Blake Griffin: 'Lob City Doesn't Exist Anymore' for LA Clippers Under Doc Rivers

Speaking with ESPN's Shelley Smith at Los Angeles Clippers media day, Blake Griffin depressed dunking advocates everywhere with his admission that Lob City was no more:

"

Lob City doesn't exist anymore. Lob City is done. We're moving on and we're going to find our identity during training camp and that will be our new city. No more Lob City.

"

When Doc Rivers assumed sideline control of the Clippers, things were going to change. It was inevitable.

The entire team would need to speak in dialects usually reserved for blues singers; "defense" would have to become a way of life.

Rivers is already putting more oomph in the team's defense. He called one of their first practices of the season a "strong defensive" showing, according to the Los Angeles Times' Broderick Turner.

The culture is already changing in Los Angeles. But the death of Lob City? Say it ain't so.

Killing it off erases exactly half the reason we watch the Clippers at all. Their high-flying dunks are incredible, and their precision-based alley-oops can be murderous.

There is value to be found in finding a second identity, of course, so long as it acts like a surrogate to the original one and isn't a team-defining change.

"Our offense is going to have a totally different look this year," Griffin explained. "Our offense is going to have a lot of movement and floor spacing. I'm looking forward to it."

That much I'm on board with.

Predictable offenses will be exploited eventually. The Russell Westbrook-less Oklahoma City Thunder were proof of this in the playoffs. Added floor spacing will inject some flavor into Los Angeles' dribble-penetration-heavy offense. Expanding their offensive horizons won't be a bad thing.

Just don't let it come at the complete expense of Lob City, Doc. DeAndre Jordan and Griffin assault rims; Chris Paul serves up vertical gimmes for his teammates; that's what they do. Jordan himself can't do anything else.

Moving away from lobs and jams entirely ignores their strengths as a unit, which is why I'm leaning towards Griffin being over-dramatic. 

"I can't really go to people's houses and take their T-shirts and cut them up," said Griffin of Lob City. "But we have a new identity as a team and that's going to be what we work out during training camp."

Bid auf Wiedersehen to Lob City if you must, but know that it isn't dead forever. It can't be. The world isn't that cruel, and the Clippers aren't that opposed to scoring.

Follow @danfavale

Moving away from lobs and jams entirely is ignoring their strengths as a unit, which is why I'm leaning towards Griffin being over dramatic. 

"I can't really go to people's house and take their T-shirts and cut them up," said Griffin of Lob City. "But we have a new identity as a team and that's going to be what we work out during training camp."

Bid auf Wiedersehen to Lob City if you must, but know that it isn't dead forever. It can't be. The world isn't that cruel and the Clippers aren't that opposed to scoring.

 

Follow @danfavale

he entire team would need to speak in dialects usually reserved for Blues singers.