What's Wrong With Blake?

[mike3]

Perhaps Blake is simply just trying to make himself more useful in the playoffs, so many games he'd have no impact because his bully ball wasn't working. I first started loving to watch Griffin cause of what you guys have said, the fact that anything crazy could happen when he is on court.

Hopefully Blake finds his groove and posterizes someone soon then 'that' Blake can come back along with his developed jump shot. Because if he plays like he did last year WITH this much improved jump shot then he's gonna cause trouble.

And it's already showed recently, in these blowout he's usually getting around 20 pts, 7 rebs, and 5 assists, and that's in 3 quarters. Blake's best quarter is his first, he won't do a lot in the 2nd, third he'll do a bit more then 4th he'll do nothing (which I've never understood). I hope Blake improves on playing the whole game.

[og15]

I think he's gotten unfair criticism of his playoff production in the first place. His only real "bad" series was the Memphis series in 12-13 and it was because he got injured half way through. He's generally done pretty well and even when his scoring wasn't on point he has still drawn defenses and been a playmaker. Really take out last season (where he was really good) and compare his first two playoffs to guys like LMA, KG, etc in their first 2-3 years in the playoffs and Blake is a better and more efficient scorer, and compare to a guy like LMA, doing more as a playmaker too.

That said, yes, I think it is important for him to continue expanding his game. I think there was some adjustment period to start the season. I quoted his stats from the start of last season too and they were not as great as how he ended. Seems like he takes a little time to adjust his play style and added skills to the team. A great play yesterday was when he caught the ball in the high post, looked at his lob option, his corner 3PT option, saw no one open and then hit a mid-range jumper. Smith made a great call mentioning how in years past, Blake gets the ball in that spot and he throws it back out to CP and goes to set a pick or if he surveys, the shot is not an option.

When you start seeing the game slow down for a player, that's a good thing, and that's going to help in the playoffs against good defenses if he can stay poised, not force action, but also always be a threat when he has the ball. You want Blake to catch the ball in the high post like that and do exactly what he did. Survey for a better shot, if there is none and he is open, shoot. If the defender closes in, drive. That's how a player is a multiple threat.

[LACtdom]

His jumper is looking much better however we have to take the good with the bad and there will be times where he goes cold for a stretch of games. Also as much as I don't like him 'being lazy' and shooting a lot of J's, if it lowers his chance of getting injured during the season then maybe it is a small price to pay.

[LoneyROY]

The explosiveness was back tonight. We might just have an all-around beast of a Blake Griffin come play-off time. And don't count out that MVP just yet either.

[KyletheDingbat]

The explosiveness was back tonight. We might just have an all-around beast of a Blake Griffin come play-off time. And don't count out that MVP just yet either.

I was at the game and Blake was awesome. Just destroyed AD. Killer game.

But the child in me is still disappointed that he doesn't jump as high! Even on that fast break dunk with a full powered jump his head was still a half a foot from the rim. He used to get eye level to that sucker pretty consistently. But whatever, he's a better player now. Also, I remember a couple years ago he didn't quite pull of the same crazy highlights for whatever reason, then they returned last year. So who knows.

Awesome game out there though.

[LoneyROY]

The explosiveness was back tonight. We might just have an all-around beast of a Blake Griffin come play-off time. And don't count out that MVP just yet either.

I was at the game and Blake was awesome. Just destroyed AD. Killer game.

But the child in me is still disappointed that he doesn't jump as high! Even on that fast break dunk with a full powered jump his head was still a half a foot from the rim. He used to get eye level to that sucker pretty consistently. But whatever, he's a better player now. Also, I remember a couple years ago he didn't quite pull of the same crazy highlights for whatever reason, then they returned last year. So who knows.

Awesome game out there though.

I think it has to do with his back fully healing. Give it time, the explosiveness will return.

[mkwest]

[LoneyROY]

Not sure what the deal is with Blake's inconsistency right now.

He started off the season scoring well, then struggled, then got really hot during the win streak, and now he looks like he's struggling a bit again.

Clips need find a way to consistently get him good looks every game, and he needs bring that aggression every single night.

[mike3]

He wasn't receiving enough touches last night and the Bucks doubled him every time he got position. Too many jumpshots last night and not enough post play, I feel Blake can take over a game like that if we just keep dumping him the ball and he uses his strength to score 1 on 1, or draw fouls. Then uses his passing skills to get out of the double team.


But I think we all forget Blake is human, he's not gonna be a beast every night, same with LeBron, same with Durant, same with everyone.

[og15]

Last night was one of those games where a team says "beat us with someone else". Redick and Barnes did their job, so did DJ, the defense on the other hand didn't, and the Bucks went to town, so...

[KyletheDingbat]

Blake is allergic to the paint tonight. He's clearly injured. I've never seen him kiss a 5 foot floater off the glass when there's just a guard between him and the basket before. He's avoiding contact, jumping gingerly, only getting rebounds when they fall to him. He's still playing well, and I'm glad he's playing through whatever he's dealing with instead of sitting it out like his colleagues.

[og15]

Blake is allergic to the paint tonight. He's clearly injured. I've never seen him kiss a 5 foot floater off the glass when there's just a guard between him and the basket before. He's avoiding contact, jumping gingerly, only getting rebounds when they fall to him. He's still playing well, and I'm glad he's playing through whatever he's dealing with instead of sitting it out like his colleagues.

If he is playing then it likely isn't an injury that requires him to sit, but I'm not sure what he would be injured with

[Woodsanity]

I have no clue whats up with him but his scoring efficiency rebounding and defense have regressed greatly.

[mike3]

It's funny how we all go from "all he does is dunk" to "now he never dunks". Good on Blake for expanding his game so much, just needs to get some of the rookie Blake stuff back in his game.