The lowly miserable Los Angeles Clippers drafted Blake Griffin out of Oklahoma in the 2009 NBA draft. Griffin who was a star in Oklahoma, dominated the NCAA tournament, was ready to shine and become a big time baller at the pro level. Standing 6-10 and 260 lbs, the PF had all the command to be the next big thing at the position.

The Clippers, who have been an atrocious team for years, no…decades. Were hoping for their shining light, maybe, they finally landed the player to get them in the right direction. The Los Angeles Clippers have never won more than 49 games, in their 41 year history, and that was done in 1975, when they were the Buffalo Braves. Having only made the playoffs 2 times in the last 17 years. And to top it off, they are generally also competing against some other Los Angeles team, who just happen to be 16 time NBA champions, the Los Angeles Lakers.

The poor Clippers, always a bridesmaid, never the bride. They have tried desperately to get that winner, drafting Shaun Livingston in 2004. And even Bo Kimble back in 1990. Nothing seemed to work out for the Clips. They were even trying to snag the exceedingly talented and very humble LeBron James in the 2010 off season. But he decided to take his “talents to south beach”.

Oh, the poor Clippers. Then they draft Blake Griffin, he’s playing nicely in pre season in 2009, and abruptly, after taking it to the hoop like a monster, he comes down and doesn’t get back up. Done for the season, he had a stress fracture in his left knee.

Oh, the poor Clippers. 2010, The Clippers are currently 5–18, still not winning, but viable. And now they have Blake Griffin as their starting power forward. And Griff certainly has not disappointed. Putting up 20ppg and 12rpg a game, including nine 14+ rebound nights so far. And has also scored 25 or more 6 times as well. Blake Griffin is a star, and is only going to get better as he grows.

The next step for the Clips is to make a few more moves to try and turn them into a winning franchise. No player really wants to go to the Clippers, why would they? They don’t do any winning there. But, with big Blake leading the way, I think they have suitable promise.

The Clippers need serious help at center, Kaman is not cutting it and neither is DeAndre Jordan. Eric Gordon is a very good guard, maybe trying to pick up a player similar to big body defender Roy Hibbert to help out. The team needs to score points; they have put up 100 or more only 9 times, 2 of those were through overtime. But also have given up 100+ points 14 times as well, in those games, the Clips are 0-14.

If they can actually get a bit of good fortune with some pick ups, start putting points up and play some defense, they are currently ranked 23rd in the league in points given up, they may actually be able to get into the playoffs in a demanding Western conference in the next few years. A few teams will be crumbling soon, I think, the Nash led Suns and the Spurs can’t stay a 50 win team for too much longer, can they?

Maybe the year of the Clippers is on the one day horizon? Maybe in the future, players can proudly say, “I’m a Los Angeles Clipper.”
 

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