Morning Wrap: Blake Griffin For the Win on a 3 Point Buzzer Beater

No, Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin is not known as a 3 point marksman. But he has hit one before.

Few were bigger than the three that he hit at the buzzer Tuesday night sending the Clippers to a 121-120 overtime win over the Phoenix Suns.

The bucket gave Griffin 45 points on the night, a night that apparently belonged to him.

You have to watch the shot, mostly because it hit the front of the rim, bounced high in the air...before dropping through the net.

And then the chaos ensued...

Video from NBA.com:

Dino Scare: Goran Dragic and T-Rex Scare Phoenix Suns

((ht: foxsports.com))

Halloween is a great time for pranks.

And this one appears to have worked pretty well.

Look at what happened Friday night in Phoenix when Guard Goran Dragic teamed up with "Baby-T"...a pretty realistic looking T-Rex, part of the Walking With Dinosaurs show.

Baby-T, with Dragic behind him jumps out from behind a curtain to scare to be-jesus out of Dragic's unknowing Suns teammates and coaches.

Well, played Goran, well played--

Suns Owner Apologizes to Fans For Spurs

((ht: cbssports.com))

Wonder how well this will go over in sports motivation land?

Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver apparently felt the San Antonio Spurs short changed his fans Thursday night during an exhibition game by not bringing or playing most of their starters. Coach Greg Popovich stayed home sick and Tim Duncan along with a couple other starters didn't make the trip.

So he took to the P.A system late in the 4th quarter to apologize to them for having to pay for a "Lopsided" game.

Hmmm...

While we sort of understand the sentiment, it WAS an exhibition game. And much like in football and other sports it isn't always about letting your starters play like it's the regular season.

For that very reason, we don't watch NFL preseason football and if the Hawks had their preseason games televised here at the OSG Global HQ (Atlanta), we wouldn't watch that either.

Here's video of Sarver talking to the huddled masses:

Ruh Roh! Former NBA Player Rex Chapman Arrested for Shoplifting

((ht: abc15.com))

Well, maybe the NBA doesn't pay so well. Either that or former NBA Player and University of Kentucky star Rex Chapman was arrested in Phoenix Friday afternoon for stealing from an area Apple Store.

Chapman is accused of walking out with over $14,000 of merchandise and trying to sell it at a nearby Pawn Shop.

More from ABC15 in Phoenix RIGHT HERE

Rex Chapman played for the Phoenix Suns, Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat and Washington Wizards in his career. He also did a stint in the Denver Nuggets front office and has worked on television for TNT and CBS Sports.

Chapman is facing 9 counts of retail theft and 5 counts of trafficking in stolen property.

And no, there's been no explanation as to why he did this...

KTVK-TV in Phoenix gives us the TV version of this story:

Shannon Brown and The Ugly Dunk Attempt

((ht: bleacherreport.com))

No, nobody got hurt in the filming of this video.

At least not that we are aware of.

But that doesn't make it any less funny.

Check out what happens to Phoenix Suns guard Shannon Brown on a Latvian promotional tour when he tries to show off his dunking skills. He slips and takes a digger, while the announcer screams what sounds like "Ooopa!", even though we know that's not possible.

Durant The Posterizer

((HT: NBA))

Oklahoma City played Phoenix last night- Check!
Kevin Durant scored a lot of points- Double Check!

Durant turns Marcin Gortat into a new 32x40

Evidence below...


And-1 to you, too...

PHX Fans Burning Nash Jerseys

Already...

Well, that didn't take long...

So, the HQ wants to get this straight...

A well-respected member of your local basketball team decides that he wants to test the free-agent waters, gets a great deal, and will now be playing for your arch-enemy- the Los Angeles Lakers...

Phoenix Suns fans are now venting their frustrations over Steve Nash leaving to go to LA... and it goes a little something like this...
((HT: ABC15 Phoenix))

Stay classy, Phoenix... By the way, Nash didn't want to move his family FROM PHOENIX in the first place... they're staying...

If you want to be mad at someone, be mad at the owners of the Suns for not investing enough to make it a viable franchise in the Western Conference...

In Case You Missed It: Steve Nash to the Lakers: Why does it matter?

Steve Nash

It really doesn't matter nearly as much as the NBA press would lead you to believe.

For those out celebrating the 4th on Wednesday, you may have missed the news that the Phoenix Suns traded franchise cornerstone Steve Nash to the LA Lakers for 4 future draft picks.

And yes, as soon as it was announced, the NBA Writing world was swooning. Nash, who is about to turn 37-years old averaged 12.5 points and 10.7 assists last season. Sure, he will make the Lakers somewhat better than they were in 2012.

But not a lot.

At this point you are all saying "You are an idiot" "You don't know what you are talking about" "Just shut-up dude".

And to that I say: Think about it.

Nash is good, but he isn't the Nash of 2005. Or 2007. Like I said, he does make the Lakers better...but the problem is: He makes the Lakers OLDER.

Much OLDER.

Kobe will be 35 next season. And he has a LOT of mileage on him. Metta World Peace (crazy Ron) will be 34, Pau Gasol 33.

Yes, on talent alone, the Lakers will win a majority of their games. But Steve Nash will not make them better than Oklahoma City. Steve Nash will not make them better than San Antonio. Steve Nash will get them past the 1st round of the playoffs.

This is why we are amused at the fascination with having "Names" on your team. "Names" don't win titles, great players do. And when you get a "Name" late in their career, it is a complete and total crapshoot.

You might get the player that "Name" formerly was...or you might get a washed-up, wannabe version of the player they formerly were.

No way to know until the season gets late.