Birthday boy Griffin shaking off rust as Clippers prepare for stretch run
It's been a busy but productive couple of days for Blake Griffin.
On Sunday, Griffin returned to the Clippers lineup after a five-week absence ignited by a staph infection in his right elbow. He nearly recorded a triple-double but wasn't happy with his performance because he had five turnovers, and the Clippers lost to Houston, 100-98.
Griffin celebrated his 26th birthday on Monday with practice and good healthy. He said he was a little sore, but otherwise reported no problems after playing a team-high 41 minutes.
That was a nice gift for him and the Clippers.
"I'm just glad to be back playing," Griffin said. "Obviously, it was disappointing (Sunday). I just was glad to be back playing. It comes at a good time with us being a little banged up."
Jamal Crawford is still out with a deep calf contusion, and Jordan Hamilton left Sunday's game with a high ankle sprain.
That made Griffin's return even more welcome.
"That's a good sign," Doc Rivers said of Griffin's progress after the game. "That's all you needed, for him to be better, with the minutes he got. I wasn't worried about his legs or anything. Just being hit, falling and he hit the floor a lot. The fact that he came out and feels pretty good is a good sign."
The strength in Griffin's right shooting arm isn't 100 percent, and he said after Sunday's game that he felt shooting "a free throw feels like I'm at the top of the key."
"It's just strength," Griffin said. "Once that strength comes back and (I work) that in ... I don't know how to describe it. I said yesterday, (I) shoot a 10-foot shot and it feels like I'm shooting a 15-foot shot. Hopefully that comes back quickly, I don't know how quickly."
Griffin took just 10 shots. That was by his design, although teammate J.J. Redick hopes Griffin will be more aggressive. The Clippers play Charlotte on Tuesday at Staples Center (starting at 7 p.m. on Prime Ticket).
"I think the biggest thing for him (is that) I wish he would've been more aggressive," Redick said. "Not playing for (15) games and coming back, and I think that was the biggest thing. I'd ike to see him be more aggressive and be Blake."
Said Griffin: "I didn't think I played very well. Going into the game I wasn't concerned about scoring. That wasn't going to be my big thing. It was facilitating, rebounding, playing defense and taking care of the ball. I didn't do a good job of taking care of the ball."
Griffin isn't experiencing much pain overall, which is a good sign for his recovery. But there is some.
"Anything pushing down is kind of painful," Griffin said. "I guess once the strength comes back in my triceps it will take more pressure off my elbow. It's just kind of sore, tight. Nothing crazy."
Despite near triple-double in return, @blakegriffin32 says he didn't 'play well' http://t.co/QEfmUs27Cu #Clippers pic.twitter.com/3rLNj1PJhr
— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) March 16, 2015
The crazy thing for Griffin was the injury, although he prefers to not refer to it as an injury. Griffin had surgery to remove the staph infection and then couldn't do much in the way of physical activity for three weeks.
"I don't even call it an injury to be honest," Griffin said. "It sucks it was an infection I had to sit out five weeks for and miss all this time. Definitely one of the weirdest things I've ever dealt with. Glad it didn't get further than it did."
As for his birthday plans, Griffin said he would celebrate "by not doing anything. That's the way I want it."
He did plenty for the Clippers on Sunday and didn't have any side effects on Monday. That was a welcome way to celebrate for the Clippers.
