Blake Griffin takes subtle shot at Nets amid praise for Celtics after his Boston debut

The beginning of Blake Griffin’s profession as a Celtic in Greensboro on Friday evening wasn’t something to jot down house about. In actual fact, it could it clear why the veteran ahead didn’t be a part of a crew for the complete offseason. There was a fumbled cross, a badly bricked 3, a missed wide-open midrange jumper and a turnover. Whether or not this was merely rust or the indicators of a continued decline wasn’t clear at first, however the indicators weren’t promising.

The experience didn’t take lengthy to show although after Boston fell right into a 15-point first quarter gap whereas resting nearly all of their beginning 5. Griffin began to do a number of the little issues that made him a helpful function participant in Brooklyn for elements of the final two seasons. A few robust rolls to the rim earned him journeys to the free throw line. Self-discipline on the defensive glass earned him 9 boards in simply 16 minutes. Probably the most encouraging growth although got here along with his offensive unselfishness. He was clearly targeted on making the additional cross and rewarding his teammates with higher seems moderately than settling for his personal exterior jumpers.

There was one specific sequence involving Sam Hauser hustling for an offensive board that obtained tipped out to Griffin that stood out. The previous All-Star might have taken his wing 3 however as a substitute despatched a no-look dish to Hauser relocating within the nook, leading to a excessive share look from 3. He adopted up with the same good look to Derrick White a short while later.

Griffin ended up beginning within the second half over Noah Vonleh alongside Grant Williams, a possible lineup search for nights Al Horford is rested. Boston outscored Charlotte 36-21 within the body because the added ground spacing helped Jaylen Brown and Derrick White have huge quarters.

In a postgame interview with Abby Chin of NBC Sports activities Boston, Griffin summed up his evening after posting seven factors and 9 rebounds in 16 minutes.

“It felt alright,” Griffin stated. “A bit of rusty, I hadn’t performed 5-on-5 but so it’s all the time a bit bizarre coming in. These guys are nice, the teaching employees was nice, they gave me a transparent message and I used to be glad we picked it up within the second half and obtained the win.”

The extra eye-opening feedback from Griffin although got here when he was requested about reflecting on his time along with his new Boston teammates up to now. For the second time this week, Griffin appeared to take a delicate shot at his former teammates whereas showering his new crew with reward.

“I believe the depth and maturity degree of this group is off the charts,” Griffin stated. “Each day after we get to work it’s intense. It’s not that we’re going ceaselessly however these guys are locked in and nobody has to inform us to be locked in. It’s refreshing.”

Griffin may have one other week of coaching camp to work off the rust along with his new teammates earlier than heading as much as Canada for Boston’s preseason finale on Friday towards the Raptors.