Blake out with Torn Quad

[Wammy Giveaway]

Lawler really said these things? I don't think anything more than 2 games is warranted.

He really said that. I was listening to Mason & Ireland on ESPN for more Griffin updates. When he got to Ralph Lawler and his quote, it shook me. I never thought that the most professional, kind and humble sportscaster in NBA history would say something this harsh to one of their own teammates, let alone the very no. 1 draft who single handedly brought the Clippers out of the gutter. After listening to the segment, I visited The Beast 980 and searched for an audio recording where Lawler really voiced his displeasure of Griffin - just to make sure.

I think the sternness tone and choice of words in Lawler's voice led me to believe that a season-long suspension may be possible. Consider this:

1. Griffin injured his hand on January 23.

2. There are two time tables for Griffin's return: 4-6 weeks or 2 months (8 weeks). There has also been a 10-week absence reported.

3. If he were to return at the sixth week mark, he could be back as early as February 28 or until March 5. He could miss between 13 to 15 games from recovery, returning anywhere from game 59 to 62 of the regular season. If he were to return for game 59 (February 29 vs. Nets), he would be suspended for the remaining 23 games of the regular season.

4. It is very possible that a playoff ban may be tacked on to Griffin's season long suspension. If the Clippers were to go deep into the playoffs, he could miss anywhere from 16 games (going 16-0 for a perfect playoff sweep) to 28 games (maximum number of games needed for a champion to be decided). Should he get a playoff ban, and if we were to assume 28 games, Griffin would miss a combined total of 51 games for this season.

[Dynamix]

Damn it, Blake, you just had to hit the equipment guy and break your hand. Now, I am constantly bombarded by:

- win-loss records with and without BG
- trade scenarios that are borderline trolling
- trade scenarios that make some sense, but will never happen
- talk about a season/year-long ban based on some vague statements made by Ralph in a radio interview

Officially, we are now waiting for the league to make a ruling. We'll probably add a nice fine to whatever they decide. Just hope the decision comes soon so we can move past all this non-sense.

[SD2042]

Although Blake has himself to blame for putting himself in this situation, I don't see the Clips just getting involve in any trade scenarios just to get Blake off their roster, it's not like the guy is Ron Artest reincarnated. It's likely the NBA will suspend him for conduct detrimental to the team. I thinking no more than 2 to 5 games tops. So to all Clips fans, just put that ish about the media out of your minds and stop stressin. What's done is done. Just hope that Blake learns from his mistake and he doesn't put himself in situations like this again.

[nickhx2]

i agree. if he was racking up DUI's or getting caught with hard drugs then i think that's when you start really worrying.

[madmaxmedia]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/latbbolch/status/693270069128798209[/tweet]

The NBA will announce the punishments for Blake Griffin.

Why is this a league punishment? Shouldn't this be a team punishment because it's a fight between two members of one team? It's like getting a tech for pushing a teammate makes no sense.

It doesn't matter whether he punched/assaulted a guy on the street or a team employee, it's still breaking some sort of code of conduct I presume. What if he beat up a female employee for example?

If this happened privately in someone's house, and the guy mysteriously shows up for work with a black eye but denies Blake hit him or whatever, then maybe it's not as clear cut because it's harder for the league and team to ascertain what exactly happened, who jumped who, etc. But this happened at a public venue and I don't think there are any doubts as to the basic facts of what happened.

[madmaxmedia]

I could easily see a suspension for the rest of the regular season, with an outside possibility of rest of complete season (including playoffs). Minimum 10 games.

Not just because he punched a guy, but the way the whole thing went down, with Blake going out into the street after the guy.

In no way should this compel the Clippers to seek to trade him though.

[Ranma]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/DanWoikeSports/status/694328770761592833[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/DanWoikeSports/status/694331317220044800[/tweet]

[Wammy Giveaway]

(from Basketball Insiders - NBA Chat With Larry Coon 2-4-2016)

What are your thoughts on the incident? Will the NBA treat this as a player harming a league employee even though Testi is a Clipper employee? If he is suspended for a whole season, would the Clippers be able to get a replacement player (trade or free agency)? Any CBA-related issues in regards to this incident?

The penalties are much harsher when the incident occurs “on court,” which is defined as any area within the arena from the time the player arrives for a game to the time he leaves. They’re also handled differently depending on whether the people involved are players or bystanders (e.g., a fight between two players is an entirely different matter from a fight between a player and a paying customer). Incidents that occur when the player is NOT conducting NBA business are handled differently.

The Clippers wouldn’t be able to get a replacement player (no exception or roster spot would be granted), and wouldn’t get a cap break for things like taxes (if it’s a LEAGUE suspension it’s a different matter).

Penalties imposed by a team may be appealed to the league’s grievance arbitrator if the financial impact on the player is more than $5,000, which this certainly would be. So if the Clips impose a penalty that Griffin deems overly harsh, it stands a good chance of being appealed.

So, unless there were extenuating circumstances (again, I don’t know all the details), I’d expect Griffin to pay a fine, serve a suspension, face league penalties, and if warranted, face legal consequences, but I wouldn’t necessarily expect a DRAMATIC decision.

[madmaxmedia]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/Mitch_Lawrence/status/695670813865992192[/tweet]

[TucsonClip]

Yeah, because the Nuggets called about Blake...

[Ranma]

I agree with TucsonClip. The only reason this report is technically true is because the Clippers answered the phone and listened to Denver's pitch. I'm sure other teams have called as well, so maybe the Clippers are listening more to Denver than others, but in the end, there doesn't look to be a match here. First, Lawrence is a former writer for the New York Post, which has a dubious reputation. With all the quality writers available, I can't believe he's now writing for the Sporting News and Forbes. Second, trading with Denver makes little-to-no sense for the Clippers when we're in win-now mode. Third, I don't think even Doc is stupid enough to trade BG at this point; Vinny Del Negro wouldn't be inclined to move him either.

The Nuggets do have 3 first-round picks in the 2016 NBA Draft currently projected at 7th, 16th, and 24th overall. However, they don't strike me as a team that would be able to give us fair value for Blake Griffin, especially given Doc's ineptitude in handling draft picks.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/VinnyDHoops/status/693209565932961792[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/DanWoikeSports/status/695687184154652672[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/DanWoikeSports/status/695690720745631744[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/DanWoikeSports/status/695691007053070336[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/latbbolch/status/695705128574255105[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/michaeleaves/status/695679593123069952[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/FredKatz/status/695672868508672000[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/LucasJHann/status/695681983536631809[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/ggsant/status/695684681723990016[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/digitalpoet/status/695685381962924032[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/stevekylerNBA/status/695685966275682305[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/garykester/status/695689859395006464[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/FlyByKnite/status/695685670581350401[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/BillSimmons/status/695682308322373632[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/BillSimmons/status/695683527057145857[/tweet]

[TucsonClip]

Its called click bait...

[nickhx2]

denver does have some intriguing assets, were it to happen. but they'd have to overpay pretty big. denver has to cough up gallo + picks + 1 of mudiay/nurkic/jokic. and that's not happening.

[Ranma]

Its called click bait...

[tweet]https://twitter.com/AmicoHoops/status/695696145708937216[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/LucasJHann/status/695708656155959296[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/DanWoikeSports/status/695710397202956288[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/LucasJHann/status/695713261220712450[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/LucasJHann/status/695713551873372161[/tweet]

[TucsonClip]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/JeffNisiusNBA/status/695711323368218624[/tweet]

[nickhx2]

@LucasJHann
Blake Griffin is a superstar talent, and even if you don't view him that way, at least acknowledge the team that he's played 6 yrs with does

this can't be repeated enough. you want blake? cool. so does just about every team. but you are gonna pay what the clippers think he is worth. not what you think he is worth.

end of story.

[Wammy Giveaway]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/latbbolch/status/695738619533881347[/tweet]

[nickhx2]

doc, you slimeball, you gonna make me tear up

[Ranma]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/LucasJHann/status/695733707559301122[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/LucasJHann/status/695733440235356161[/tweet]

[Ranma]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/LBSports/status/693209094170120192[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/Shaqtin_A_Fool/status/695763797030604801[/tweet]