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The Sports Network
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - I haven't seen any signs of the meek
inheriting the earth just yet unless Matthew was talking about the Los Angeles
Clippers.
The NBA's resident doormat has gone from the outhouse to the penthouse in
almost record time by adding Chris Paul to Blake Griffin, a big step up for a
franchise that was used to throwing out names like Danny Manning and Ron
Harper as the measuring stick for success.
Of course achievement in the NBA is as black and white as it gets, ultimately
decided by wins and losses as well as championships. Relevance precedes that
kind of jump, however, and if butts in the seats and YouTube hits are any
indication, this Clippers team has already arrived.
Vinny Del Negro's club has sold out Staples Center for all 13 of its home
games this season. Meanwhile, Griffin's amazing slam over Kendrick Perkins
late last month went viral and blew up every social media site there is.
It might not be Showtime but Lob City is officially a part of the NBA's elite
and they're set up to be for a lengthy time.
Paul was the final piece to the puzzle. The All-Star point guard has fit in
magnificently since being acquired from New Orleans after the lockout and is
the only NBA player averaging over 19 ppg with 9-plus assists and at least two
steals. As those numbers indicate CP3 can do it all, score, distribute and
defend.
He's also a closer, hitting the game-winner with 3.2 seconds remaining to
dispose of a tough Philadelphia team, 78-77, on Friday.
"One thing I pride myself on is ball handling," said Paul. "I may not make
every shot but I feel like I can get any shot that I want because of ball
handling. I've always been undersized, so one thing I know is that I can
create my own shot."
"He's the security blanket," Del Negro added. "Get it in his hands. he's
always been like that. Not only can he score but he's going to make the right
play and that's what great players do. It's not always about scoring the
basketball but making the right play. He takes pressure off everybody else and
makes the game easier for the guys."
Griffin, meanwhile, is the only player in the NBA averaging over 21 points, 11
rebounds and three assists per game and would be only the fourth in 22 years
to turn that trick if he keeps up the pace.
It would be nice if Griffin developed a little craftiness on the blocks to go
along with the raw athleticism and power but he teams with shot-blocking
machine DeAndre Jordan to give Vinny Del Negro perhaps the most physically
imposing 4-5 combo in the entire NBA. In fact, Griffin and Jordan are both
among the top five in dunks in the NBA.
"This is as aggressive and active a front line as any we play," Sixers coach
Doug Collins said.
That aggressiveness only gets amped up when the newly acquired Kenyon Martin
and the always energetic Reggie Evans hit the floor.
The Clippers just didn't have it offensively in Philadelphia but kept coming
and coming at the Sixers. It's not often you see a player dominate without
scoring but that's exactly what Evans did against Philly, using his effort and
energy to wreak havoc.
"We couldn't run a play," Collins said. "They just physically were so strong
for us around the basket. We just couldn't come up with some rebounds. Look at
the stat sheet, they shoot under 39 percent, they shoot 11 percent from three
with 14 assists and win the game and it's a shame."
Evans finished the contest with 10 rebounds -- five offensive -- in 19 minutes
of action and was all over the floor, even disturbing the Sixers' ball-
handlers with his ability to show on the pick-and-roll.
"He brings energy. Reggie is going to go get the ball," Del Negro said. "He's
a wild card out there. He got spread out a couple times but his effort and
energy is contagious. Guys feed on it. He got us some great offensive
possessions. He really controlled the tempo of the game and kept them out of
the open court."
There will still be hiccups for a team still learning to play together and
losing the mettle of Chauncey Billups, a playoff-tested veteran, to a torn
Achilles certainly hurts. But, the Clips have depth in the backcourt with
former All-Star Mo Williams and the capable Randy Foye.
Already 3-1 on a grueling 11-day, six-game Grammy Road Trip, this Clip Show is
something to see.
"That's a great defensive team," Collins said. "They have shot-blockers,
they've got quickness, they've got size. With a healthy Chauncey Billups, that
team arguably could win a championship."
The Sports Network