Clippers forward Blake Griffin has developed a reputation around the league as a guy who plays all-out, all the time. In most environments, especially sports, people are commended for giving 100%, but this is the NBA, where Chris Bosh can talking about wanting to chill with little reaction from his peers. Most of the criticism of Griffin is the result of the barrage of incredible, and often embarrassing, dunks he’s thrown down this year. Veteran guys apparently don’t appreciate the rookie’s swagger. At the end of Friday night’s game against the Hawks, Griffin may have added more fuel to that fire when he was called for a flagrant foul on Hawks forward Al Horford:
It was obviously a foul, and obviously hard, but I think the refs reacted more to Horford hitting the floor than the contact itself. Griffin appears to be going for the ball and it’s nothing like the obvious flagrant Devin Harris committed on Griffin earlier this season. Luckily for Griffin, Horford was able to get up and it didn’t appear the injury was too serious or Griffin would have taken even more flak. Unfortunately for the Clippers, Horford knocked down both free throws to give the Hawks the 101-100 win.
Thanks to outsidethenba for the video.
