Written by Ben Bolch at LA Times.com
The Clippers’ playoff push got off to a great start with a 115-95 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday night at Staples Center in the opener of their first-round series. Here are five takeaways from the game:
1. Blake Griffin was back to being the guy who jumped over a Kia. Only this time it was Portland’s Mason Plumlee in his way and Griffin cleared him with ease on three occasions. Griffin mostly operated around the basket while making five of 10 shots and finishing with 19 points in his sixth game back from the hand and quadriceps injuries that had sidelined him for more than three months. “As far as how I feel around the basket and exploding and all that,” Griffin said, “I felt fine. But there are just always things to improve upon as far as timing and making up for lost time.”
The Trail Blazers tried a variety of defenders on Griffin, starting the game with Maurice Harkless and switching toAl-Farouq Aminu after Harkless picked up two fouls 3 1/2 minutes into the game. Nothing really worked. “He just kind of bulldozed his way to the rim and it’s tough with a guy that’s athletic and strong like him,” Portland guard Damian Lillard said. “If you get too physical then it’s a foul because he’s spinning in there and jumping in the middle with the spin. It’s tough to defend. So when he’s playing a physical game and if you get too physical you know he’s at the free-throw line….” Griffin did plenty of that, taking 12 free throws and making nine.
2. Portland’s guards mostly struggled. Lillard was solid with 21 points and eight assists but fellow guard C.J. McCollum was a nonfactor with nine points on three-for-11 shooting. The Clippers’ plan of double-teaming the guards whenever they had the ball and making them find another option was a big success. “They were physical, they were ready every time, they communicated,” Lillard said. “Usually the things we get to with myself and C.J., ball screen actions, flairs and pin-downs, they were pretty disruptive.” Clippers forward Luc Mbah a Moute was particularly bothersome for McCollum with his length and quick feet. “He is a long guy, he is athletic, smart and he did a good job,” McCollum said.
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