More Than Meets The Eye [Blake Griffin]

[mike3]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CU_ilArT7-0&feature=youtu.be[/youtube]

my latest mix on Griffin. You guys should know my opinion on Blake by now, the people that see the 'youtube Blake' or the 'sportscenter Blake Griffin'..

Well I hope this helps shut them up. Basically a mix shows his actual skills besides dunking and the post move mix I made a few months back, passing, dribbling, point forward attributes etc.

As usual, your feedback is important to me

[mkwest]

Good stuff as usual mike.

One of Blake's biggest haters is easily Charles Barkley. It seems as though he jumps at the opportunity to rip on him. However, Barkley in all of his hating (and it's a ton of hating), has said that Blake is probably the 2nd most talented (i.e. potential/upside in terms of combination of physical abilities with skills, etc.) player in the league outside of LeBron. On one hand, it's an unbelievable compliment. On the other hand, it's an easy set-up for huge disappointment. LeBron is one of the greatest players to ever lace up a pair of sneakers, but he's never going to please everyone. The focus isn't on what he does, but what he doesn't/didn't do. For someone like Barkley to put Blake in that type of company in terms of talent, it's pretty much going to be impossible for him to please people that think that way when they dissect his game. They'll say that he hasn't improved (or has actually regressed), that all he does is dunk and that he can't do this or can't do that. At the same time, these same type of critics prop up and congratulate other power forwards for what they do even when they're not capable of doing what he does.

A lot of critics don't watch the game or don't watch it objectively. They're likely not going to dive deeper than the surface stats nor will they take time to really understand the dynamics of the team. These same people go around saying that Jamal Crawford is the 2nd best player or 2nd most important player on the team. It's frustrating for us to hear or read, but that's what it is right now with these people. He certainly has tons of room for improvement, but many are not willing to be patient. They want it right now and that includes Clipper fans.

[mike3]

Good stuff as usual mike.

One of Blake's biggest haters is easily Charles Barkley. It seems as though he jumps at the opportunity to rip on him. However, Barkley in all of his hating (and it's a ton of hating), has said that Blake is probably the 2nd most talented (i.e. potential/upside in terms of combination of physical abilities with skills, etc.) player in the league outside of LeBron. On one hand, it's an unbelievable compliment. On the other hand, it's an easy set-up for huge disappointment. LeBron is one of the greatest players to ever lace up a pair of sneakers, but he's never going to please everyone. The focus isn't on what he does, but what he doesn't/didn't do. For someone like Barkley to put Blake in that type of company in terms of talent, it's pretty much going to be impossible for him to please people that think that way when they dissect his game. They'll say that he hasn't improved (or has actually regressed), that all he does is dunk and that he can't do this or can't do that. At the same time, these same type of critics prop up and congratulate other power forwards for what they do even when they're not capable of doing what he does.

A lot of critics don't watch the game or don't watch it objectively. They're likely not going to dive deeper than the surface stats nor will they take time to really understand the dynamics of the team. These same people go around saying that Jamal Crawford is the 2nd best player or 2nd most important player on the team. It's frustrating for us to hear or read, but that's what it is right now with these people. He certainly has tons of room for improvement, but many are not willing to be patient. They want it right now and that includes Clipper fans.

Thanks mk.

Yeah I hear you, Chuck always frustrates me when he talks down about Griffin. One thing you touched on frustrates me a lot, guys like Barkley and everyone else basically always compares to the great, comparing Griffin to the greats of the game in his 3rd season (or whatever it is), therefore Griffin is overrated, why don't we just focus on what Griffin does do rather than always seeing what players don't in comparing to everyone else.
What also frustrates me is how much even these 'experts' must not watch Clipper games when they say he's overrated as a basketballer and just a dunker, how do they have there jobs if they don't watch games in depth and study what players are actually doing out there.

Exactly, he has a long way to go to claim 'super-stardom' but everyone want's it tomorrow, I love how much NBA fans forget these guys are all human, they all have flaws, there not all gods who can do whatever they want whenever they want.

[eckoner]

Wow Griffin and LBJ in the same comparison sentence wow just wow.

Blasphemy and i dont even like LBJ lol

[og15]

Good stuff, the dunk highlights take away from some of Griffin's best skills, which are his ball handling and passing. He's a vastly improving shooter, and hopefully after all his work, next season he comes out with a confident and consistent shot. It will really take his game to the next level on offense.

His ability to read plays and see the floor on offense is really great though. Outside of the lobs, he doesn't go for the fancy, he just makes the right plays, which is why he is one of the best passers at PF in the league. It's also an attribute that makes him very capable of being a go to guy if he can carry the scoring load in the playoffs. He's a very capable playmaker and passer. Some guys can scorer a lot, but aren't really capable of being go to guys / #1 options on good teams because they can't create for others. Blake can create for others very well, and if his scoring continues to improve, he will be a great offensive player.

[mkwest]

Wow Griffin and LBJ in the same comparison sentence wow just wow.

Blasphemy and i dont even like LBJ lol

I'm merely the messenger so don't shoot.

I was shocked when I heard Chuck say that, because all he does it jump at every chance to belittle Blake and his game. If you put such lofty expectations on a 3rd year player, you're almost certain to be disappointed.

[wizardg]

Blake will benefit from having a coach who is good for the first time in his life maybe.. for sure in the pros.

DJ, Caron, and Willie G were poor passers and Vinny O was grade school and with DJ, who I like, not providing the shooting that Blake who lead the league in points in the paint neede for spacing. Blake was easy to guard.


2013-2014 will be diff
If Doc and Pierce come.

[mike3]

Blake will benefit from having a coach who is good for the first time in his life maybe.. for sure in the pros.

DJ, Caron, and Willie G were poor passers and Vinny O was grade school and with DJ, who I like, not providing the shooting that Blake who lead the league in points in the paint neede for spacing. Blake was easy to guard.


2013-2014 will be diff
If Doc and Pierce come.

I don't think a coach will help dramatically for Blake, a bit sure, But by now it's just Blake improving his own game. This offseason will be key as usual.

We just need a spread shooter or shooting lineup to help spacing for Blake, oh and for Blake to be CONSTANTLY aggressive

[wizardg]

Blake will benefit from having a coach who is good for the first time in his life maybe.. for sure in the pros.

DJ, Caron, and Willie G were poor passers and Vinny O was grade school and with DJ, who I like, not providing the shooting that Blake who lead the league in points in the paint neede for spacing. Blake was easy to guard.


2013-2014 will be diff
If Doc and Pierce come.

I don't think a coach will help dramatically for Blake, a bit sure, But by now it's just Blake improving his own game. This offseason will be key as usual.

We just need a spread shooter or shooting lineup to help spacing for Blake, oh and for Blake to be CONSTANTLY aggressive

Maybe maybe not.
Doc impressed me when he forced PP to change his game. When Doc came to Boston PP was a combo of Kobe and JoeJ in style=a high volume 1/2 court ball stopper. I believe Antione was gone then. The previous coaches had given PP and AW free reign to do whatever whenever.

He taught PP to read the defense, use all of his skills and trust the offense's ability to get the ball to the best team opt. I remember him benching Paul when Paul tried to do it his way.

That's not what he has to teach Blake but Blake needs to learn nonetheless. Blake is basically an IMPROVING 20-10-4 guy. So a Dramatic improvement trusts him into the top 5 NBA.

The Clippers 1/2 court O has few plays or effective sets.
1. Teaching Blake to better read defenses.
2. creating plays to get the ball to Blake on the move
3. getting players who compliment him. shooters shooters.