The Los Angeles Clippers remain in the hunt in the Western Conference. It is no secret that the Clippers are in win-now mode, as they hope to top the Golden State Warriors this season. That is why they chased both Paul Piece and DeAndre Jordan in the offseason. Now, the team just needs to get Blake Griffin back from injury to be real contenders, but that might not be happening as quickly as the Clippers thought.
The Clippers were hoping to have Griffin back already after he suffered a broken hand during a fight with assistant equipment manager Matias Testi. He has been out since Jan. 23, and the Clippers were hoping that Griffin would have been able to return by now, but he is expected to be out for a few more weeks while the injury heals. At this point, Griffin's timetable for a return could be at the end of March or the beginning of April. Griffin has been practicing. Head coach Doc Rivers is encouraged by how good Griffin looks right now.
"He's looking good. He really is," Rivers said. "Honestly, I was watching him today and I was like ... in my mind thinking 'We could use some of that tonight.'"
In the mean time, Rivers needs more from the remainder of his roster. The Clippers were pushed around by the Knicks on Friday, as size is getting the best of them. Jeff Green was supposed to help fix that, but since arriving after the trade deadline, Green has been inconsistent at best in Los Angeles. Green was supposed to replace Griffin's production on the court and so far that has not happened.
"So I thought he struggled with that early on," Rivers said. "Defensively is probably where I want him to pick it up more. We're just doing a lot of film work with him right now, trying to shortcut the curve. He'll get it. But we need it."
The Clippers are expecting an NBA title this season. If that does not happen, there is a lot of speculation that the Clippers will be forced to breakup their core roster. Players like Griffin and Chris Paul would be easy to trade in the offseason. The Clippers could get good draft picks and rebuild slightly. However, Rivers denies that is going to happen in Los Angeles. It is not necessary to breakup the group now, but maybe in two years, according to Rivers.
"Obviously, if we are not there in two years from now you re-think things," Rivers said. "But you don't blow your team up every year. I keep laughing at everyone who says [to do] that. That's the guys who have never really been in it. You keep just going forward. Keep your core and see if you can get it right."
