Caron Butler joins the Clippers

In need of a small forward who could score, the Los Angeles Clippers handed Caron butler a 3 year/$24 million deal Thursday. Debating between LA, Chicago, San Antonio, and New Jersey, Butler decided that playing with Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon was the most enticing option. Butler only played in 29 games last season with the champion Mavericks before rupturing his patellar tendon but Caron feels that his knee is back to 100% and is ready to help the Clippers reach the playoffs in 2012.

Blake Griffin wins NBA Rookie of the Year

May 4th, 2011 will always be a special day for Clipper Nation as Clippers Power Forward Blake Griffin was named the NBA Rookie of the Year. After posting 22.5 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 3.8 APG while playing in all 82 games, Griffin was not only a huge highlight reel, but also one of the hardest workers in the league. Griffin became the 1st player in league history to compete in all three days of All-Star weekend and finished fourth in the league in rebounds. Is an MVP award in Griffin’s future? It’s highly possible, especially if he continues to improve his game.

Darren

Blake Griffin wins 2011 Slam Dunk Contest; Joins Barry

Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers lived up to the hype Saturday night at the Staples Center. After earning a bid in the final round after a nice 360 two hand finish and an alley oop finish from Baron Davis, Griffin squared off with the Washington Wizards’ Javale McGee. Griffin first went Vince Carter on us and put his arm in the rim with ease. Then after McGee would answer with a “rock the cradle,” Griffin would wheel out a Kia, have teammate Baron Davis pop out the sun roof and toss him a lob. Griffin sailed over the hood of the car and finished with ease. McGee had no answer for it and Griffin was crowned champion.

In winning this years dunk contest, Blake Griffin joined Brent Barry as the only Clippers to win the dunk contest. Brent Barry famously won it in 1996 after defeating Michael Finley in the final. The only other Clipper to compete in the contest was Corey Maggette who finished last in 2001. After what e did this year, many of us hope Blake will return next year and defend his title. Can he top what he did? I dont know but I sure would love to find out.

Darren

Clippers beat the Heat!

Last night at Staples Center, the Los Angeles Clippers came out on fire and were able to beat the Miami Heat 111-105. After scorching the Heat for 44 points in the first half, the Clippers held off a couple Heat surges to pick up their 8th win in their last 11 contests. Eric Gordon led the Clippers with 26 points while Baron Davis added 20 and Blake Griffin tallied his 24th straight double double by posting 24 points along with 14 rebounds. This win snapped the Heat’s 13 game road winning streak and Lebron James sprained an ankle in the loss to boot. Hopefully the Clippers can keep this play up and keeping posting wins.

Darren

I won an autographed Clipper jersey

I got the call from a LA Clipper rep and was notified that I won an autographed jersey from playing the Clippers “Stat of the Game”.  I had to chose between Baron Davis, Blake Griffin, and Eric Gordon. I went with Gordon and the home jersey. Im extactic and will be framing it and putting it up on my wall as soon as I get it in the mail.

Darren

NBA draft thoughts

-Blake Griffin going #1 to my Clippers was a great thing to see. Blake will be solid off the bench and now with Camby,Kaman and Randolph already on the roster, the Clipps arguably have the deepest frontcourt when healthy. Be prepared for a playoff run for the Clippers in 2010.

-What were the T’Wolves thinking yesterday? Sure you only had 2 guards on your roster coming in, but did you really have to draft 4 point guards (trading two) and another guard in only 6 picks? drafting like that tells me two things…1) You were drafting to trade and 2) You think you got the pieces to make your team a playoff caliber squad. Well the later is out of the question becuase the T’Wolves are the seconds worst team in the NBA so obviously they were doing what we all expected and drafting to trade. Problem is, if nobody wants to deal with you then what? You have to draft smart. Taking a bunch of guards and then turning around and saying, “Who wants to trade?” is not a smart war plan. Expect the T’Wolves to be back in the lottery for the next 2-4 years.

-The 2nd rd of the draft disgusted me more than anything. Not only were guys like Dionte Chistmas,Jeff Adrien,AJ Abrams and Dar Tucker undrafted, but so many off-brnd players were taken. Congo? Holland? Ukraine? Are we really drafting from those basketball powerhouse countries? Please enter Charlie Brown’s famous line, “Dont you know saracasm when you hear it?” I dont mind euro players being drafted but when you know they will have the impact of Saer Sene or Zhi Zhi Wang why do you continue to draft them? Why not get a guy like Christmas who can shoot the 3,get to the basket, play above average defense and who could potentially make a BIG impact on your team? Normally I dont criticise NBA GMs like I do baseball ones, but last night showed that 80% of NBA GMs arent very smart when it comes to running a squad.

Darren

NBA Mock Draft 2009

• Blake Griffin is guaranteed to be a solid NBA player, if not an-all-star at some point.
• Utah likes Sam Young for his “nastiness” evidently.
• Ty Lawson might be the best player out of this draft in years to follow.
• Some have compared Holiday to Gary Payton.
• DeRozan is athletic, but can’t shoot.
• Thabeet might be a good rebounder/shot blocker, but some question him being a number 2 pick for not having a real offensive skill set for the NBA. -Brad
•  Minnesota and Golden State are in win-win slots at 6 & 7 because Stephen Curry and Brandon Jennings should both be on the board. Both of those guys will do big things in the NBA.
• The Lakers will need to short up the front court and Taj Gibson might be an option at the back end of the 1st, especially being a hometown guy.
• Many people dont think Tyler Hansbroughs games translates well to the NBA but I do. I think he will be the same type of player David Lee of the Knicks is. Could possibly rack up double-doubles like In n Out in a couple seasons.
• Jeff Teague to Philly in my opinion would be big for both parties. The 76ers need another point guard with Andre Miller climbin up in age, and Teague fits the bill. 18 ppg is what the 76ers could really use as well. -Darren