The Blake Griffin Problem
Added on May 01, 2013 by Scott in
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Ten days ago, the Clippers were sitting pretty with a 2-0 series lead versus Memphis. Three consecutive losses later has them on the brink of elimination. Making matters worse, All-Star forward Blake Griffin is nursing a sprained ankle and is listed as day-to-day on the injury report. But even before he turned the ankle, Griffin wasn’t playing at a particularly high level, which has become a recurring problem.
Through five playoff games, Griffin is averaging 14.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and shooting 44% from the field. Not exactly awe-inspiring stats for a supposed “elite” player. In addition, he is being pushed around by Grizzlie power forward Zach Randolph, who is netting 20.4 points, 8.6 boards and hitting 55.3% of his shots.
For all the spectacular highlight reel dunks, Griffin is and has been a limited frontcourt weapon. He can’t consistently hit from the perimeter and lacks a refined set of inside post moves. As athletically gifted as he is, he isn’t physically imposing. After two mediocre performances to open the series, Randolph has been a dominant force in the last three games.
Not all the blame for the Clippers’ woes should be thrown at Griffin’s feet. Chris Paul was a non factor in Game 3 and 4 defeats, and center DeAndre Jordan has been invisible on the offensive end the entire series. That said, neither of them is a rising superstar marketed as the face of the franchise.
Until he develops a more polished all-around game, the former number one overall pick will remain a one-dimensional talent who can be taken away by creative coaching and quality defenders. That’s not to say he can’t improve. After all, he’s only 24, so there are plenty of offseasons for him to craft his skills, provided he puts the necessary work in.
The Clippers are an ascending team, and with Chris Paul likely to sign a long-term deal to stay with them, they will continue to be competitive in the Western Conference. However, much of their future success will depend on Grifiin’s maturation.
