Life should be good for the Los Angeles Clippers.
They just completed a season sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers, secured their first division crown, and finally, have managed to become relevant in the NBA.
But, just as the Clippers set about embarking on a playoff run from a position of strength, reports have emerged that this team could be coming apart at the seams.
According to a Los Angeles Times report from last week, the camaraderie is the Clipper locker-room is threatening their postseason plans.
“The feel-good Clippers are gone, with DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin’s immaturity dragging the team down,” writes T.J Simers of the LA Times. “Jordan wants nothing to do with Coach Vinny Del Negro because he blames Del Negro for burying him on the bench.”
In addition to the tantrum allegedly being thrown by Jordan, perennial highlight producer and NBA poster boy, Blake Griffin, is reportedly busy throwing his toys out of the proverbial stroller.
“He wants the ball like any great player, but when it doesn’t go to him, he pouts,” said Simer. “He’s 24. Most of the time the ball goes to Griffin, but he’s concerned only about the times when it doesn’t.”
Overall, you can largely dismiss the borderline selfish antics of the franchise’s two young big-men, especially when über point guard Chris Paul is carrying the team.
No need to worry, right?
But, reportedly the two aforementioned pouters are not happy with their star guard, despite the fact that few players in the planet are better than Paul.
“The pair has also grown tired of Chris Paul’s voice, which is understandable at times. Paul, very much like Kobe Bryant — who has turned off Dwight Howard with his out-of-this-world standards — is relentless. He never shuts up. And Jordan and Griffin have become weary of him.”
OK, this is where Clipper fans need to be concerned.
What shouldn’t be forgotten is that Chris Paul can pack his bags and walk away from the Staples Center, at the end of this season.
The franchise should be doing everything it can to make Paul happy, in an effort to ensure he re-ups by signing a long-term contract. If he’s upset with the other two stars on the roster, that are both locked into long-term contracts, perhaps pastures may start to appear greener elsewhere.
And, make no mistake; if Chris Paul left the Clippers, then all the improvements the franchise has made would leave with him.
World Peace Returns
We’ve just witnessed the shortest six weeks in NBA history.
When Metta World Peace (the artist formerly known as Ron Artest) underwent surgery to repair torn knee cartilage on March 28, conventional medical wisdom decried that World Peace would spend six weeks on the sidelines.
Well, here we are, 12 days later and Metta is set to return to the floor for the Los Angeles Lakers. The return is so superhuman-esque that Kobe Bryant, who has seemingly become the NBA’s foremost giver of nicknames, has labeled World Peace “Wolverine.”
Now, this is tricky.
On one hand, World Peace’s historically speedy recovery can be easily dismissed as a gritty veteran willing to play through pain to help his team into the playoffs – a suggestion that isn’t too far fetched, as MWP will almost certainly be playing in pain when he returns tonight.
But, here’s the thing.
When World Peace went down, his own coaching staff suggested that he would be forced to miss the entire season from that point forward, which was a predicted back by initial medical reports.
Based on timetable, earliest World Peace returns is West semis, which makes 2 huge assumptions: Lakers make playoffs + get past 1st round
— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) March 27, 2013
With that in mind, how exactly does a banged up 33-year-old manage to recover from a serious injury in a little over a week? If anything, surely a player of his age and experience would take longer to recover from such an injury, rather than less time.
But, maybe I’m being cynical. Perhaps all those hours spent pounding blacktops in Queensbridge, gave Metta World Peace knees that defied medical science.
Or, maybe, just maybe, there’s a whole different sort of science at play.
Put Your Crown on the Ground
Move over LeBron, the NBA has a new king.
Well, at least in terms of popularity.
Figures released by the NBA Tuesday, show that New York Knick star Carmelo Anthony has surplanted James as the highest selling jersey in the league, becoming the first New York player to top the list since 2002.
And, given the way Anthony and his Knickerbockers are playing lately, a playoff run will result in a further spike in sales.
Liam Quinn is a third-year Bachelor of Journalism student at La Trobe University, and the editor of upstart. You can follow him on Twitter: @liamquinn23
