Suns @ Clippers. 3-20-11 (12:45)

[Cheesebeef]

"Although Griffin’s dunk didn’t go in cleanly, Suns coach Alvin Gentry still was amazed.

'That might be as impressive of a dunk as I have seen in the NBA in 23 years,' the former Clippers coach said. “I don’t care if it was a charge. … That might be the best dunk he’s had since he was in the league.'"

agreed alvin.

 

[Mainstreet]

lol.

all this kid's gonna do is get better. the fact that you're not impressed with a guy coming back from a an injury which wiped out an entire year... putting up 22, 13, 3 and 1... on a team with the worst ownership in sports... while giving his all on every play and actually making that team relevant/fun to watch is just weird.

He's a rookie. I wonder if he will hit the wall as a sophomore. Okay, I'm using some sarcasm here.

 

[Mainstreet]

"Although Griffin’s dunk didn’t go in cleanly, Suns coach Alvin Gentry still was amazed.

'That might be as impressive of a dunk as I have seen in the NBA in 23 years,' the former Clippers coach said. “I don’t care if it was a charge. … That might be the best dunk he’s had since he was in the league.'"

agreed alvin.

If it only wasn't a charge... and it would have gone in clean... it would have been great.

woulda, coulda, shoulda.

 

[AfroSuns]

"Although Griffin’s dunk didn’t go in cleanly, Suns coach Alvin Gentry still was amazed.

'That might be as impressive of a dunk as I have seen in the NBA in 23 years,' the former Clippers coach said. “I don’t care if it was a charge. … That might be the best dunk he’s had since he was in the league.'"

agreed alvin.

I agree 100%, i can believe a basketball fan will say it's not a dunk.
He freaking threw it "down" into the hoop. That kinda vertical elevation is just nut.

 

[desertdawg]

I agree 100%, i can believe a basketball fan will say it's not a dunk.
He freaking threw it "down" into the hoop. That kinda vertical elevation is just nut.

Like Bill Walton says... "Throw it down big man!"
I think Blake and Durant are gonna be two of the best, for a while. What's scary is the Clippers will get a decent draft pick and they can draw some good talent just by having Griffin.
Today, fortunately for the Suns, we had Blake's #, and we were all over him as a team effort, that's the only way your gonna stop him. When them Clips get some more pieces around this dunksation, watch out, that's right around the time Kobe will be getting along in age.
Griffin and Durant,

 

[Cheesebeef]

If it only wasn't a charge... and it would have gone in clean... it would have been great.

woulda, coulda, shoulda.

it was great regardless.. just like Dan Majerle's dunk on Manute Bol back in the 1989 playoffs that was inexplicably called an offensive foul as well.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Like Bill Walton says... "Throw it down big man!"
I think Blake and Durant are gonna be two of the best, for a while. What's scary is the Clippers will get a decent draft pick

actually they won't. they gave up their pick unprotected to cleveland in the Mo Williams deal.

 

[Mainstreet]

it was great regardless.. just like Dan Majerle's dunk on Manute Bol back in the 1989 playoffs that was inexplicably called an offensive foul as well.

Cheesebeef, I'm just pulling your leg.

I do admit I'm not a fan of Griffin because I think he is over hyped and does not have the years behind him to back up the hype.

 

[desertdawg]

actually they won't. they gave up their pick unprotected to cleveland in the Mo Williams deal.

Damn, now that is a cat who is over rated.

 

[Griffin]

So Dowdell was +6 in the second half as the Suns, with Nash resting, expanded a 5 point lead into an 11 point one before Nash came back into the game. That is a rarity. Obviously it's not just Dowdell; the other bench guys stepped up. Just like when that unit struggles, not all of it is the point guard's fault. But, if the Suns continue to get outscored late in the game with Brooks in there, should Gentry start putting Dowdell in there instead?

 

[desertdawg]

So Dowdell was +6 in the second half as the Suns, with Nash resting, expanded a 5 point lead into an 11 point one before Nash came back into the game. That is a rarity. Obviously it's not just Dowdell; the other bench guys stepped up. Just like when that unit struggles, not all of it is the point guard's fault. But, if the Suns continue to get outscored late in the game with Brooks in there, should Gentry start putting Dowdell in there instead?

Paper, rocks , scissors man.

 

[Zbigniew]

Nice play.Nash, Frye, Gortat and Dudley with 5 offensive rebounds!

 

[AzStevenCal]

Cheesebeef, I'm just pulling your leg.

I do admit I'm not a fan of Griffin because I think he is over hyped and does not have the years behind him to back up the hype.

Fortunately, I don't listen to the hype. I go out of my way to avoid hearing that junk. I just watch the game. IMO, I have to seriously question the basketball acumen of anyone that claims to have watched a lot of Blake Griffin and is not impressed by his basketball ability. Now, before you take that personally, please recognize that you did not claim to have watched a lot of Blake Griffin.

Don't let the fact that he occasionally displays emotional immaturity, the guy is quite impressive. He's still a rookie and if he never improves he'll be an athletic freak that deserves consideration for the all star team for as long as he keeps his legs. IF, however, he follows the normal progression of a young player, he could become one of the all time greats. Of course, I said the exact same thing about Amare so obviously, there are no guarantees.

Steve

 

[Mainstreet]

Fortunately, I don't listen to the hype. I go out of my way to avoid hearing that junk. I just watch the game. IMO, I have to seriously question the basketball acumen of anyone that claims to have watched a lot of Blake Griffin and is not impressed by his basketball ability. Now, before you take that personally, please recognize that you did not claim to have watched a lot of Blake Griffin.

Don't let the fact that he occasionally displays emotional immaturity, the guy is quite impressive. He's still a rookie and if he never improves he'll be an athletic freak that deserves consideration for the all star team for as long as he keeps his legs. IF, however, he follows the normal progression of a young player, he could become one of the all time greats. Of course, I said the exact same thing about Amare so obviously, there are no guarantees.

Steve

I question your basketball acumen for getting so blown away by a rookie.

Yes, Griffin has great basketball ability but I have seen a lot of high fliers come and go in my day. I was having some fun talking back and forth with Cheesebeef. I don't think I said anywhere in my posts that Griffin did not have excellent basketball ability. I was just saying I'm not going to give him a lot of credit until he walks around the blocks a few seasons. I will wait before I say he is on the road to be one of the all time greats. IMO, he showboats when he plays and tries to glare down referees with his stare while his mouthpiece hangs out of his mouth like a pacifier. He needs to show some class like a Grant Hill.

 

[AfroSuns]

I guess there is no stopping the NBA from bringing up the Blake dunk.

http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2011/03/21/the-dunk-of-the-year-that-wasnt/?ls=iref:nbahpt1

 

[AzStevenCal]

I question your basketball acumen for getting so blown away by a rookie.

Okay.

Steve

 

[JS22]

I guess there is no stopping the NBA from bringing up the Blake dunk.

http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2011/03/21/the-dunk-of-the-year-that-wasnt/?ls=iref:nbahpt1

Gortat could have went up strong and fouled him hard. Instead, he did the smart thing by drawing the charge and getting Griffin to foul out. It's too bad nobody will mention this fact.

On an unrelated note, is anyone else getting sick and tired of the Suns putting themselves in an early hole by force feeding Lopez for the first 5 minutes? It's terrible.

Edit: Watching it a few more times, Griffin actually traveled anyway.

 

[Mainstreet]

I guess there is no stopping the NBA from bringing up the Blake dunk.

http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2011/03/21/the-dunk-of-the-year-that-wasnt/?ls=iref:nbahpt1

This is the first time I have watched a replay of the so called dunk by Griffin. I was giving him credit for the dunk because I thought he threw the ball down vertical like Amare used to do which I thought was amazing. However, Griffin is literally throwing the ball almost horizontal into the basket off his finger tips. What I thought was a dunk, if it were clean and without charging, I'm not sure anymore. Now it looks like Griffin threw the ball in the basket sideways off his fingertips.

 

[Mainstreet]

Okay.

Steve

I respect your opinion but I thought you lead with an elbow. I had to clear a little space of my own.

 

[sunsfan88]

This is the first time I have watched a replay of the so called dunk by Griffin. I was giving him credit for the dunk because I thought he threw the ball down vertical like Amare used to do which I thought was amazing. However, Griffin is literally throwing the ball almost horizontal into the basket off his finger tips. What I thought was a dunk, if it were clean and without charging, I'm not sure anymore. Now it looks like Griffin threw the ball in the basket sideways off his fingertips.

That's what I was saying!

 

[sunsfan88]

To hype up Griffin's dunk despite it not actually counting is like hyping up Brad Miller for his 3 pointer that never counted or Amare for his buzzer beater which was waived off.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ij74Ay8RV7c&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2-cIn9Fnjs

 

[BC867]

On an unrelated note, is anyone else getting sick and tired of the Suns putting themselves in an early hole by force feeding Lopez for the first 5 minutes? It's terrible.

In 12+ minutes (the equivilent of one quarter) versus the Clippers, Lopez totaled one made free-throw and one rebound. That's it. That's the fact.

That's worth about one quarter (25 cents). That's the opinion.

It is painful to watch him paddle away rebounds that don't fall into his hands.

 

[Mainstreet]

In 12+ minutes (the equivilent of one quarter) versus the Clippers, Lopez totaled one made free-throw and one rebound. That's it. That's the fact.

That's worth about one quarter (25 cents). That's the opinion.

It is painful to watch him paddle away rebounds that don't fall into his hands.

I think we can all agree that Lopez is not playing well. I can also agree that Gortat should be the starter all things being equal. However, I really like the Suns playing two true centers. Other than your position that Gortat should be the starter, how or would you play Lopez. Gortat cannot play 48 minutes. IMO, I would rotate the center position by match-ups. The Suns were lucky DeAndre Jordan was unable to play for the Clippers. I think starting Gortat against a physical center like Chis Kaman would have been perfect. Then Lopez should have had an advantage when Kaman went to the bench.

 

[Superbone]

Edit: Watching it a few more times, Griffin actually traveled anyway.

Yeah, you're right. I hadn't noticed that real-time. He took 3 steps. (Two little ones and a big one.)

 

[elindholm]

I'm not sure what the disagreement is here. Griffin is very talented and is already an excellent player. He also has a major attitude, which is reinforced by being overhyped in a huge market. Being a pouty bully has not stopped Kevin Garnett from being a hall-of-famer, and it may not stop Griffin either, if his body holds up and his game continues to develop. However, it should be clear that anyone who dislikes Griffin has plenty of valid reasons from which to choose.