Blake Griffin: 'Lob City' doesn't exist anymore

The Clippers have spent most of the last two seasons
fighting off the notion that they were all hype and not built for the
postseason.

Well, under new head coach Doc Rivers, the Clippers are
currently building a new identity and moving a different direction.

That includes the ending of the nickname "Lob City."

"Lob City doesn't exist anymore. Lob City is
done," Griffin told ESPN's Shelley Smith in an interview this week.
"We're moving on and we're going to find our identity during training
camp, and that will be our new city. No more Lob City.”

Griffin emphasized Rivers' defensive-minded focus and the Clippers'
shift to their new offense. The arrival of Chris Paul two years ago, joining
alongside center DeAndre Jordan and Griffin, made up for an uptempo, exciting
offense.

That will change this season.

"Our offense is going to have a totally different look
this year," Griffin said. "Our offense is going to
have a lot of movement and floor spacing. I'm looking forward to it."

Ending all lobs from the Clippers is almost impossible when
the team possesses the two most athletic big men in the game. And Rivers knows
that, but he also knows what's best for the team.

"We want to be a basketball team," he said.
"We want to win. That's one thing we always talk about. I've told them
that lobs are great, but winning is better. Let's try to get them both, but I
understand what he's saying. I think the message there is people look at us as
a showtime team and not a winning team, and we want to be a winning team, but
you can do both.

"I don't think anybody is setting up a play to get a
lob. Lobs happen. We have two guys that you could throw the ball anywhere. We
would be crazy if we took that out of our offense. I want more [lobs] if we can
get them. That's two points. It's very difficult to foul D.J. [Jordan] when
he's up there for a lob pass. Half the league won't try it, and the guys who
have tried it have learned that they shouldn't try it. We're going to get as
many as we can. We want [longtime Clippers announcer] Ralph [Lawler] saying,
'Oh me, oh my!'"