Monday, December 5th, 2011 at 9:00 am  |  101 responses

Blake Griffin Supports Mo Williams’ Playoff Guarantee


by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni

The NBA season has yet to begin, and for all teams, hope springs eternal. Yes, even for the star-crossed Los Angeles Clippers.

Coming off a promising year that saw the rise of Blake Griffin as an All-Star talent, the Clips like their chances this season, and are making bold statements about what the near future holds.

From the LA Times:

[Mo] Williams said he has told all who will listen and all of the naysayers that “one thing that I can guarantee” is the Clippers will play in the postseason in 2012. “We’re right behind him in that regard,” [Blake] Griffin said Friday after another workout at the team’s practice facility in Playa Vista. “That’s the mentality and the mind-set of our whole team. That’s something that I’ve been thinking about personally all summer. So I have no problems with him saying that. But at the same time we have to back that up and we have to be ready. And I think from talking to everybody, everybody is fired up and ready to go, and I think that’s the direction we’re headed in.”

“We’re going to go to the playoffs this year,” Williams said. “That’s what is going to happen. It’s just how far we’re going to go, that’s what it is. But we’re going to the playoffs.” Why does he feel that way? After all, the Clippers have not made the playoffs since 2006, and their last appearance before that was in 1997. “We’ve got the personnel in place,” Williams said. “And I know my leadership qualities. I know how hard I worked this off-season to prepare for this, and there’s no way I won’t be in the playoffs this year.”

The postseason guarantee isn’t entirely far-fetched. Last year, the Clippers appeared on their way to making the Playoffs until a rash of injuries (and general Clipper-ness) got in the way late in the season.

Assuming most of the key contributors stay healthy this time around, Clipper fans should feel just as confident as the players do in their team’s ability to seriously challenge for a Playoff spot in the Western Conference.

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  • MUBWAR

    it’s not that I don’t trust the reigning roy or EG or Mo William, I DON’T TRUST YOUR COACH so no you guys won’t make it there

  • Bt

    Haha that’s great mo but I think a guarantee that you will show up personally in the playoffs for the first time in your career would have more weight.

  • Bt

    Oh and for the record not going to happen

  • DieselMechanic

    Yea Mo Williams shouldn’t make guarantees unless he wants to guarantee that he will participate in the regular season.

  • thor

    I’m a believer in the Clippers this year, but they have to add a piece though. I like the Caron Butler idea.

  • http://www.optimabbc.be Max

    Butler would get them in the playoffs, I see Denver droppin out because their team moved to China.

  • thor

    Exactly Max, also Utah is out and even though you should never underestimate Houston I also think they will take a back seat to this years Clippers. That’s unless houston add a guy like Nené.

  • LA Huey

    I remember back when Mo made a guarantee about beating the Magic in the ’09 ECF…

  • http://www.slamonline.com J

    they’re fine. i wouldn’t be surprised with a postseason apperance. 7 or 8. they shouldn’t go for Caron imo. How old is he? but with Sterling, well i won’t be surprised if Caron ends up there as well.

  • http://nba.com GP23

    Yeah, I think they will enter as the 8th seed.

  • Deedre

    I never got when anyone guaranteed anything. All its gonna do is make you look like an idiot in the end. Its not like people will start thinking you’re Nostradamus afterward, its puts an unnecessary amount of pressure on a team, especially a growing one like the Clippers and its definitely not going to be because of the guy making the claim. Just shut up and play

  • http://www.slamonline.com spit hot fiyah

    @j 31 i think. i think a lot depends on if they re-sign jordan, houston will probably go hard after him though if they don’t get chandler. also lol @max

  • http://www.slamonline.com megatron

    yeah i’d rather him say something like “If we manage to get into the playoffs Ill try not to choke again”.

  • LA Huey

    You think the Notorious VDN is going to get another 10 wins out of this team?

  • http://redoftoothandclaw.ca/ niQ

    Man, I miss the Baron to Blake passes.

  • http://slamonline.com AllBall

    The Clippers should be a play-off team this year, but its tough out West. If CP gets traded, or his whole situation affects the way NO play, they should take that 8 seed. If NO sort their roster and CP is back at full health it may be tough for the Clippers to take that spot.
    nbk who do you see making the play-offs out West?

  • http://itsahardwoodlife.blogspot.com omphalos

    Would be kinda hilarious if Baron was amnestied by the Cavaliers and then resigned with the Clippers for the minimum to revive the remains of his career.

  • http://www.optimabbc.be Max

    Forgot about NO, don’t sleep on the warriors either.

  • LA Huey

    Dallas, OKC, Lakers, Spurs, Grizzlies, and Portland will return to the West’s playoff bracket. Denver (with all their turnover to China) and New Orleans (CP3 trade drama) returns are questionable. I think Houston is in position to take one of those two spots. And since it’s the West, you can’t get a playoff ticket if you don’t win more than 42 games. I think the Warriors finish ahead of the Clippers (but it could be my GState bias)

  • http://nba.com GP23

    2012 Western Conference Playoff Seeds:
    #1 Thunder
    #2 Lakers
    #3 Mavs
    #4 Timberwolves
    #5 Spurs
    #6 Memphis
    #7 Hornets (with CP3)
    #8 Clippers

  • http://www.optimabbc.be Max

    GP23 Are you serious?

  • LA Huey

    Max, he obviously is. Minny as the 4th seed gave it away.

  • http://www.slamonline.com megatron

    lol when I first glanced at GP’s list I couldn’t tell why max was asking if it was serious.. then I seen the T’wolves…

  • 23

    I’ve always wanted to see LA vs LA in the playoffs. Just thought it would be cool. Hehe home court advantage would be BIG

  • http://nba.com GP23

    What’s bad with the T-Wolves?? Ricky Rubio, Kevin love and Derrick Williams are gonna kill it. That trio is enough for them to make the Playoffs, and I’m sticking by it. Rubio for ROY.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    I also totally skipped over the T-Wolves on that list. It was like it was so ridiculous my brain couldn’t process it.

  • http://www.bulls.com Enigmatic

    There is no way in hell the L-Wolves will be the 4th seed in the west, lol.
    And I don’t see the Clips making the playoffs either.
    Eight worst record last year.

  • http://www.optimabbc.be Max

    GP, if we would be playing 2K I’d agree with you, Beas, KLove and Randolph are beasts in that game..

  • Mavus

    It can happen, might be the best year to get in.. Playoff teams from last year, Denver and New Orleans have question marks.. 6th, 7th, and 8th are wide open..

  • http://nba.com GP23

    Ok, 4th seed for the T-Wolves may be a little high… but I still think they will make the Playoffs.

  • Mavus

    @GP23 If Rubio & Williams get MIN to go from 17 wins to 46-48 wins.. THey should win co-ROY ..

  • http://nba.com GP23

    It was hard leaving the Blazers out of that list, but if Brandon Roy leaves, then thay aren’t getting in. With the Warriors, they have Ellis and Curry who are offensive threats, but as a defensive team, they are simply not good enough to make the post-season.

  • http://www.bulls.com Enigmatic

    But the Wolves are?????

  • http://www.slamonline.com megatron

    1- Thunder
    2- Mavs
    3- Lakers
    4- Spurs
    5- Memphis
    6- Portland
    7- Clippers
    8- Golden State

    7 and 8 spots are wide open depending on FA signings. I based this off the assumption that New Orleans is going to trade chris paul

  • http://www.bulls.com Enigmatic

    And I just don’t see Rubio averaging anything higher than 10 points and 5 assists per in his first year, which I don’t think is “killing it”.

  • http://www.slamonline.com megatron

    yeah im guessing around 8-9 points 7-8 assists provided he even wins the starting job from luke ridnour

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    The Timberwolves are not making the playoffs. That idea in itself is absurd. That’s like those people that thought the Cavs would make the playoffs last year. It’s just not even close to happening.

  • http://www.optimabbc.be Max

    GP Portland without Roy = Portland fromprevious season, and you can’t knock on GSW’s D if your making a case for de TWolves..

  • http://www.slamonline.com megatron

    the wolves are going to win about 24-26 games. They will improve (Rick Adelmen + Derrick Williams) but they most definatly will not make the playoffs

  • MaxIsNative

    Tha Gingerwin Man; speaks the truth.

  • Riggs

    i trust mo’s guarantees as much as i trust money-back guarantees…

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Man Beasley is ridiculously good on that game. It is infuriating. I lost to them the other day because of him and because Anthony Randolph grabbed 13 boards to go along with 14 and points and a few blocks. And they now have Baron Davis on the association.

  • LA Huey

    Wolves and Clippers wins will number in the high 20s and low 30s. Wolves are too young and have to deal with too much change (new coach) for them to make the playoffs. Clippers have the same coach as last season. Both will be fun to watch though.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    “Because they know all they sold ya was a guaranteed piece of sh*t. That’s all it is, isn’t it? Hey, if you want me to take a dump in a box and mark it guaranteed, I will. I got spare time. But for now, for your customer’s sake, for your daughter’s sake, ya might wanna think about buying a quality product from me.”

  • chingy

    Whatever you’re smoking GP, you should prolly get off of it…

  • http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=pawtucketymca Gametime

    If Blake Griffin is the truth there is no reason they can’t make the playoffs.. Eric Gordon has one of the sweetest jumpers in the league and after how the whole LeBron thing went down in Cleveland, Mo Williams has one of the biggest chips on his shoulder.

  • http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=pawtucketymca Gametime

    Megatron I like your picks I’d actually have Memphis finishing with a slightly better record than the Spurs though assuming Marc Gasol stays on their roster.

  • An Tran

    So they will guarantee being swept in the first round? How fun.

  • http://www.slamonline.com megatron

    yeah gametime, I was somewhat undecided about who would finish better, I think it depends on if battier resigns or not. i’d love to see that rematch in the playoffs though

  • http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

    I think GSW takes that 8th spot. Clips are not making the playoffs until they get rid of VDN.

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