shooting. “They’re able to go, ‘Oh, warrior two does look like a defensive position,’ ” Katich says. “It makes sense; it’s applicable.”

For the already-muscular Griffin, yoga has not only aided his rehabilitation, but he’s also more flexible than he’s ever been. It has kept him sane as well. “It’s a great low-impact workout,” he says. “It allows me to have greater range of motion when I’m doing my exercises, which in turn makes me stronger and helps me build more muscle. It speeds up recovery. It has kept everything around my knee—my calves, quads, hamstrings, ankles, all that—more flexible. And it has helped keep my mind off not being able to play, so it has been a stress reliever at the same time.”

Griffin’s doctors finally cleared him to resume all basketball activities at the end of June. By late July, he looked as if he hadn’t missed a step. “He looks phenomenal,” Katich says. “He spends most of the time on the floor diving for loose balls.” In the weight room this past summer, Griffin’s regimen included squats, lunges, calf raises, and weighted sled pulls. “He gets in at an ungodly hour, lifts all morning, gets lunch, and comes back,” Katich says. “It finally got to the point where the coaches had to ask him to go home. He’s obviously eager and hungry because he missed all that time.”

Nate Millado, NBA.com/Men's Fitness

This file is a pdf file, but it's a nice 2 page read.

[mkwest]

Griffin looks 100% recovered

Well, I have news for you after witnessing some pickup games the other day. If Blake Griffin is not 100% recovered from that knee injury right now, then I don't know what 100% looks like.

Not only was he running without a limp or a brace, but the explosion we all witnessed during his two years at Oklahoma and in those handful of preseason games last year seems to be the same as it was before the surgery. I didn't see all of the pickup games, but he had at least four rim-shattering dunks while I was there, including one that started as face-up post on DeAndre Jordan and ended with a face-at-rim-level, one-handed punch. DeAndre may still be looking for Blake after getting shook with that spin move.

One of the subjects I was most interested in was what Griffin thought of his new head coach. He told me that he actually knew more about Vinny Del Negro as a player rather than a coach--makes sense considering Del Negro played 12 NBA seasons while coaching for only two years in Chicago.

Griffin said that three early impressions of Del Negro stand out to him before training camp has even started. 1) He puts a high priority on player development. 2) He wants the team to get out and run. 3) He doesn't "over coach" (in other words, Del Negro may be the complete opposite of Mike Dunleavy).

Michael Eaves, Fox SportsWest

Links to the one-on-one interview between Michael Eaves and Blake Griffin


Part 1: The Countdown to Blake Griffin Begins

Part 2: Griffin on the New Clips Crew

[JJ LoDuca]

I've been around the Clips new training center a lot for the past few weeks, and players are constantly in and out. Most guys come multiple times a day. I've seen a lot of DJ, Bledsoe, and Cook, specifically. We know EJ's in great shape from FIBA. Let's hope this team is conditioned like they've never been before and we avoid some freakin' injuries for once this season!

[mkwest]

I've been around the Clips new training center a lot for the past few weeks, and players are constantly in and out. Most guys come multiple times a day. I've seen a lot of DJ, Bledsoe, and Cook, specifically. We know EJ's in great shape from FIBA. Let's hope this team is conditioned like they've never been before and we avoid some freakin' injuries for once this season!

Always good to hear more confirmation. By any chance, does this have anything to do with this?

[JJ LoDuca]

Indeed--I'm hesitant to go into details since I don't technically have a position there yet--but I've been working on securing myself a place there, so we'll see if it all works out! I will say though, the most interesting thing about being at the practice facility is checking out the player's cars. From blacked out, tricked out Escalades & Camaros to your grandma's old Pontiac...it's cool to see who's driving what!

[mkwest]

I hope it all works out well for you. It's a good opportunity and will hopefully help open the right doors for you.

Are you able catch a glimpse of the practices or is it more seeing the players in passing?

[mkwest]

The S.S. Kaman has set sail for a 3 hour tour.

The team headed to Catalina on CK's boat. #wildhogs lol @blakegriffin @Csmeezy5 @EBled24 @RasualButler45 @Baron_Davis. Auhhh

DeAndre Jordan via Twitter

Coming from Catalina island had lunch with my teammates there! We saw Dolphin families on the way there and whales on the way back! Wow!

Rasual Butler via Twitter