But Griffin’s best highlight occurred before the opening buzzer when one of his warm-up dunks knocked the shot clock off the top of the backboard.
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During layup lines for the Los Angeles Clippers’ exhibition contest against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday evening, Griffin finished a self alley-oop with such authority that the shot clock at Rodgers Arena fell backwards from its perch above the hoop. It was a marked improvement from a squad that struggled to stop the opposition last season and won several games by just outscoring their opponents The new attitude will get a big test on Tuesday when they face the reigning National Basketball Association champion Golden State Warriors and while the game is just a prelude to the regular season, it will give the team and its fans a good idea of what to expect in the upcoming season.
The Raptors signed the six-foot-eight 245-pounder a week before camp opened. “Deserves a team, along with Seattle”, Rivers said. Bennett was coming off a solid summer spent with Canada’s national team, playing first at home for the Pan American Games and then in Mexico City at the FIBA Americas Olympic qualifying tournament.
Criticism is tough for young players who are accustomed to starring for university teams. “He’s home, he’s probably in a more comfortable surrounding”, Rivers said.
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Heck, come to think of it, we didn’t even hit the regular season yet.
