Blake Griffin plays a physical game, Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro admits, but Griffin has been pushed around by opponents.
At some point, it was suggested to Del Negro, it would seem the 6-foot-10, 251-pound Griffin has to stand up for himself.
Just last Thursday night, New Orleans Hornets forward Jason Smith shoved Griffin to the court. Smith was issued a flagrant-two foul, ejected from the game and was suspended two games by the NBA. Smith missed his final game against the Clippers on Monday night.
But Del Negro did say, "No, I don't think so," when asked whether Griffin turns the other cheek too much.
"It's important that he picks his spots and keeps his composure, stays in the moment," Del Negro said. "Obviously, Blake is a very physical player. It does get physical out there. I think it's to his advantage because he enjoys that part of it. But he has to pick his spots."
Del Negro adjusting his backcourt
With key reserve guard Mo Williams out injured, Del Negro has been forced to continue making adjustments to his backcourt.
He started Randy Foye again at shooting guard and had Nick Young come in as a reserve in order to give the bench some scoring punch.
"I think Nick is just trying to get comfortable, and bringing him off the bench we can run some sets through him a little bit," Del Negro said. "Randy gives us some good stability in the starting five and the chemistry there with those guys because he's played with them."
Williams saw a foot specialist after Saturday's game who came to the same conclusion that was drawn from an MRI exam: The 6-1 guard has a sprained left big toe.
Williams no longer has the walking boot on his foot, however.
Del Negro said Williams is going to be out "at least a couple of weeks and then we'll reevaluate it then."
Etc.
With 2:16 left in first quarter, the Clippers showed pictures on the video screen of New Orleans players Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman and Al-Farouq Aminu, finishing it with, "Welcome back."
Gordon, Kaman and Aminu were traded by the Clippers to the Hornets. It was their first time back in L.A. since the trade.
"I had a lot of good memories here," Gordon said, "and now it's off to the next thing."
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