Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Blake Griffin Out; Clipper Curse Continues


Blake Griffin will miss at least six weeks of the regular season due to a broken kneecap. Get out of here!

This marks the second time in three years that the top overall pick has been hurt coming out of the gate. Two years ago, Greg Oden underwent microfracture surgery and missed the entire season.

The Clippers have also been bitten before. In 1988, the Clips drafted Danny Manning with the top overall pick. Manning played just 26 games in his rookie season before blowing out his knee. In 1998, the Clips drafted Michael Olowokandi with the top pick. He didn't get hurt, but he's one of the biggest busts in NBA history.

You can also add in Shaun Livingston, the No. 4 pick in the 2004 draft. Livingston battled injuries and played in just 91 games over his first couple of seasons. Two seasons later, Livingston blew out his knee in one of the most hideous sports injuries ever televised. Joe Theismann's broken leg nearly threw up after seeing Livingston's knee.

In 2005, the Clippers used the No. 12 pick on Yaroslav Korolev. Korolev would play just 34 games in his NBA career ... averaging 1.1 points per game.

The Clippers can't catch a break. They "visit" the Lakers tonight in a nationally televised game on TNT. The hook was not only The Battle Of Los Angeles but the defending champions taking on the top pick in the draft.

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