The Clippers and Golden State Warriors have engaged in one of the better NBA rivalries in recent years. Not only have they been two of the better teams in the Western Conference the last few seasons, but they always seem to mix it up when they play, which makes their upcoming first-round playoff series even more intriguing.
The teams fought during and after a game in December. Earlier in the season, the Clippers refused to hold chapel with the Dubs.
Much like when he plays the Thunder, Blake Griffin seems to be in the middle of physical play against the Warriors. And he might have some extra hate towards them after they clowned him for missing a 3-pointer last season.
Things were stirred again this week when Golden State’s Klay Thompson called out Griffin for flopping during a radio interview Wednesday.
“He is a good guy off the court but he probably just … I mean … plays pretty physical and flops a little bit,” Thompson said on The Wheelhouse on 95.7 The Game radio in San Francisco.
“He flairs his arm around so you know you might catch a random elbow or something that doesn’t you know rub off too well on guys,” Thompson said of Griffin. “He’s kind of like a bull in a china shop, kind of out of control sometimes. And then you do just see him flop sometimes like how can a guy that big and strong flop that much.
“I can see how that gets under people’s skin and be frustrating to play against.”
Blake has long had a reputation for being a flopper, though other guys like Karl Malone think Griffin is just a victim of a bunch of cheap shots because he’s so big and so good.
Blake has been made aware of Thompson’s comments, but he’s not biting.
ESPN LA’s Ramona Shelburne says Griffin refused to engaged in a verbal war when asked about the comments Thursday.
“This isn’t my thing. I play basketball. I don’t want to get into back and forth,” Griffin said, per Shelburne.
That’s probably smart of him. He’ll have plenty of time to do his talking on the court in what should be a great series that begins on Saturday.
Below is Thompson’s interview with The Game. The comments come in the final minute when Thompson was asked what about Blake ticks off opponents:
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