Blake Griffin
The Blake Griffin Sweepstakes
By Mike DeStefano
Mon, 05/18/2009 - 9:53pm
| Blake Griffin |
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While there are some teams that can use the creativity and playmaking skills of the 18-year-old Ricky Rubio, or the length and defensive prowess of UConn’s Hasheem Thabeet, the drop-off in talent is so significant that all fourteen lottery team representatives will be bringing every rabbit’s foot and lucky penny they can find to Secaucus.
For a bunch of these teams, it’s all or nothing. It’s Blake Griffin or it’s “maybe next year.” That’s doesn’t mean no one else in this draft can be a star. It means that Griffin is the only one that will definitely be a star.
Offensively, Griffin reminds many of a young Karl Malone. His physique and athleticism are reminiscent of a young Mailman, and he’s taller. That ability to run and jump instantly makes him a perfect fit for offensive systems like Memphis, Golden State, and New York. A lot of people just think Griffin is a run and dunk-type of player, but those people don’t know basketball. If you watch this youtube highlight video:
you’ll see that:
He’s very good at turning and facing. Once he does that, he is too quick for whoever is guarding him. He’ll succeed in taking bigs off the dribble the same way Amare Stoudemire does.
He’s got a much better handle than people give him credit for. He can grab a rebound and take it the length of the court a la Charles Barkley.
He’s an underrated passer, especially on the interior. When he’s double-teamed, he has the vision and court sense to find the open man and make a good pass.
He’s got a good spin move in the post and can finish well around the basket even when he can’t dunk it. He also has a turnaround jump shot that he likes to use the glass on. With steady improvement, think Tim Duncan with less height but more athleticism.
All of these weapons will allow him to play in any offensive system. Because he can create his own shot both in the post and on the wing, he’ll be fine on a team like Sacramento that lacks upper-echelon playmakers. On a team like Minnesota, he can step out and let Al Jefferson occupy the block whereas, on Washington, he can post up while Jamison, Butler, and Arenas occupy the perimeter. He will end up like LeBron or Barkley in that they don’t really play positions; they are simply basketball players.
Then, there’s the other end of the ball. First of all, he’s a great shot-blocker. He’s very aggressive and has great timing, but he also knows when he can go get a shot and when he can’t. In that respect, he’s a good position defender. You don’t see many shot-blockers taking charges, but if you watched that video above, you saw him do that. He’s quick enough to guard threes and big and strong enough to guard fours. Think Kenyon Martin. It’s not surprising that, out of the ten worst defensive teams in the League this year, nine of them will have representatives with their fingers crossed in Secaucus. He will instantly make whichever team that gets him better defensively.
Finally, Griffin has everything you’d want in a franchise player in terms of his attitude. He plays hard every single night, a quality that would be especially valuable in the LA Clippers’ locker room. He never takes a play off, let alone entire games. He is also the consummate teammate. When he had to sit out with a concussion, it didn’t prevent him from jumping around and supporting his teammates as best he could from the sideline. The kid simply wants to win.
In these economic times, he will be a huge lift to any lottery team because he will put fans in the seats. He’s got the type of game and heart that fans value in their players and will be a hit no matter what city he ends up in.
He’d give Sacramento the franchise big man they’ve lacked since Chris Webber left town. It’s no coincidence that the Kings haven’t been good since then.
He’d make the Washington Wizards significant players in the 2010 Eastern Conference Playoff picture.
He’d make the Clippers relevant, and he’d give Thunder fans a hometown hero to root for.
He’d give Minnesota another stud on the block, and he’d team with Rudy Gay and Marc Gasol to give Memphis a deadly frontcourt going forward. He’d be the perfect big man for Nellie’s small-ball, and he’d give Knicks’ fans something they haven’t had since the 90s: hope.
There are lottery teams with more pressing needs than a PF, but there is no team in the lottery that doesn’t need Blake Griffin. He’s the only player in this draft that’s a surefire franchise-changing talent. That’s why tanking for the Blake Griffin Sweepstakes started so early this past season, and that’s why I’ll be kneeling in front of my television tomorrow night, saying a prayer or two in my Knicks jersey.
Posted on: Mon, 05/18/2009 - 11:06pm
Blake Griffin + Marc Gasol+
Blake Griffin + Marc Gasol+ Rudy Gay + OJ Mayo + Mike Conley= DEADLY
Posted on: Tue, 05/19/2009 - 4:40am
Karl Malone
Since everyone is comparing Griffin to Karl Malone: Just to remind, when Dave DeBusschere was talking up taking Karl Malone in the draft (before wining the lottery), he was being ridiculed left and right. Malone, as the consensus opinion went, was not going to be a good pro; that's why he fell to 13th pick in the draft.
Of course Malone turned out to be a great pro (though for those saying Malone was better than Ewing, I would still take Ewing with that first pick), but that doesn't mean similar players will have anywhere near the same success.
Griffin has a great chance of being a good pro, but I don't think he is quite the sure-thing to be the star that everyone is making him out to be.
Posted on: Tue, 05/19/2009 - 11:21am
One problem
If this guy isn't picked first, its going to be equivalent of picking Sam Bowie before Michael Jordan. There is one flaw I see in Blake though, he relies too much on athletism. If he ever gets a bad injury, he may have a tough time returning to be as effective.
Posted on: Tue, 05/19/2009 - 11:23am
blake on the thunder..
durant greene westbrooke and griffin sounds like a nasty team in the future, but it would be fun to watch mayo, gay, gasol , connley, darrel, and griffen that would be nice. Arenas Jamison Caron and a healthy Haywood with Griffen auto playoffs def. but if our team stays healthy together....on the kings or wolves another top 3 lotto team....lol
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He’s the only player in this draft that’s a surefire franchise-changing talent
He's a surefire all-star but surefire franchise player maybe, only time will tell