Seeing Blake Griffin As A Member Of The Celtics Is Going To Take Some Time To Get Used To

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There's no denying that if Blake Griffin joined the Celtics in say, 2016, this would be a much bigger deal. I think most of us have accepted that even though Blake is 32 and played under 1,000 minutes last year for the Nets, he's not the same guy our brains probably remember. But that also doesn't mean he's completely washed and can't provide value. You have to keep in mind what his role is going to be on this team. Come in, play with energy, play solid defense and maybe hit the occasional three. We're talking probably 10-12 minutes a night with potentially more on nights when Al is getting a rest day. I don't think anyone is expecting this

but this isn't exactly the first time a PF in their 30s joined the Celtics after basically getting a year off. We saw what that did for Al Horford, why can't Blake have success at this end of bench reserve role?

I have to admit though, it's still bizarre for my brain to see Blake Griffin rocking Celtics gear and talking about playing with them.

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Maybe it's because this has been a 7+ year recruitment that is only now happening as Blake winds down, but it's still crazy to actually see. Then you factor in that Blake is rocking #91 which no Celtic player has ever worn before

and I dunno, there's part of me that is irrationally excited for this. Really, anything Blake gives this team at this point in his career is gravy. When you look at his best plays from last season as a Net, these are things he could easily replicate this season

Now that the signing is official, I hope he suits up and is active on Wednesday. Let's see what he looks like in some lineups as the small ball five. Maybe unleash some lineups with him next to Al and the rest of the starters. Given the injuries to their frontcourt at the moment, my guess is Joe Mazzulla is going to call his number pretty frequently to be that established NBA vet off the bench, at least to start the year. 

Griffin joins the long list of players that simply look weird in new uniforms as they enter the final stages of their careers. Remember Hakeem on the Raptors, Patrick Ewing on the Sonics, Shawn Kemp on the Magic, Robert Parish on the Bulls, Shaq on the Celtics, Tony Parker on the Hornets etc. Those all looked weird as hell and I imagine the first time I see Blake in a Celtics uniform I'll have the same feeling. 

It's just not something I ever expected to happen so now that it has, my brain doesn't really know how to process it just yet. The one thing I do know though is my brain is going to go to VERY dangerous places the second I see Blake dunk in a game. Need that moment.