JohnnyOC21 is on for the recap tonight, so I'll let him handle that. He deserves it too, since his first two games were at San Antonio and at Utah, the two least fun games of the season.
But I just thought I'd toss a celebratory thread up. Because let's face it, that was fun.
As most of you know, I usually end up watching the games somewhat delayed on the DVR (which is why I'm rarely on the game threads). Dealing with kids and homework and bedtimes, there's just not much way to watch the game in real time.
Tonight, after the kids had been banished to their rooms and I had settled in, just me and my remote control, they were roused out of bed on two separate occasions. The first was that 50 second stretch of four three pointers to re-establish the lead after it had dropped to six.

The second? Well, you already know that one.
[HD] BLAKE GRIFFIN POSTERIZES KENDRICK PERKINS! DUNK OF THE YEAR! (via BlakeHarris23)
The headline on the AP recap on ESPN.com is titled "Blake Griffin jam steals show as Clips dunk Thunder." Think about that. There was an entire basketball game here, with the Clippers beating the team with the best record in basketball. And the DUNK got the headline. And you know what? It deserved it.
0 recs | 85 comments
Dear NBA,
We’re for real.
Sincerely,
The Clippers
boltsfan21 - January 30, 2012
yup
I think the message has been sent.
Steve Perrin - January 30, 2012
Wonder what Barnes is gonna say about that dunk
“Dudebro, stop overreacting and play the game.”
Ricekrispy10 - January 30, 2012
Lakers fans just crapped their pants tonight
Fear, anxiety, excitement, loathing…all of those things mixed together.
banandy - January 30, 2012
Nope, they still have 16 championships.
And they won’t let us forget it!
SurfinQ00 - January 30, 2012
5 of which weren't even in LA
Anytime Laker fans mention their championships I always point out that the Celtics have 17… that always gets them to shut up :)
shay - January 30, 2012
+1
ThaFoX - January 30, 2012 via Android app
I always tell them that unless Magic and Kareem decide to suit up,
they should shut it. This team hasn’t done anything either than get SWEPT by the Mavs. Now they are arguably a worse team and they think they are elite. Magic even called them a pretender a couple days back; I don’t know why they think they know so much when their team can’t beat a single elite team either than a Nuggets because of a missed layup.
SurfinQ00 - January 30, 2012
SO MUCH GRIFFIN HATE!
Whether they are Laker fans, Heat fans, or Wolves fans, haters are FLOODING the boards with their negativity. Probably the most interesting barrage of comments were by suppose LeBron haters/Griffin lovers : “I like Griffin and Hate LeBron, but LeBron’s dunk was so much better.” Then when I show them this little tweet by the king himself “Dunk of the Year!! @blakegriffin just dunked on Kendrick Perkins so hard!! Wow!! I guess I’m #2 now. Move over #6” they say that he is just being nice. I don’t know why, but I guess any good player is going to be hated.
SurfinQ00 - January 30, 2012
the world got so much hate!
if blake was on their team they would be jumping for joy!
ThaFoX - January 30, 2012 via Android app
Yes.
Laker fans diss CP3 to no end, but are still complaining about the trade that didn’t happen due to Basketball Reasons.
People want to hate Blake so much. Last year, I read a poster on another board say that he wanted to hate Blake so much, but couldn’t. This year, Blake is now the King of all Flops. It doesn’t matter if the people saying this have players like Fisher, Gasol, Ginobili, James, Pierce, Wade, Bosh, or any other flopper on their team. On Youtube, some clown had the nerve to say “Flop City” in the video of Blake being “flagrantly” fouled by Harrington.
It’s all good though. They’re just jealous and envious, so I can’t complain too much.
Lawler 4ever - January 31, 2012
I always see Timberwolves hating as well as the Spurs
The Wolves fan probably are pissed Love doesn’t get the national spotlight. And the Spurs probably because they prefer that boring brand of basketball. I’ve actually found that a lot of East coast teams like the Clippers because they are the anti-Lakers and they really aren’t competing against the East for playoffs. Laker fans are a mixed bunch with some hating them and some loving them. The hate is much more vocal though.
shay - January 30, 2012
Also having your players hated is a good sign in a way. It means that the team is relevant.
shay - January 30, 2012
Blake is a superstar, gets a lot of media attention and the team he is on is now overflowing with hype.
Of course there’s going to be hate. Take solace in the fact that our guy hasn’t been universally loathed for a Decision nor has he spent any nights with the Colorado Police Department.
edk3 - January 30, 2012
I liked LeBron's dunk more.
But Griffin’s dunk was still amazing.
Chris McD - January 31, 2012
When people talk about dunks...
to me it’s the wow factor!
jumpin up on your chair or yelling so loud your neighbor or your kids in the other room come running in to find out
that you’re yelling over blake griffin dunk. That is why I think this dunk was the greatest!
I’ve never yelled so loud in my life for any other dunks and I’ve lived 55 years and watched a lot of basketball.
ThaFoX - February 1, 2012 via Android app
Just remember
Jordan was hated. Larry Bird was hated. Magic was hated. All the greats were. I just hope Blake continues to develop so that he belongs with the aforementioned names
mustang6944 - January 31, 2012
two not too (or to for that matter)
chrisd - January 30, 2012
thanks
Steve Perrin - January 30, 2012
Is it crazy that this dunk is getting more publicity than the fact
that we just beat the team with the best record in the league.
bestclipfan - January 30, 2012
the dunk was great
but i think the best Clipper moment was that 75 seconds at the end of the half when we went from being up 6 to 18 points with 4 3’s in a row. That was crazy. ok, fine, the dunk was amazing too.
chrisd - January 30, 2012
Until the dunk I thought that the 12-0 run was going to be the defining moment of the game
Mike and Ralphs reaction to the 12-0 was amazing.
bestclipfan - January 30, 2012
As Mike was saying "OH MY GOOODNESS"
I was screaming “OH MY GOD”. It was perfectly synchronized till the end.
shay - January 30, 2012
After the game, Durant said that 12-0 run is what sealed the game.
He said he knew they lost at that point. Little did he know that Blake was going to top it off with his Perky Mozgov special.
Lawler 4ever - January 31, 2012
Because the last person to be treated like this
was Mozgov.
mustang6944 - January 31, 2012
that was a great game
the 3’s, the dunks, Lob City! CP3 showing he is a maestro on offense,,,
big0lbad - January 30, 2012
The dunk overshadowed how cool the 4 consecutive 3s before halftime.
I literally stood up and yelled at the TV on the fourth Billups 3…that was rad..I’m sure being at the game was such a great rush..and then the dunk happened.
As for a greater impact on the game..those shots extended the lead before halftime just after the Thunder made a run to close the lead to 6.
MikeV7297 - January 30, 2012
Durant said those 4 three's were where they lost the game.
He didn’t even want to talk about the dunk. In his words he said, “I don’t care about that”.
shay - January 30, 2012
he's right though
that was ball game right there closing out the half.
banandy - January 30, 2012
Durant is right though
The dunk was spectacular and definitely great to see in person but ultimately it’s just 2 points. Now the 4 threes to close out the half changed the complexion of the game.
ClipperChuck - January 30, 2012
*3 Points- BG got the free throw :)
SurfinQ00 - January 30, 2012
If you dunk on someone that dirty it should be worth 10 points
Just saying ;)
MikeV7297 - January 30, 2012
Durant also said that "reggie evans was holding his arm and that's why he didn't contest the dunk" reggie evans wasn't even in the game at that point!
ThaFoX - February 1, 2012 via Android app
That's not the dunk he was talking about there
Durant was talking about Blake’s other great dunk, the one where Durant ran away from the play to avoid getting posterized.
boltsfan21 - February 1, 2012
okay thanks!
ThaFoX - February 1, 2012 via Android app
If we can finish this week strong, then I think we prove that we are a playoff threat!
SurfinQ00 - January 30, 2012
i think we already proved that.
chrisd - January 30, 2012
still need to sort out some bench issues before the playoffs. but we’re looking great.
tenkaistar - January 31, 2012
Regardless of what seed we end up at, we're a team that other teams don't want to face.
I think there are a lot of those teams in the West though. Spurs, Lakers, Thunder, Mavs could all overcome homecourt advantage if they need to. If we are fully healthy and clicking, then we could beat any team and be very hard to beat 4 times in 7 games. It’s kind of like the Heat. When they are at their best, there is no team in the league that can stop them. That’s not something that can be guaranteed, but the possibility is always there.
Lawler 4ever - January 31, 2012
Hers my other favorite dunk
Jayq - January 30, 2012
Yup
I loved how Durant ran away to avoid getting posterized.
boltsfan21 - January 30, 2012
+1
Didn’t see that until you pointed it out.
SurfinQ00 - January 30, 2012
yep noticed that live
That monster jam was worth more than 2 points in the psyche of the Thunder.
osamu - January 30, 2012
If you look really closely...
Reggie Evans grabbed Durant as the pass came… delayed him to keep him from rotating. Durant broke away from Reggie, his momentum got him moving, but by then he was in the dangerous territory and he just had to get out of the way. So KD’s play wasn’t quite as ridiculous as it looked at first. Having said that, KD’s lucky Reggie did that to him, because he did not want any part of that noise.
Steve Perrin - January 30, 2012
Guess I'll have to take another look
Good thing I saved the game on my DVR so I can watch it another couple times between now and Wednesday :)
boltsfan21 - January 30, 2012
Durant mentioned it after the game as well
shay - January 30, 2012
Yes he did, but he still got the hell out of dodge LOL
Lawler 4ever - January 31, 2012
hate to disagree but evans wasn't in the game and nobody held durant!
watched the replay over and over!
ThaFoX - February 1, 2012 via Android app
It's playing on a continuous loop right above you, and Reggie/Durant start every loop right under the basket
We’re not talking about the Perkins dunk here, we’re talking about this one.
boltsfan21 - February 1, 2012
the same thing use to happen when Jordan dunked.
mustang6944 - January 31, 2012
Key to the game
VDN only played 8 players (when the game was competitive). The starters and Evans, Mo and Foye. Didn’t give the bench a chance to blow the lead tonight!
ClipperChuck - January 30, 2012
That was great thinking
But, VDN can’t really do this night in and night out due to the schedule. But, our starters and Mo are extremely scary
Jayq - January 30, 2012
He's finally getting the hang of this coaching thing
Still doesn’t have an actual offense, but is doing much better with the rotation. Took Chauncey and Blake out early so he could put both back in when it was time to rest CP3 at the beginning of the 2nd quarter. Did a really nice job balancing minutes throughout. Also seems to finally be calling timeouts at the right time, as the other team is starting to make its run, rather than waiting for all the damage to already have been done.
boltsfan21 - January 30, 2012
+1
Like the rest of the Clips, he looks in better rhythm.
I wonder if we’ll see rotations like tonight. Blake was rested 12 minutes in the 1st half, and he played most all of the 2nd. Meanwhile, we saw none of Gomes, Jones and Cook. A new trend?
SilverClip - January 30, 2012
i think in a game when we have the next day off, like tonight's game, VDN can go this route
which is more like a playoff game route. If it’s the first game of a back-to-back he may bring in Jones and Gomes and Bledsoe for that matter to give the others rest. I love this VDN, he didn’t get in the way which is a perfect way to run this team.
chrisd - January 30, 2012
+1
Lawler 4ever - January 31, 2012
He was rested because he had two fouls
Jax - January 31, 2012
He's realizing that talent must be on the court at all times.
This isn’t hockey where you have a whole shift change. With our starters and Mo, we should be able to have 3 of them on the court at all times.
Paul
Foye
Butler
Evans
DJ
or
Williams
Billups
Foye/Gomes
Griffin
Evans/Jones
are much better than
Williams
Foye
Gomes
Evans
Jones
Lawler 4ever - January 31, 2012
It was somewhat disconcerting that the Clippers were all standing outside passing the ball around on a 4-on-2.
It’s nice that the Clippers are shooting so well from 3. Hope this keeps up.
UC.Clipper - January 30, 2012
Hello...I jast had to stop by and comment after that dunk
I turned the tv on and I just caught the dunk right when it happened. That was sick. It seriously reminded me of the dunk when Vince Carter jumped over that 7 footer in the olympics. SICK!!!
Jelly Bean - January 30, 2012
Thank you
I believe the enjoyment of a great dunk transcends team boundaries, it is like a fine art. And all that know the art of the dunk know how impressive this was.
bestclipfan - January 30, 2012
I'm not lying...I jumped off my couch.
Jelly Bean - January 30, 2012
Hey there...
It’s nice to have two teams to watch in LA, huh?
Steve Perrin - January 30, 2012
Yeah it is.
Fox Sports West post game show were making fun of Perkins. that was hilarious.
Jelly Bean - January 30, 2012
Maybe you need to do that more often then lol
Lawler 4ever - January 31, 2012
Could you imagine if DeAndre made his throw in dunk?
SurfinQ00 - January 30, 2012
I loved CP3's post-game comments
about appreciating the dunk but showing the guys not too get too hyped and to focus on winning the game.
ganima - January 30, 2012
I think CP3 is finally getting to his teammates.
If you noticed, DeAndre doesn’t stand in his spot after a dunk yelling nearly as much as he used to. Griffin also runs down on D more often as compared to staring down the ref. Paul is a great guy and I’m happy to see him as a Clipper, because as a Laker, he would be loved and hated every night. This man deserves the love win or loss.
SurfinQ00 - January 30, 2012
Yes - they are starting to gel
Jax - January 31, 2012
The dynamic of this team is changing.
3 of our 5 starters are all veterans that are playoff tested. One has been in the finals twice along with 4 other conference finals appearances. The majority of the players are married with kids, so there is a higher maturity level and accountability to be responsible. In the past, we were incredibly young just winging it. This team has structure and mentors that can help develop Blake, DJ, Bledsoe, etc. to become more focused on the the tasks at hand.
Lawler 4ever - January 31, 2012
OKC is seriously overrated
Although they are the so-called team to beat, I don’t see them going to the Finals. For the West it will likely be the Nuggets or Clips. Westbrook needs to feed KD more and create shots and opportunities for other players on the floor. When he thinks shoot first, he seriously hurts his team. In the regular season this problem will be masked, since the games tend to be faster. But, come June/July they will show once the game slows. OKC needs a pass first point guard, kind of like Rondo
Jayq - January 30, 2012
I think they are a solid team.
Don’t forget, their starting SG was out. Don’t get me wrong, Harden is a much better player, but it seems that Harden is much more effective coming off of the bench. But they are far from flawless. I haven’t kept up with them, but they make a good amount of turnovers and they only rely on 3 offensive players. They have some work to do, especially with the way Westbrook acts in the playoffs.
SurfinQ00 - January 30, 2012
Interesting about Denver
Considering the team has no “superstars” and is a well oiled machine in that they distribute their scoring evenly, it’d be interesting if they got to the finals and pulled it off like the Pistons. However, I don’t think they’ll make the finals. OKC is a very good team and Sefolosha was injured. They may be overhyped, but I can see them going farther than Denver.
Chris McD - January 31, 2012
Here is a close up
Jayq - January 30, 2012
At least Perk put up some resistance
Instead of letting Blake’s junk wash all over his face like Mozgov did. Of course, that’s also what made this one even more impressive.
boltsfan21 - January 30, 2012
Anyone else completely pumped that:
We have the strongest SOS according to ESPN? I’m not always on board with this, but I think the Clippers schedule has been brutal, and it is only going to get worse. I think it is AWESOME that we have such a solid record, and it isn’t a fluke like Philadelphia
SurfinQ00 - January 30, 2012
We've had the perfect schedule imo.
We have had a lot of time off in between games to practice, gel and prepare the players to compete and become comfortable with each other. At the same time, we have had to duke it out with very tough opponents. We’re learning on the fly, but are getting a truer idea of how the good the team is/can be. Billups, Butler, Williams and Paul have all missed games and we were able to win a few without them. It just helps us grow.
Lawler 4ever - January 31, 2012
This is hilarious: Dirk commentating meets Blake dunk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ2MiPE1qvI&feature=player_embedded
bestclipfan - January 30, 2012
hahahah
he said shut it down and let’s go home
KidJustin - January 31, 2012
fyi
That’s a mashup. Not sure if you know it or not, but that’s Dirk’s commentary from a different play mashed up with Blake’s dunk.
Steve Perrin - January 31, 2012
Yeah I know
it was commentary from a loss where Dirk didn’t suit up, it is funny how well it fits the dunk though.
bestclipfan - January 31, 2012
Scott Brooks says Clippers best team OKC played so far...
They’ve had a weak schedule so I’m not sure how much that means.
shay - January 30, 2012
OKC plays Dallas, Spurs and Memphis this week so their schedule just got a lot harder
considering their last 8 games were against teams below .500.
chrisd - January 31, 2012
hmmm
So if clips pass denver with a win on thursday, could the Thunder spiral into a losing streak for the Clips to claim 1st??
LJ Hann - January 31, 2012
well OKC is well suited to rout bottom-feeders
and they still will win their share of games against tougher opponents.
Westbrook will be the key to how far this team will go in the play-offs.
After next season Harden, Maynor and Ibaka will be RFA so their window for this team is closing. Then the tough questions like: who do we keep, where do we find inexpensive vets and do we hit lux tax as a small market team will come in to play.
BelgianClipper - January 31, 2012
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