Griffin probable for Nets debut vs. Wiz
The Nets are on the verge of debuting their rim-rocker.
Blake Griffin, who hasn’t played since signing for the veteran’s minimum with the Nets two weeks ago, is listed as “probable” for Sunday’s game against the Wizards. After he was cut by the Pistons and cleared waivers, Griffin missed the first five games of the season’s second half, including one against his former team, to manage his injured left knee.
The addition of the six-time AllStar and former Slam Dunk Contest champion moves the championshipcontending Nets one step closer to being whole. Actually, it’s more like a giant leap, because the missing piece is perennial MVP candidate Kevin Durant, who has been out since Feb. 13 with a left hamstring strain.
“I’m super excited,” guard Kyrie Irving said Friday of the prospect of getting back Griffin and Durant soon.
“It’s just high-level talent out there. So, when you can just prepare for the game and go over the X’s and O’s, you can look to your left and right and know the guys next to you have your back and you’re able to play at a high level offensively and defensively and make an impact. I look forward to it, for sure. As a competitor wanting to be on the main stage, we want all our guys healthy.”
Griffin’s timeline was not altered by the Nets pressing the panic button after losing Friday for just the second time in 16 games. Coach Steve Nash said before the loss to the lowly Magic that Griffin might return this weekend, and the Nets took the surprise defeat in stride.
“This is just one,” guard Landry Shamet said. “I don’t think there’s any reason to overreact to it. I’m not going to call it, ‘We’re tired or fatigued, or we lost our edge.’ There’s no need to do any of that.”
Griffin, 32, should have plenty of time to integrate with Irving, James Harden, DeAndre Jordan and a cast of sharpshooters. Jordan and Griffen were Clippers teammates.
Nash said Friday that Griffin looked “really, really good” working behind the scenes.
“I think he is addressing all of the things he needed to address to land safely back in the game and transition into our team, which is not always easy,” Nash said. “You don’t want to take that for granted. He has to adapt to the way that we play, new teammates, new system, and new style. He is doing everything you can ask for.”
The Nets’ Big 3 of Durant, Harden and Irving have played just seven games together. In the prime of his career, Griffin would have been worthy of upping this label to a “Big 4,” but he only played 18 games last season after his second knee surgery in eight months.
No longer the athletic dunker he once was, Griffin was averaging 12.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game for the Eastern Conference bottom-feeder Pistons before taking his pick-and-roll ability to the Nets.
It figures he will be eased into the rotation, but a healthy Griffin ultimately would mean fewer minutes for Bruce Brown and second-year power forward Nic Claxton, who has injected youthful energy off the bench.
“Hopefully, we can hit a stride at the right time and make a run,” Irving said, “but this is great practice ground right now to just get as healthy as we can before we step into the playoffs soon. Very soon.”