The Los Angeles Clippers expected to get power forward Blake Griffin back soon from the torn quadriceps muscle that has sidelined him since late December, but those hopes are now dashed. Late on Monday night, ESPN's Ramona Shelburne and Marc Stein reported that Griffin had apparently fractured his hand in a team-related incident.
The Clippers confirmed Tuesday that Griffin will be sidelined four to six weeks because of the injury, and that it occurred when he threw a punch Saturday in Toronto. ESPN's Michael Eaves reported the injury happened during a fight with a member of the team's equipment staff outside a restaurant.
Griffin's status raises a crucial question: Is this so bad for the Clippers? After all, Los Angeles has gone 11-3 with Griffin sidelined, solidifying its hold on home-court advantage in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
Are the Clippers better off without Blake? Let's take a closer look at their performance to find out.
