Having already been Mozgov’d in an incident that was arguably Mozgovier than the original Mozgov itself, Pau Gasol was not about to allow Blake Griffin to make any more highlights at his expense. Or so he thought.
After a series of Ron Artest fouls failed to impede Blake Griffin’s direct path to the rim, Gasol found himself the last line of defense against an oncoming freight train. Admirably, he stepped in and laid his body on Blake, whose head ended up in Pau’s armpit. Not wanting to stay in such a foul-smelling place, Griffin, in mid air, spun himself out of the predicament and tossed up something of an afterthought on his way to the floor. And with that, the Clippers were on the board… and Pau Gasol could only wonder what sort of homicidal blow he’d be forced to deliver on this kid to keep him from depositing the ball into the basket.
As you observe the replay angles of this spectacular take, notice that the finish is less of a layup than it is a short jump shot. Griffin doesn’t use the glass, nor does he flip it up underhand; he actually strokes it in as he’s falling away from the basket, and commentator Mike Smith even says he “knocks it down.” You don’t “knock down” a layup, folks. This was a 360 fade-away jumper, AKA the most unthinkable shot since something Nick Young did, probably.
Griffin finished up with 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists in a 96-90 Clipper victory. As if to throw in a little Shawn Kemp with his Vince Carter, he went the traditional route on a later drive against Robert Sacre.
Viva preseason.
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