Normally the Clippers would not be high on my list of opponents to see in person, but they have improved markedly this year and I was really excited to see Blake Griffin! I have heard from personal acquaintances and read numerous articles and tweets from Bill Simmons that you have to see Blake in person to appreciate how amazing he really is. I have never been so excited to see a fast break coming at me that was run by anyone other than the Lakers.
I had already decided beforehand that cheering for Blake Griffin dunks was acceptable, and even encouraged. Because I wanted the Clippers crushed, I wanted no one dunking but Griffin. He had a missed alley oop dunk in the first half when the Clippers were using the basket closest to me that would have been one of the best things I’ve ever seen. Alas, Griffin missed it and another one later as well, but did manage to have a crazy twirling layup in traffic and a thunderous dunk down at the other end in the fourth quarter.
The game was as perfect a game to watch in person as I could have hoped. The Lakers were fluid as a team on offense and picked up the defensive intensity as the game went on. I got to see Kobe light it up in the third quarter and watch the bench continue the starters’ high level of play. Blake Griffin had an amazing dunk and a couple of near misses, which are a lot like Shannon’s: better than most people’s made dunks. The Lakers won and reasserted their dominance of Los Angeles, and let the league know in the process that things are starting to click in Lakerland once again. It was extremely entertaining the whole time to boot! Long live the Lakers.
