Friday: L.A. Clippers (19-29) at Atlanta (31-18)

[evildallas]

Exciting game. Hope Al is okay with the leg and the back. Josh won the battle of the highlight dunks. Let's see if ESPN covers it that way.

We've got to take advantage of these winnable games prior to the break because March is loaded with top competition.

[HMFFL]

The last thing the Hawks needed to do was disappoint during a sell out.

I hope Al is able to shake things off and play against Washington tomorrow.

[azuresou1]

Hope Al is ok. Another 4th qtr collapse. They got layups, we got jumpers. Loved the playcall at the end by Drew.

Nice win, but I don't think Drew drew up that play. It looked like a high screen, and DeAndre just cheated way too early, and Al made the smart move.

[SAUCERY_SWEET]

Hope Al is ok. Another 4th qtr collapse. They got layups, we got jumpers. Loved the playcall at the end by Drew.

Nice win, but I don't think Drew drew up that play. It looked like a high screen, and DeAndre just cheated way too early, and Al made the smart move.

Al said different, Joe was a decoy.

[SAUCERY_SWEET]

Josh Smith should be able to bully Blake Griffin around. Blake Giffin is very thin, has a very thin waist, and Josh Smith has the much larger frame.

I'm sorry hmffl...I can only express my difference of opinion in smilies.>>>

[evildallas]

2 things - NBATV's detailed highlights showed every Clipper dunk from the first 10 points and another Blake dunk from later in the game, but did not show either the Josh high altitude slam or his reverse slam. Guess Josh is old news even when his highlights (few that there were) were more impressive looking that Blake's. And Jamal deserved a free throw on the made 3 pointer where he got knocked into the bench. Replay showed the contact without any abnormal leg extension from Jamal. Refs had it in their minds that they weren't giving any 4 point plays.

Edit: Josh did get #1 top play on ESPN for the high rise alley oop from Joe, so I stand corrected on him being ignored.

[HMFFL]

Josh Smith should be able to bully Blake Griffin around. Blake Giffin is very thin, has a very thin waist, and Josh Smith has the much larger frame.

I'm sorry hmffl...I can only express my difference of opinion in smilies.>>>

It's all good.

I can only go by what I see with my own eyes and I saw Blake Griffin in his street close before the game even started. He had that preppy look to him and nothing he had on was baggy at all. The guy is thin compared to Josh. His upper frame is built, his arms are strong, but his lower body is thin.

[dms269]

2 things - NBATV's detailed highlights showed every Clipper dunk from the first 10 points and another Blake dunk from later in the game, but did not show either the Josh high altitude slam or his reverse slam. Guess Josh is old news even when his highlights (few that there were) were more impressive looking that Blake's. And Jamal deserved a free throw on the made 3 pointer where he got knocked into the bench. Replay showed the contact without any abnormal leg extension from Jamal. Refs had it in their minds that they weren't giving any 4 point plays.

Edit: Josh did get #1 top play on ESPN for the high rise alley oop from Joe, so I stand corrected on him being ignored.

Josh's dunk got bumped down to #2 on the morning SC. The #2 play from the night before (the girls halfcourt shot) jumped to #1, lol.

I agree with the previous about the good flagrant call, even though the Clipper fans see otherwise. He did originally have his hands straight up when he jumped, but he let his arms slide and made contact with Al, then seemed to follow through with his arms and shoved Al to the floor.

[evildallas]

On the flagrant call, I'm sure Blake is a nice guy and didn't want to hurt Al, but a flagrant call in spite of its name is not always about the mindset of the player. He missed the ball and brought his arms down on the head of an airborne player with enough force to change his direction. He wasn't a wall of defense, he was a wrecking ball. The contact to the head was dangerous and excessive and I would say were the result of poor block technique than an internal malice.

For all the pundits who disagree on air about the flagrant call, I ask them to imagine the roles reversed. Imagine Blake Griffin going for the dunk and Al Horford going through him on the block attempt. Are you making the same argument that it shouldn't be a flagrant foul in that case or are you reacting to poor block technique potentially injuring an All-Star?

[HoopsGuru25]

Anyone who says that it wasn't a flagrant is a homer or one of those token "David Stern has made the entire league soft" type of fans. There's a reason wny there are two different types of flagrant fouls....you can make a play on he ball and still get called for a flagrant one(see Wade vs Mo Evans in the playoffs).

[dms269]

Someone posted on the Clippers board that the flagrant was rescinded before they left the arena.

If that's the case, it is a prime example of the NBA protecting their young poster boy.