#NBAVineRank: 2: Los Angeles Clippers
By Ian Levy
Welcome back to #NBAVineRank, our latest project here at The Friendly Bounce. We’ve ranked all 30 teams in terms of Vineability, and are counting them down as we kill time in the offseason. Today we check in on the Milwaukee Bucks, who have come in at six.
25-21: Hey look, there are the Pacers
19-16: This is the Lake Show, but don’t drown though
15-11: Miami Heat just miss the top 10
10-9: Wizards and Spurs crack the top 10
7: Rockets and Timberwolves tie for seventh
2 Los Angeles Clippers (9.9375)
What do you enjoy more: Blake Griffin solo jams, or CP3 to DAJ lobs?
Jack (@jackhaveitall): Obviously they are both tremendous, but I have to go with Blake Griffin solo jams. The CP3 to DAJ lobs are breathtaking, but Griffin has some iconic dunks.
Taylor (@TaylorBojangles): Griffin’s body of work speaks for itself here. CP3-to-DJ is definitely thrilling (RIP Brandon Knight), but Blake will forever have these.
Ryne (@ryneprinz): Blake Griffin’s dunks are some of the best in the league, so I’m going with him.
Zach (@ZachOliverNBA): Blake does some crazy things in the air, and is so powerful when he dunks, so, I will also take Blake. That said, I do enjoy my fair share of CP3-to-DAJ oops.
Matt (@Matt_Cianfrone): CP3 to DAJ lobs. I’m not saying that Blake’s dunks aren’t great but I really enjoy alley-oops and between Paul’s ability to throw them from anywhere at anytime and DAJ’s power and willingness to destroy anyone in his way I lean that way.
Ian Dougherty (@IanDougherty): Out of these two, I’d take CP3-to-DAJ lobs. But what I really want to see more are Blake-to-DAJ lobs. Their high-low chemistry is astounding, and can lead to some breathtaking plays.
Wesley Share (@wesley_share): Have to go with Blake solo throwdowns. There are only a handful of players Blake’s size who’ve ever played basketball and can do what he does.
Donnie Kolakowski (@donniebuckets): With respect to CP3 and DAJ, all of Blake. All the time. DeAndre gets people on the lobs unexpectedly. Blake goes straight through people who know he’s coming.
Over/Under 4.5 “This is why they brought me here” Vines from Paul Pierce this year?
Jack: Way over.
Taylor: Over.
Ryne: I’m betting my life on the over.
Zach: Under. Why? I’m being different.
Matt: Under. Only because I think he is third in the big shot pecking order behind CP3 and Blake. I think we get three.
Ian: Way, way over. Like Vince Carter jumping over Frederic Weis over.
Wesley: Under, because Lance Stephenson is going to rip the ball from his bare hands and make all the crunchtime plays himself. Get your ear-blowing vines ready.
Donnie: I’ll go under on the phrasing, because Pierce is too creative to use that again now that he’s in L.A. But over on the clutch shots.
Who on the Clips replaces Glen Davis in goofy bench celebration Vines?
Jack: Let’s go with Pablo Prigioni.
Taylor: Just look at this Austin Rivers face.
Ryne: I’m agreeing with Taylor. Austin Rivers may not do much, but he’s excellent at this part of the game.
Zach: Rivers is a good choice, but apparently they have Cole Aldrich? Let’s give Cole some love, cause I think he could turn up some.
Matt: Lance Stephenson has to do something good this season right?
Ian: They won’t be on the bench much, but Blake and DAJ. They play off of each other like a Key & Peele skit. They’re wonderful.
Wesley: I was hoping for Nikoloz Tskitishvili, but I think Wesley Johnson is a darkhorse. He’s only played for one above-.500 squad in his career and Kobe Bryant was on it, so he hasn’t had much free reign to goof around on the bench before. But he’s got potential.
Donnie: Thanks to Matt for the right answer. Y’all really gonna disrespect Lance like that? HE THREW UP A CHOKING MOTION AT LBJ ON THE BENCH! This man has no boundaries. Some might even say he was… Born Ready to do it.
Who is the most Vineable player on the Clips?
Jack: Blake. There’s a ton of choices, but Blake is the best. There’s not many things more enjoyable than Blake throwing down dunks.
Taylor: There’s really no wrong answer between Blake and DeAndre, with Chris Paul a respectable No. 3. I’ll give the slight edge to Griffin, though.
Ryne: Blake’s dunks are awesome. I love DeAndre and Chris, but Blake has this one locked up.
Zach: Blake, probably. Though, we need more vines of J.J. Redick running around screens for open threes because I’m a nerd and like that stuff.
Blake: Blake is going to give us big shots, big dunks, great passes, plays where he leads the break and oops both thrown and dunked. He may be the league’s most versatile Vine guy so I actually think this is easy. {Ed. note: Strong move by Matt here to change his name to Blake.}
Ian: Blake in a landslide. Vine was practically made for athletes like him.
Wesley: Blake edges out Steve Ballmer, by a hair.
Donnie: I tend to zig when others zag on these questions, but I can’t. Blake’s a top 5 Vine in the league.