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E-News Sign UpMike Dunleavy on Blake Griffin's Season Ending Surgery
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"Well, I found out today. Blake went to the doctor yesterday. I was notified that he had some pain in his knee from jumping in the pool. So then he went to see Dr. ElAttrache yesterday and after doing an examination and conferring with the other doctors I think the decision was made that Blake would have surgery – season ending surgery that would ensure that he has the ability to have plenty of time to recover and be back by next season.”
On what this means for the rest of the regular season and what is needed from the team moving forward...
“Obviously it’s a little disappointing because of the fact that he brings so much to the table, and particularly from the standpoint that I think our team is playing well and as a group where I think we’re coming together better all the time. Add that amount of ability to our lineup at some point in time was something we were looking forward to. The bottom line is right now that, hey it’s a continued opportunity for the guys who have been able to get some defensive playing time that Blake would have taken up, and continue to play well or either improve where they are right now.”
On the reaction among the other teammates...
“I haven’t been face-to-face with any of our guys yet obviously because the information came to me after our morning film session and time with the guys. I’m sure they all know about it now, but I think their reactions will be a form of disappointment but there’s still a sense that he hasn’t been here all year so we’ve just got to move forward and do what we were planning on doing anyway, and try to make the playoffs.”
On whether was there any indication that Griffin had any unusual amount of pain in that knee before the exam...
“No, it was moving fairly smoothly. It wasn’t until in the last day or so, he had been doing some jumping in the pool. The final stage for him to be able to compete was to be able to jump. That starts at a progression. First it’s jumping in the pool then it’ll be jumping on different kinds of surfaces and then finally on the basketball court and full jump, full landing. He’s been doing all of the other stuff full weight, you know running, treadmill, shooting the ball. Obviously if jumping in the pool was bothersome, there was concern. So that’s why he went back to see Dr. ElAttrache. I don’t know exact procedures or tests they ran, but ultimately after they did whatever they did, they made the decision.”
On looking at the injury exception from the league and what this will mean for Griffin's growth...
“I don’t think we’re in the position where we need the injury exception from the league. I think that for Blake he’s learned a lot off the court. He’s one of those guys that studies real hard so he’s been pretty much doing everything that we’ve been doing. I think he’ll just continue to stay in that mode. He’ll learn a lot by observing and I think he’ll come back next year even more prepared.”
