LOS ANGELES (AP) — Blake Griffin is ready to put his off-court pursuits on the back burner and begin making good on teammate Mo Williams’ guarantee that the Los Angeles Clippers will reach the playoffs.
Griffin worked out Monday with a handful of teammates ahead of Friday’s scheduled opening of training camp, the prelude to the NBA’s lockout shortened 66-game schedule that begins Christmas Day when the Clippers visit Golden State.
Griffin says he found out that a labor agreement had been reached in the early morning hours of the day after Thanksgiving and he was too excited to go back to sleep. The league’s reigning rookie of the year says he’s been ready to play since August.
Griffin says he feels good about the shape his teammates are in and he thinks the shortened season could play to the Clippers’ advantage because of their youth and fresh legs.
