Los Angeles Clippers: Blake Griffin's Latest Knee Injury Could Cost Chris Paul

With Adrian Wojnarowski (and just about every other NBA writer on the planet) reporting that Blake Griffin "twisted" his left knee during Team USA practice on July 12, fans in Clipperland probably experienced an unpleasantly familiar feeling.

The Clipper Curse had reared its ugly head once again.

For a while there, the Clippers were enjoying some good fortune. They made the playoffs for the first time since 2005-2006 and seemed to have created an identity after the addition of Chris Paul. Things in Lob City had been looking up.

Until now.

With an MRI scheduled today, folks in L.A. will be holding their collective breath. But the fact that Team USA has already summoned New Orleans Hornet and No. 1 pick Anthony Davis to replace Griffin clearly shows that coach Mike Krzyzweski and his staff don't expect Griffin back anytime soon.

For Clipper fans, the status of Griffin's stint with Team USA is insignificant—especially compared to what it means for Griffin's status with the Clippers. Having just signed a max deal worth $95 million, Griffin's injury could not possibly have come at a worse time for the Clippers.

But that's how curses work; they pop up and ruin things at the most inopportune moments.

On a small scale, this is a potential disaster for Griffin, whose game is based entirely on athleticism. After missing the whole of his rookie season because of one knee injury and then tweaking his left knee during the 2011-2012 postseason, this most recent issue is especially troublesome.

Regardless of the severity of this injury, Griffin's future as a high-flier is looking grimmer by the moment.

But on a larger scale, this development could spell doom for the Clippers organization.

With recent news of Chris Paul turning down the Clippers' offer of an extension and continuing his open love affair with the New York Knicks, the potential loss of Griffin as a running mate could be the final straw.

And every Clipper fan knows that if Chris Paul bolts town after his deal expires, L.A. will be right back at square one. Only this time, those fans will have known what the good life tasted like.

That's right, folks. The Clipper Curse took a one-year hiatus, but now it's back—and by taking out Blake Griffin, it's making up for lost time.