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Blake Griffin banged his knee and felt it rising tighter all through Saturday’s second half.
However his knees had been hooked up to a physique that has not examined constructive for the coronavirus lately, which meant popping out of the sport for any prolonged size of time was not an choice.
In a matchup wherein the Nets solely dressed eight gamers, three of whom weren’t on the workforce per week earlier, Griffin logged over 32 minutes for his season excessive. If the 6-foot-9 massive man had been subbed out, the 6-7 Kessler Edwards seemingly would have needed to account for the 7-foot Robin Lopez.
“Wasn’t nice,” Griffin acknowledged about his knee after the loss to the Magic.
Amid a chaotic few weeks for Brooklyn, one of many quieter developments has been Griffin transitioning from a participant who couldn’t step on the courtroom to a participant the Nets can not take off the courtroom.
Griffin had not performed for seven of the eight video games from Nov. 24-Dec. 10, demoted all the best way out of the rotation after capturing 16 % from 3 in his first 17 video games.
The COVID-19 outbreak that has taken such a toll on the Nets, who’ve 10 gamers caught within the protocols, might need supplied a brand new path to relevance for Griffin.
In 5 video games because the 32-year-old returned to the rotation, he has shot higher (50 % from the sector) if not overwhelmingly so (30 % from 3). His protection continues to be efficient and distinctive, tied with Miami’s Kyle Lowry at 18 for essentially the most costs drawn within the NBA, regardless of Griffin being out and in of the lineup.
His 17 factors on Saturday, going 6 of 13 from the sector whereas including seven rebounds, six assists and two steals in opposition to Orlando, is the kind of efficiency that might result in minutes even when the Nets are more healthy.
“Blake’s performed nice,” Steve Nash mentioned Saturday. “Like I’ve mentioned to him, we all know there’s all the time one thing across the nook, so though he was out of the rotation for a short while, we knew one thing would occur and he’d get his alternative once more, and he’s a professional.
“Labored his butt off, stayed in form, discovered a rhythm. He’s enjoying good basketball.”
At a time when no different Nets’ massive man can play basketball. On Tuesday, forward of Brooklyn’s anticipated return to play Thursday in Portland, Kevin Durant, LaMarcus Aldridge, Nic Claxton, Paul Millsap, James Johnson and Day’Ron Sharpe had been nonetheless within the protocols, a part of the explanation two of their games this week have been postponed.
Every of the massive males gives one thing totally different. Aldridge’s perimeter sport is unmatched, and Claxton’s youth and athleticism offers a distinct ingredient that particularly pairs nicely with James Harden’s sport. Griffin theoretically ought to supply essentially the most in stretching defenses, however his shot from deep was not falling to start the season.
On Saturday, he regarded extra just like the shooter who boosted Brooklyn final season, when he shot 38.3 % from past the arc in 26 video games. Throughout a second-quarter stretch, he rattled off 11 straight factors, six of which had been right-wing 3s. He’s making a case to leapfrog different Nets facilities and forwards.
When Griffin was benched, a few of the minutes that he might have obtained went to Millsap, and the previous stars however present complementary items might need to combat out who sees time when the Nets are complete once more.
Griffin is no less than again on the radar for taking part in time, which is an accomplishment for a participant who entered one sport in 2 ¹/₂ weeks and rapidly needed to play 30-plus minutes for 3 consecutive contests.
“I take delight in it for positive. That is my job, ?” Griffin, who was annoyed by his knee, mentioned concerning the pivot from forgotten to very important. “You do all that stuff to remain prepared after which can’t actually be 100% within the second half.
“That’s irritating, however it could be extra irritating if I didn’t keep prepared and I wasn’t there for my teammates.”
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