Griffin-dor Brilliant third quarters and free throws.
The Mavericks allowed the Los Angeles Clippers to shoot 55 percent for the game (including 10 of 20 from three-point range), but it was a 27-16 third-quarter edge and hitting 28-30 free throws that helped to get the 112-105 home win.
The story, of course, is Blake Griffin. The rookie phenom is simply taking over the game. I hope everyone's taking note. We haven't seen a singular guy catapult his team and his league in the stratosphere like this since Lebron James.
I would imagine the introduction of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson in the early 1980s did the same. Sidney Crosby in hockey comes to mind. A guy like Stephen Strasburg for the Nationals in baseball also comes to mind.
However, they don't do (except for probably Crosby) what Griffin does. He doesn't make the Clippers simply better. They're playoff-caliber with him. But he also makes the other team better. I thought Tyson Chandler was great last night going for 21 points. All the while, he was attempting to keep Griffin in check. It didn't go so well. Griffin used his full arsenal. From the Duncan-like 15 footer to the high-flying dunks and the sneaky low-post moves.
There's little doubt that the dude is amazing and fantastic to watch. Then again, his team lost.
By far, the most noteworthy Clippers-Mavericks game of all time.
Notes:
1. I love that Brendan Haywood did a mildly decent job "containing" Griffin for 20 minutes in one game and everyone's rethinking that behemoth contract.
2. You will win most games when you get 63 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists and three turnovers from your Nos. 6, 7 and 8 guys.
3. Things wouldn't be nearly so bad if Dirk Nowitzki was right. He's not right. Yet.
4. Jason Kidd went 0-4 from the field. Thankfully, he shot it just four times. He's shooting 34 percent.
