Blake Griffin apparently lost his cool. It happens. NBA players are known to fight teammates and even staff members. But most times, the fights are kept inside of the locker room and the team finds a way to move on.
But Griffin and the L.A. Clippers won’t be able to move beyond this for a while. According to reports, Griffin was having dinner with teammates and staff members during a recent trip to Toronto. An argument ensued between Griffin and the equipment manager and the NBA All-Star hit the equipment manager in the face. The equipment manager walked outside and Griffin followed him and punched the man again. The blows were so severe that Griffin broke his hand.
The fight, or bullying, isn’t a good sign for team that hopes to compete with the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors for an opportunity at the NBA Finals. Griffin has already missed games due to injury in December and will miss another month due to the broken hand. He may also miss a few more games if the NBA decided to suspend him for the altercation.
Last week, the team got rid of enigmatic forward Josh Smith by trading him back to the Houston Rockets. Also, another offseason acquisition, Lance Stevenson has been a bust and is no longer in the rotation.
Despite the turmoil, Doc Rivers and the Clippers have been able to win without Griffin and some have even suggested that the team has been better. But if they plan to compete for a championship, they will need to tackle the conflict within the organization to move forward.
