The Clipper Curse: Blake Griffin won't be visiting Ford Center this season

[KDisNotNice]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4597949


Updated: October 27, 2009, 1:31 AM ET
Clippers lose Griffin to broken kneecap

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin has a broken left kneecap that could sideline the No. 1 overall draft pick for six weeks.

The Clippers confirmed Griffin's stress fracture late Monday night. The team will reveal further information Tuesday.

Griffin won't be in the Clippers' lineup when they face the Lakers in their opener Tuesday night, and the former Oklahoma star could be out much longer.

Griffin broke his kneecap during the Clippers' final preseason game against New Orleans last Friday, apparently after a dunk that left him wincing in pain.


Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press

[RedDirt717]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4597949

The CURSE!!!!

[Betts]

It's starting:

Clips No. 1 pick sidelined with broken kneecap

Published: October 27, 2009


LOS ANGELES (AP) — Blake Griffin's NBA debut has been pushed back indefinitely after the Los Angeles Clippers revealed late Monday night that their No. 1 overall draft pick has a broken left kneecap.


The stress fracture could sideline the Oklahoma star for six weeks, the team announced, promising further information Tuesday. Griffin, who averaged 13.7 points and 8.1 rebounds per game during the preseason, won't be in the Clippers' lineup when they face the Lakers in their opener Tuesday night, and he could be out much longer. The Clippers play 20 games in their first six weeks of the regular season.

Griffin apparently broke his kneecap during the Clippers' final exhibition game against New Orleans last Friday, perhaps after a dunk that left the power forward wincing in pain. The team initially said Griffin only had a sore left knee, making him questionable for the opener, before revealing the break.

Griffin was the consensus college player of the year with 22.7 points and an NCAA-best 14.4 rebounds per game last season for the Sooners.

After the Clippers won the draft lottery and selected him, Griffin strained his right shoulder during a summer league game in July. The team brought him back cautiously, and Griffin said he was totally healthy in the preseason.

His latest injury is a sadly unsurprising setback for the star-crossed Clippers, who won just 19 games last year in an injury-plagued season. Los Angeles has just two winning in the last 30 years and just one playoff series victory since moving to town in 1984.

Los Angeles was mostly healthy going into this fall, with point guard Baron Davis and center Chris Kaman both ready to play after missing chunks of last season. The Clippers actually have solid frontcourt talent with Marcus Camby, Al Thornton and Rasual Butler alongside Griffin.



Read more: http://newsok.com/clips-no.-1-pick-sidelined-with-broken-kneecap/article/feed/98315?custom_click=headlines_widget?custom_click=l ead_story_title#ixzz0V7gUuu3b

[Beck Steel]

So does this mean that Blake won't be playing in OKC this year? Huge pat-on-the-back to the Thunder marketing team on selling tickets for Blake's return!

On a side note, this leaves me wondering if maybe the next team to relocate should be the Clippers. Perhaps a change of scenery would do them some good. Or would they be cursed just because they are who they are?

[Rod4soonrs]

On the bright side, it gives us 6 wks to put some distance between us & the clips. We need a good start this yr.

[bbingham05]

Legler said on ESPN that 6 weeks may be rushing it, they need to be careful not to rush him back to soon.

[KDisNotNice]

Legler said on ESPN that 6 weeks may be rushing it, they need to be careful not to rush him back to soon.

Thank goodness we didn't get the #1 pick or we would be going through this now. :eek:

[Trueblood]

So does this mean that Blake won't be playing in OKC this year? Huge pat-on-the-back to the Thunder marketing team on selling tickets for Blake's return!

On a side note, this leaves me wondering if maybe the next team to relocate should be the Clippers. Perhaps a change of scenery would do them some good. Or would they be cursed just because they are who they are?

Absolutely. I know I sound like a broken record but having 2 teams in one building is one of the tackiest things around. Sterling needs to sell and have them move out of there. Rent out the practice facility to the Lakers. I don't even care if they move to Anaheim anymore. Get out of Staples and get rid of Sterling. That's the best thing that could happen to Blake.

I like the idea of moving to KC. Get a rivalry going with the Thunder. AEG owns the Clipper lease and is looking for a tenant for the Sprint Center. That would be convenient as the Clips could relocate and not have to worry about breaking a lease. This board knows all to well what a headache leases can be.:D