Blake Griffin Soft?

[Real Deal]

Miller should've confronted him, to his face, instead of drilling him. The hit was unnecessary. What if Griffin breaks his arm landing that way? What if he lands on a camera and hits his eye, tearing the retina?

 

A few pushes in the back when the player is NOT in the air does not warrant someone running at another and shoulder-blocking him as hard as he could.

[fish7718]

I think you guys are missing the idea of me saying he has to get up swinging, he doesn't have to go punch him, but he at least has to go up to Andre and get in his face about it, you just can't let someone destroy you not doing nething about it.

[Smitty]

Miller never would have went after Griffin had Griffin not been pushing him constantly. I don't think Miller overreacted at all.

 

He ran at him and knocked him over like a bull because of a few weak pushes...that's not overreacting?

[Big Penny]

He ran at him and knocked him over like a bull because of a few weak pushes...that's not overreacting?

so if you were playing ball and some big guy just kept pushing you in the back every trip down the floor you would let it go?

[Real Deal]

so if you were playing ball and some big guy just kept pushing you in the back every trip down the floor you would let it go?

I would confront him about it, like a man, to his face...not shoulder-block him when he's not paying attention, with everyone around.

 

What Miller did was stupid. If he did that to Ron Artest back in 2004, he would've gotten his ass kicked as he threw punches and racked up a costly suspension (both suspended).

 

If the hit causes Griffin to fall on his arm, breaking it, the suspension he received would be longer, and there would also be a fine.

 

Pushes in the back happen all the time. Both times, Blake was clearing out for a board. He didn't front him and push him in the chest, asking for a fight. He's not Garnett.

[NomarFachix]

I would confront him about it, like a man, to his face...not shoulder-block him when he's not paying attention, with everyone around.

 

What Miller did was stupid. If he did that to Ron Artest back in 2004, he would've gotten his [expletive] kicked as he threw punches and racked up a costly suspension (both suspended).

 

If the hit causes Griffin to fall on his arm, breaking it, the suspension he received would be longer, and there would also be a fine.

 

Pushes in the back happen all the time. Both times, Blake was clearing out for a board. He didn't front him and push him in the chest, asking for a fight. He's not Garnett.

 

8 inches and 51 pounds heavier than you, you're going to go up and beef with a guy who's been shoving you around all game face to face? Probably get your [expletive] beat? Or just get a shot in, like the other dude's been doing?

 

Artest in '04 is a bad comparison, because Artest in '04 is an isolate case of an absolute nutjob. I think 99% of the league reacts how Griffin did, taking the foul and getting all "WTF?" when he got up.

 

If Griffin broke his arm, he's even softer than we thought ... But seriously, Miller would be suspended longer, but you also have to assume Griffin won't go throwing his weight around and, as a rookie, shoving 12 year vets in the back on consecutive trips down the floor. Miller couldn't just allow a rookie to disrespect him continually on the court.

 

Blake shouldn't need to shove a 6'2 guard in the back, twice, to grab a board. He's taller, stronger, and has more jump than Dre. He was merely throwing his weight around, which Miller returned... literally. I have no problems with this exchange, and it's over now, which is good for both of them.

[NomarFachix]

Another reason why I'm glad Miller isn't a Sixer anymore. He overreacted and it was a punk move on his part.

 

Stoppppp! Miller is a beast, if the Blazers offered him for Lou Williams you'd go from six to midnight

[Dr. Feelgood]

8 inches and 51 pounds heavier than you, you're going to go up and beef with a guy who's been shoving you around all game face to face? Probably get your [expletive] beat? Or just get a shot in, like the other dude's been doing?

 

Artest in '04 is a bad comparison, because Artest in '04 is an isolate case of an absolute nutjob. I think 99% of the league reacts how Griffin did, taking the foul and getting all "WTF?" when he got up.

 

If Griffin broke his arm, he's even softer than we thought ... But seriously, Miller would be suspended longer, but you also have to assume Griffin won't go throwing his weight around and, as a rookie, shoving 12 year vets in the back on consecutive trips down the floor. Miller couldn't just allow a rookie to disrespect him continually on the court.

 

Blake shouldn't need to shove a 6'2 guard in the back, twice, to grab a board. He's taller, stronger, and has more jump than Dre. He was merely throwing his weight around, which Miller returned... literally. I have no problems with this exchange, and it's over now, which is good for both of them.

 

My thoughts exactly on all the points about Griffin and Miller. Griffin is much taller, jumps a lot higher, and it much stronger, he shouldn't need to push a 6'2" guard in the back to get a rebound.

[BasX]

Blake Griffin be stylin, don't be mad.

[Real Deal]

8 inches and 51 pounds heavier than you, you're going to go up and beef with a guy who's been shoving you around all game face to face?

So, instead, you're going to run and shoulder-block him into the stands, blindsiding him?

 

That's more likely the reason why Miller would get his ass kicked. Players get in each others' faces every game. They mouth off. They push each other around slightly.

 

In all of your years of watching the league, how many times have you seen a player shoulder-block another?

 

What is more likely to tick you off as a professional: someone doing that to you, or just mouthing off?

 

You guys are making Griffin's pushes seem like a big, big deal...like a Ben Wallace and Ron Artest push. Not even close to it. Miller overreacted. If he was such a bad ass, he would've just started pushing him back and standing up to him, not blindsiding him.

 

And, yes, you can break your arm by falling to your side, just like you can break your finger by catching a basketball. Look how Wade dislocated his shoulder. Players shatter their knees by stepping on the feet of others. It's not a surprise, at all, and Miller's hit belongs in the NFL or NHL, not in the NBA.

[NomarFachix]

So, instead, you're going to run and shoulder-block him into the stands, blindsiding him?

 

That's more likely the reason why Miller would get his [expletive] kicked. Players get in each others' faces every game. They mouth off. They push each other around slightly.

 

In all of your years of watching the league, how many times have you seen a player shoulder-block another?

 

What is more likely to tick you off as a professional: someone doing that to you, or just mouthing off?

 

You guys are making Griffin's pushes seem like a big, big deal...like a Ben Wallace and Ron Artest push. Not even close to it. Miller overreacted. If he was such a bad [expletive], he would've just started pushing him back and standing up to him, not blindsiding him.

 

And, yes, you can break your arm by falling to your side, just like you can break your finger by catching a basketball. Look how Wade dislocated his shoulder. Players shatter their knees by stepping on the feet of others. It's not a surprise, at all, and Miller's hit belongs in the NFL or NHL, not in the NBA.

 

A rookie disrespected a veteran and it was handled. Nobody got hurt, one game was taken away from Dre, and it's over with. I'm not going to play the woulda, coulda game... Because none of it happened. Griff tried bullying a 12 year vet and got [expletive]ed out, I loved it. That's all I'm saying. There's no point in arguing unwavering opinions.

[Real Deal]

A rookie disrespected a veteran and it was handled. Nobody got hurt, one game was taken away from Dre, and it's over with. I'm not going to play the woulda, coulda game... Because none of it happened. Griff tried bullying a 12 year vet and got [expletive]ed out, I loved it. That's all I'm saying. There's no point in arguing unwavering opinions.

Nobody is playing the "woulda-coulda" game. The discussion is asking if Miller overreacted or not. If we're not allowed to discuss something that has happened because "it's over and done with," what was the point of discussing anything related to Johnson and Finnegan? Why did anyone talk about Melo when he tagged Collins in the jaw? That was really no big deal, right, because it was Collins that threw Smith to the floor by the neck, and Melo was just doing something that Smith should've done. At the end of that fight, nobody was hurt, so for what Melo did...I love it?

[NomarFachix]

You are playing the woulda coulda game, you're indicting Miller's actions because Griffin "could have" gotten hurt... lol

 

I also never said you weren't allowed to discuss anything... but cool!

[Real Deal]

You are playing the woulda coulda game, you're indicting Miller's actions because Griffin "could have" gotten hurt... lol

 

I also never said you weren't allowed to discuss anything... but cool!

There's always going to be a consequence to any action, regardless if Griffin was hurt or not. A lot of people think it was inappropriate and an overreaction, and they think less of Miller now. The suspension. ESPN was all over it. Twitter was on it. Had Miller taken a different route, different consequences would follow...and probably less relevant.

 

If Miller went to grab a wet towel from the bench and snapped it at Griffin's leg, or hit him in the back with a foam baseball bat...doesn't matter. The potential injury wasn't the only reason why Miller was stupid for what he did. The "overreaction" has nothing to do with the potential injury. Miller overreacting has everything to do with the fact that Blake pushed him like he would push someone like Andrew Bynum in the back, and if Miller had any self control, he would've called him out on it with no intent of fighting, or just got more physical under the rim, like a player of Kobe or Wade's caliber would do.

 

My final thought on the matter: would Kobe or Wade act that way? Would they retaliate the same way Miller did? Not a chance. Maybe Kobe back when he was immature, but not today, as a veteran of the game.

 

There's no reason to do what he did, and that's why he was suspended. The NBA agrees.

 

“It just shows you how soft the league has gotten, protecting young players,” Miller said. “It’s not like it was when I came in this league.”

 

Miller contends he was pushed twice by Griffin before he retaliated but doesn’t expect the league to give the Clippers’ forward extra attention.

 

“No, not really, because he’s going to get away with it,” Miller said. “I don’t have nothing against him being an aggressive big man. I don’t think I would have been suspended if there was a flagrant foul called on the court. (Blazers center Marcus) Camby whacked someone in the face and he didn’t get suspend. The rules don’t apply to everyone.”

The second part of his quote doesn't even make sense, because he doesn't really know what to say about it. Camby is a vet...supposedly, only rooks are protected...but not in that instance? He doesn't have anything against Blake being aggressive, but he shoulder-blocks him? There wasn't a flagrant foul called, so doesn't that mean he DID get away with it during the game? He thinks the league should suspend Griffin also, or...?

 

He has no idea what to say, how to explain it. If the league was more physical, he would be close to retirement because bigs would be laying him out more often, like they did in the 80s. In fact, if the league was more physical, Craig Smith would've clotheslined Miller, McHale-Rambis style, later on in the game, to send a message...and I'm sure Miller wouldn't have liked that.

 

Of course, that would've been okay, because the NBA needs to be more physical on plays away from the ball, so crazy headcases like Kevin Garnett can Rudy T some small point guard in the jaw if that player has been too physical with him all game long (wow, sounds ridiculous as I type it).

[fish7718]

My final thought on the matter: would Kobe or Wade act that way? Would they retaliate the same way Miller did? Not a chance. Maybe Kobe back when he was immature, but not today, as a veteran of the game.

Whaaa? How are you going to compare Kobe and Wade, the face of the NBA and two of the best players in the game to....Andre Miller....? Sorry I agree with some of your points and I agree with some of his points but this is not a good comparison at all. Kobe and Wade are held at a much higher standard than any other player in the NBA aside from maybe LeBron James...

[Smitty]

Stoppppp! Miller is a beast, if the Blazers offered him for Lou Williams you'd go from six to midnight

 

lol, nah. Dude didn't even want to be in Philly in the first place.

 

Plus he's the ultimate ping pong killer.

[NomarFachix]

There's always going to be a consequence to any action, regardless if Griffin was hurt or not. A lot of people think it was inappropriate and an overreaction, and they think less of Miller now. The suspension. ESPN was all over it. Twitter was on it. Had Miller taken a different route, different consequences would follow...and probably less relevant.

 

If Miller went to grab a wet towel from the bench and snapped it at Griffin's leg, or hit him in the back with a foam baseball bat...doesn't matter. The potential injury wasn't the only reason why Miller was stupid for what he did. The "overreaction" has nothing to do with the potential injury. Miller overreacting has everything to do with the fact that Blake pushed him like he would push someone like Andrew Bynum in the back, and if Miller had any self control, he would've called him out on it with no intent of fighting, or just got more physical under the rim, like a player of Kobe or Wade's caliber would do.

 

My final thought on the matter: would Kobe or Wade act that way? Would they retaliate the same way Miller did? Not a chance. Maybe Kobe back when he was immature, but not today, as a veteran of the game.

 

There's no reason to do what he did, and that's why he was suspended. The NBA agrees.

 

I understand all of what you're saying... But you were the one who cited potential for injury numerous times, that is why I addressed it.

 

I'm not disagreeing with his single game suspension.

 

I don't think you have to disagree with the suspension or that he may have gone above in his reaction to agree with what he did... Maybe I'm just not expressing what I'm trying to say very well. Dude stood up for himself against a bullying rookie, with a charging shoulder. Above and beyond a push? Sure. But it's better than fisticuffs, better than cutting his legs, better than a lot of reactions that we've seen over the years. In the end it was a charge that knocked him to the floor and that was that. I guarantee that Blake will think twice about pushing in the post on rebounds, and that 'Dre will react differently next time.

[headliner]

Andre did what he had to do no way a veteran can let a rookie bully him around.