NBA News 2013: Chris Paul doesn't focus on the what ifs

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Dallas Mavericks (Photo credit: sarahr691)

The what-might-have-beens don't enter Chris Paul's mind anymore.

As his Clippers prepare for the latest Los Angeles turf war on Friday night at Staples Center against the Lakers team to which he was almost traded back in December of 2011, the point guard who has transformed one of the worst organizations in professional sports into a legitimate title contender wouldn't have it any other way.

"Never, ever – ever, ever," he told USA TODAY Sports emphatically on Wednesday night when asked how often he wonders what life with the Lakers might have been like before commissioner David Stern vetoed the deal with New Orleans back then for those infamous "basketball reasons." "

And why would he?

Even with the Clippers' losses at Denver and Golden State that followed their franchise-record 17-game winning streak, they have the league's second-best record (25-8) and are nine games ahead of this Lakers team that so many expected to dominate this season. And while Kobe Bryant responded to the latest Lakers loss by declaring that age was to blame for their woes – "We're old as (expletive)," he told reporters after they fell to Philadelphia on Tuesday night – Paul has continued this improbable push to turn the Clippers into champions.

"You can't back up any talk in January or December or nothing like that," Paul said of the matchup with the Lakers.

The game itself will come with some consequence, though, even if Clippers forward Blake Griffin said it was "just like any other game." The Clippers, who beat the Lakers without Steve Nash on Nov. 2, don't want to lose a third game in a row. The Lakers, whose fans so often point to the title count between the two organizations (16 to zero) as their ultimate defense, need a win like this to keep momentum moving forward after winning six of their last eight games.

"It's a big deal for us," said reserve small forward Lamar Odom, the longtime Laker who was traded to the Clippers during the summer. "What's most fun is to be here and to really see the change in (expectations), as far people expecting us to come out and play at a high level. That's fun."

Said reserve small forward Matt Barnes, who signed the Clippers in the summer after spending his last two seasons with the Lakers: "Any time you play an old team, and it's the talk of the town – Lakers-Clippers - it's going to be a fun one."

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2013/01/03/los-angeles-lakers-vs-los-angeles-clippers-chris-paul/1807855/

Related articles

• The Showdown: Lakers Vs. Clippers, Two Teams That Continue To Be A World Apart (931jackfm.cbslocal.com)
• Lakers' Kobe Bryant says the Clippers are 'spectacular' (miamiherald.com)
• Are LA Lakers or LA Clippers Better Suited for Playoff Success? (bleacherreport.com)
• LA Clippers Breaking Superteam Trend with Surprise Success (bleacherreport.com)
• Lakers' Kobe Bryant says the Clippers are 'spectacular' (sacbee.com)
• Kobe calls Clippers legitimate title contenders (espn.go.com)
• Kobe, D'Antoni: Lakers looking up to Clippers (espn.go.com)
• Lakers-Clippers series has been historically lopsided (miamiherald.com)
• Clippers On Fire as Round Two of Battle of Los Angeles Nears (vividseats.com)
• T.J. Simers: In this case, Clippers guilty of slacking off (sacbee.com)

NBA News 2012: Clippers advance, knock out Grizzlies

Los Angeles Clippers Blake Griffin during a game against the Washington Wizards at the Verizon Center in Washington on March 12, 2011. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Chris Paul played with an aching right hip and Blake Griffin's sprained left knee stiffened up during the game. If the Clippers were truly a two-man team, then they would have been in trouble facing elimination by the Memphis Grizzlies.

Good thing the guys on the Clippers' bench want to keep playing.

Kenyon Martin's 23-footer put the Clippers ahead to start a fourth quarter in which backups scored 25 of their 27 points, helping Los Angeles' other NBA team beat Memphis 82-72 Sunday and advance to the Western Conference semifinals.

''Our bench was our MVP,'' Clippers guard Randy Foye said. ''They realized what they had to do. We had a lot of guys hurt, so we just continued to grind.''

The Clippers reserves outscored Memphis' bench 41-11 to help Los Angeles clinch its first playoff series since 2006 and only the franchise's third overall. They also helped the Clippers avoid becoming the ninth NBA team to blow a 3-1 lead in a best-of-seven series and now they head to San Antonio for a second round starting Tuesday night.

Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said they will regroup Monday and focus on the Spurs then. He wanted his team to enjoy the series win for a little bit.

''But obviously another big challenge for us,'' Del Negro said.

Chris Paul scored 19 points despite his strained right hip flexor, and he was the only starter to score in the fourth quarter. Paul was so confident of victory he bought plane tickets for his wife and son to San Antonio on Saturday.

''I felt like we should have won earlier,'' Paul said. ''But it doesn't matter. As long as you win, I think it is a step in the right direction for our franchise.''

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/clippers-advance-knock-grizzlies-82-093909995--nba.html;_ylt=AoarG_rP9qkn_bUN_8zN.ww5nYcB

Related articles

• Clippers advance, knock out Grizzlies 82-72 (nbc29.com)
• Clippers reach West semis (denverpost.com)
• Clippers advance with 82-72 win over Grizzlies (abclocal.go.com)
• Clippers Take Game 7 In Memphis, Advance To Face Spurs (boston.cbslocal.com)
• Los Angeles Clippers win Game 7 in Memphis | NBA (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• You: Clippers vs. Grizzlies Game 7: Bench Rescues Clippers in Elimination Game (bleacherreport.com)
• Clippers advance with 82-72 win over Grizzlies (todayonline.com)
• Clippers advance with 82-72 win over Grizzlies (miamiherald.com)
• Clippers Advance, Knock Out Grizzlies 82-72 (nytimes.com)
• Clippers Advance With 82-72 Win Over Grizzlies (abcnews.go.com)

NBA News 2012: Chris Paul boosts Clippers in OT for 3-1 series lead vs. Grizzlies

Los Angeles Clippers logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The Los Angeles Clippers' 10-point lead late in regulation had evaporated, and Blake Griffin stood helplessly at their bench with hands on hips after fouling out in overtime. A building full of red-shirted fans sat nervously, dreading another disaster for a franchise with more than its share.

Except Chris Paul wasn't around for any of the Clippers' bad times.

While everybody else worried, he calmly shepherded his club out of another perilous spot and onto the brink of something big.

Paul scored eight of his 27 points in a dynamic overtime performance, and the Clippers moved to the verge of their second playoff series victory in 36 years with a 101-97 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night, taking a 3-1 series lead.

"It's fun, it's exciting," said Paul, who atoned for his inability to score at the regulation buzzer.

"The worst mistake I probably made in the game was not getting the shot at the end of regulation," he added. "If I was at home watching it on TV, I'd be talking so bad about me. But you've got to get through it. The [best] thing about it is that I have teammates that have confidence in me. Everything that we do is a team win."

Maybe so, but the Clippers were ever so grateful to rely on their All-Star point guard.

Griffin had 30 points and seven assists before fouling out with 2:26 left in overtime for the Clippers, who blew an 84-74 lead over the final 4½ minutes of regulation before Paul took charge in the overtime. He played with the same intensity he showed late in regulation, heedlessly flinging himself over the front row of chairs in an attempt to save a loose ball.

"He's a great player, and that's what great players do," Memphis coach Lionel Hollins said.

Game 5 is Wednesday night in Memphis, with Game 6 back at Staples Center on Friday if necessary.

After Paul hit consecutive jumpers to put the Clippers ahead 99-93 with 44 seconds left, Mike Conley's layup with 8.1 seconds left trimmed the Clippers' lead back to two points. But after Mo Williams hit two free throws with 7.2 seconds left and Rudy Gay missed a meaningless 3-pointer, Griffin and Paul embraced while another frenzied sellout crowd of long-suffering Clippers fans roared.

"Chris is always intense," Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said. "That's what makes him special. Chris is so good, not only at making plays for himself, but making the right play. That's what makes him a star."

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=320507012

Related articles

• Clippers Vs. Grizzlies, NBA Playoffs 2012 Game 4: Los Angeles Wins In Overtime, 101-97 (sbnation.com)
• CP3 takes over OT, sends Clips to win (msn.foxsports.com)
• Clippers Vs. Grizzlies, NBA Playoffs 2012 Game 4: Game Heads To OT Tied 87-87 (sbnation.com)
• Paul helps Clippers push Grizzles to brink (lfpress.com)
• NBA Playoffs, Clippers Vs. Grizzlies Game 4 Score; Chris Paul Carries L.A. To 3-1 Lead In 101-97 OT Victory (losangeles.sbnation.com)
• CP3 leads Clips past Grizz in OT to 3-1 lead (nbc29.com)
• Clippers edge Grizzlies to take 3-1 series lead (sportsillustrated.cnn.com)
• Paul comes up big in OT, leads Clippers past Grizzlies (tsn.ca)
• CP3 leads Clips past Grizz in OT to 3-1 lead (seattletimes.nwsource.com)

NBA News 2012: Clippers rally from 27 down, stun Grizzlies 99-98

MEMPHIS, TN - APRIL 29: Vinny Del Negro the head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers talks with DeAndre Jordan #6 in Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Mephis Grizzlies in the 2012 NBA Playoffs at FedExForum on April 29, 2012 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)
Chris Paul begged coach Vinny Del Negro to put him back into the game for the fourth quarter and not give up despite being down 21 points.

The result was another Clippers comeback - one of the greatest in NBA playoff history.

Paul hit a pair of free throws with 23.7 seconds left, and the Clippers rallied from a deficit that had been as much as 27 to stun the Memphis Grizzlies 99-98 Sunday night in the opening game of their Western Conference series.

The key, Paul said, is to keep believing.
''Unfortunately, that's how we play,'' he said. ''We get killed in the first three quarters and in the fourth quarter we like to try to stand up for ourselves, and we found a way to win tonight.''

The Clippers tied the NBA playoff record for largest deficit overcome at the end of three quarters, when they trailed by 21.

''I don't think I've been part of a game like that ever,'' Clippers forward Blake Griffin said. ''It was unbelievable.''

Rudy Gay missed a 15-footer with 0.9 seconds left after the Grizzlies squandered a lead they held for the first 47 minutes, with a 24-point cushion disappearing in about nine minutes.

''Obviously, we gave it away, and everybody's kind of down,'' Gay said. ''We're still into it. It's a long series, and we're ready to fight. That's all this means. We've got to fight hard.''

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/clippers-rally-27-down-stun-042831257--nba.html;_ylt=Av8RKWosz5X860g6NtjaVSG8vLYF

Related articles

• Clippers rally from 27 down, stun Grizzlies 99-98 (miamiherald.com)
• Clippers' Butler suffers broken hand in Game 1 (espn.go.com)

NBA News 2011: Kyrie Irving among few impact rookies

Image by Getty Images via @daylife
Over the past few seasons, rookies have had a varied impact upon the fantasy hoops landscape. Two years ago, Stephen Curry and Tyreke Evans were studs, and nine rookies cracked the top 150 on the Player Rater. Last year, Blake Griffin, John Wall and Landry Fields were the only three to do so. But what will the prognosis be for this year's class, widely panned as one of the weakest groups of all time? Well, beyond Kyrie Irving, who will see run in Cleveland and have a chance to put up numbers, few rookies will be on the fantasy radar come draft day. Before seeing how their minutes shake out and skill sets translate, it's difficult to rationalize the gamble of spending a valuable draft pick on an unknown fantasy commodity. This year, it'll be more about knowing which players to keep a close eye upon as the season unravels, and which have the upside to be modest fantasy contributors if opportunity shines upon them.

Impact Players

• Kyrie Irving, PG, Cleveland Cavaliers
• Derrick Williams, PF, Minnesota Timberwolves
• Kemba Walker, PG, Charlotte Bobcats
• Jimmer Fredette, PG/SG, Sacramento Kings
• Klay Thompson, SG, Golden State Warriors

Long-Term Upside

• Jan Vesely, SF, Washington Wizards
• Bismack Biyombo, PF, Charlotte Bobcats
• Brandon Knight. PG, Detroit Pistons
• Kawhi Leonard, SF, San Antonio Spurs

Sleepers

• Alec Burks, SG, Utah Jazz
• Norris Cole, PG, Miami Heat
• Markieff Morris, PF, Phoenix Suns

http://sports.espn.go.com/fantasy/basketball/fba/story?page=11draftrookies

Related articles

• Kyrie Irving says if not for Tournament he would have returned to Duke (probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com)
• Kyrie Irving Goes No. 1 To Cleveland Cavailers, And Is Ready For Challenge Of Being Top NBA Draft Pick (sbnation.com)

NBA News 2011: Defending The Blake Show

Image via Wikipedia
Successfully defending Blake Griffin is a simple task conceptually.

Load up the paint to restrict his air space, keep a body on him on the pick and roll, force him into settling for jumpers and make him catch the ball in the post as far from the bucket as possible.

Griffin's best months of the season were easily in December and the first 10 games of January until Eric Gordon’s injury.

His overall efficiency in February has decreased from his seasonal marks, as teams have learned to adjust and game-plan more effectively for Griffin, causing his scoring percentages to dip and teams also have been doing a better job in reducing his rebound and assist rates.

Griffin is seeing consistent double and even triple teams, partly a result of his inescapable prominence, but more also as a direct result of Gordon’s absence. Griffin’s supporting cast without Gordon is far too mediocre offensively for opposing teams to respect well enough not to give him their complete attention.

http://basketball.realgm.com/article/211541/Defending_The_Blake_Show

Related articles

• Blake Griffin and Kia Optima: Another NBA Deal for Big Bucks (bleacherreport.com)
• Blake Griffin: Slam Dunk Champ, NBA All-Star, Franchise Savior? (bleacherreport.com)

NBA News 2011: Griffin revives, revs up dunk contest

Image by Getty Images via @daylife
Welcome back, dunk contest. We missed you.

An event that had become a tired, trite exhibition in recent years was saved from jumping the shark Saturday; instead, Blake Griffin jumped a car.

And while some may complain about home cooking in the judging, the dunk contest has always been about entertainment rather than objectivity. This was the most entertaining one in years, and it had the best execution to boot.

The general pattern of the last several contests was to feature the same dunks embellished only by increasingly hokey pranks. This year's, in contrast, didn't feature cape-wearing or other bizarre, attention-seeking props. What it did have, instead, was several spectacular jams that we'll remember for years.

Washington's JaVale McGee didn't win, but he raised the bar several notches for future dunk contests by completing two of the most difficult dunks ever seen in the first round. He did a dunk on two rims separated by several feet, a feat that only a player with his incredible wingspan could pull off, and then did a dunk with three basketballs, two of which he dunked himself and the third he alley-ooped.

On both, McGee had to "no look" dunk with his left hand to focus on catching the ball in mid-air with his right. In the final round, he added to his performance with a swooping, cradling reverse dunk that required him to tuck in his head to avoid impaling it on the backboard.

Unfortunately, he knew the outcome was all but predetermined after Griffin jumped the car in front of the home crowd. Facing an act he couldn't follow, McGee's final dunk was a perfunctory off the backboard slam.

"He came prepared with the car," said McGee, "and nothing's going to beat the car unless I bring a plane or something."

Griffin's contest will be remembered for jumping the car, but his other final-round slam was no slouch either -- an up-to-his-elbow dunk that compared favorably with a similar one by Vince Carter in the 2000 contest. Unlike Carter, Griffin threw it off the board to himself first. A close-up afterward showed a rim-shaped impression on his inner arm.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/allstar2011/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=hollingerdunkcontest-110220

Related articles

• 2011 Slam Dunk Contest: JaVale McGee Earns A Perfect Score By Dunking Two Balls At Once (sbnation.com)
• Dunk Contest 2011: The Dunk Contest Is Back (bleacherreport.com)

NBA News 2010: Which Rookie Will Make the Biggest Impact in 2010-11?

Image via Wikipedia

The obvious pick for Rookie of the Year at this point would be John Wall, the No. 1 overall pick of the Washington Wizards, who already started drawing rave reviews after NBA Summer League.  

Standing in his way will be Blake Griffin, the No. 1 pick from 2009 who gets re-classified as a rookie after missing all of last season with a broken kneecap; DeMarcus Cousins, the No. 5 pick from this season and his former teammate from Kentucky; and Evan Turner, the No. 2 pick of the Philadelphia 76ers, among others. Needless to say, if Wall's dreaming of being the third straight point guard ROY, he's got his work cut out for him.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/441970-nba-2010-11-the-100-biggest-questions-facing-the-nba-this-season#page/33

Related articles by Zemanta

• The Three Man Race For NBA's Rookie Of The Year (bleacherreport.com)
• Wizards vs Warriors (2010 NBA Summer League John Wall 24 Points and 8 Assists in NBA Debut) (video) (ballhype.com)
• 2010 NBA Draft; You Are On The Clock: The Washington Wizards (bleacherreport.com)
• Evan Turner Struggled in NBA Summer League (chicagonow.com)
• At long last, Blake Griffin (espn.go.com)
• NBA Offseason: Top 10 Things To Watch in the NBA Summer League (bleacherreport.com)
• Washingotn Wizards have hopes NBA with addition of Wall (sportingo.com)
• John Wall: A Happy Birthday to the Washington Wizards Rookie Point Guard (bleacherreport.com)
• NBA summer league: Winners & losers (ballhype.com)
• 2010-2011 NBA Season: 10 Wild Cards Whose Play Could Alter the Playoff Landscape (bleacherreport.com)