NBA Playoffs 2012: Blake Griffin Must Validate Toughness Against Physical Play

The Los Angeles Clippers and star forward Blake Griffin aren't used to being in this position. 

The Clippers franchise isn't used to being in the Pacific Division race this late in the season and Griffin, in particular, isn't used to being on the other end of a potential mugging.

But that's what happened when the Phoenix Suns' Robin Lopez tried to take Griffin's head off on a fast break Thursday night. The physical Griffin is used to dishing out the punishment to opposing defenders, but lately, for every Griffin highlight reel dunk, we're seeing a highlight of him being pummeled on a fast break.

For the Clippers to have any postseason success, Griffin must validate his toughness against the physical play that's sure to continue to come his way.

Griffin has taken more than his share of hard fouls on the season and has done his share of complaining about it.

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“I’m definitely sick of taking hard hits,” Griffin said after the Clippers’ shootaround Monday. “…There’s a point, I can’t remember what game it was, in my mind where I thought this is kind of ridiculous. I’m sick of it, but it’s going to keep on happening.”

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He's absolutely correct that the hard hits will continue to happen, but he's not only going to have to deal with it, but Griffin's going to have to respond for the Clippers to have any chance of playoff success.

For one, most defenders are tired of being on the wrong ends of highlight-reel dunks by Griffin. Within time, the hard foul on him is going to become common. Maybe not as bad as when New Orleans Hornets forward Jason Smith got his 15 seconds of fame on Griffin, but the hits will keep on coming.

It's the playoffs. Physical play picks up and Griffin is going to be a target to be beat on, no matter who the Clippers play in Round 1.

The fact that Griffin is a woeful 52 percent shooter from the free-throw line doesn't help matters much. It's just an invite for hard fouls if he's not going to make his free throws.

As we head to the end of the regular season, things are just going to get tougher for Griffin. He's going to have to step up and prove he can take it as easily as he can dish it out.