Blake at Detroit - making Clips front office look smart

[og15]

He's settling and according to him letting them develop the younger guys, but he looks poor movement wise. Like I said, the thing about getting traded, especially when you are a guy with a poor injury history and who people think is washed is that you have to put up numbers to show you are worth trading for.

I don't even like catching Pistons highlights because watching him kinda makes me sad.

He's still a good player even though he's lost alot of his athleticism. Not sure I'll give the front office that much kudos. Yeah we got Kawhi, PG, and other pieces through free agency but draft wise its been Blake, SGA, and a lot of nothing to show for it

It took all those things though to get to where we are now with our Kawhi and PG group, in both trade assets and cap space. So I think overall the FO has plenty to show for, compared to where we were right before the Griffin trade.

It certainly hasn't been all upside, but I will take our current timeline 100 out of 100 times.

Wonder if he’s about ready to retire after all of these injuries

Retiring with like $39 million on the table as a player option next season? Wow, that would be interesting.

[MartinRiggs]

Well atleast he scored 23 pts to beat the Lakers today.

[esqtvd]

Well at least he scored 23 pts to beat the Lakers today.

Followed by 5 points on 1-8 shooting against GSW. Only averaging 12/6/4 on 38% shooting. In 30+ mpg! Dude's toast.

After hanging around next year to squeeze out the final $39 million left on his contract, it's hard to see him staying in the game just for the minimum. Or anyone wanting him. He doesn't D-up or rebound anymore and is still only 34% on threes. What's the point?

As the article below points out, it's just sad. It's not that he's dogging it, but at only age 31 [32 in March], Blake's body is shot, and he doesn't really have the skills or smarts to fall back on.


https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/03/detroit-pistons-questions-blake-griffin/

Detroit Pistons: It’s time to ask some tough questions about Blake Griffin
by Duncan Smith 3 weeks ago

The Pistons are significantly worse when he plays than when he sits. When Griffin is on the floor, they have a net rating of -13.7, while when he is off they’re positive with a +1.2 net rating. Their defensive rating is 13.9 points better when he’s off (119.2 versus 105.3) than on, and the dip in their offensive rating is imperceptible.

This young team plays much better with pace, but when Griffin is on the floor they play 5.8 possessions per 48 minutes slower than when he’s off. With Blake Griffin off the floor, the Detroit Pistons play at a top-10 pace at 103.35 possessions, and when he’s on they’re the slowest paced team in the NBA at 97.57 possessions per game, just a touch slower than the last-place LA Clippers’ pace of 97.92.

So, the Detroit Pistons are considerably worse with Blake Griffin than without him, and at this point, there’s no getting around it.

[MartinRiggs]

That is so weird. I only watched him against the Lakers and he looked good. He was guarded by LeBron and hit some trees over him and had some nice post moves. Also nice assists.

But yeah his body fell apart.

[Captain Ballmer]

Couldn't last to that contract.

[TrueLAfan]

Blake’s career reminds me a lot of an old player named George McGinnis. Blake, in a lot of ways, was like a B—maybe B+—version of McGinnis. If you think "that’s not possible, Blake was really great!” consider this: Big George led his team to two titles, and was the only person to bust into Dr. J’s string of ABA MVP awards as the league ended. He was an athletic freak when he was young—but he could also shoot from distance, rebound, and pass the ball. Sound familiar?

Players that rely so much on that athleticism but are pretty smart can adjust for a while. Blake did. So did Big George. But his body wore down, and then got broken down by injuries. He was still a really good player at 29—like Blake--but he tore ligaments in his ankle just before the playoffs that year. It was a Grant Hill-like injury, the latest and the deal breaker for him. At a certain point, most athletic players just can’t make up for what they lose. George hung on, with diminishing effectiveness, for a couple of seasons after that.

Neither Blake nor George approached the game from a cerebral standpoint—it’s not like Grant Hill, who had devastating injuries but was able to deal with the lost athleticism and be a (very) effective player for a long time. Grant knew what to do. George really didn’t after a certain amount of his athletic gifts were gone, even though he tried. Blake tries too, but the physical losses have surpassed what he can adjust for. I watch Blake now, and I think the same thing. He doesn’t know what to do with the body he’s got now.

[Kelphus]

Pistons have announced they are sitting BG while they ponder their buyout and trade options.

[SK21209]

Unfortunately, Blake is turning out to be this generation’s Larry Johnson. I really hope the basketball gods don’t make me have to watch him on the Lakers after he gets bought out.

[esqtvd]

NBA-TV just said Blake hasn't had a dunk since 2019. wtf

[Quake Griffin]

I object to this thread on the grounds that this was a smart deal the day it was done (check my record in this group - I said it the day it happened) and has been a smart deal since that day.

There is nothing about today that makes the deal more or less smart than the day he was traded. The way he looks now isn't making anybody look smart. They already looked smart on the day of the deal.

[MartinToVaught]

Unfortunately, Blake is turning out to be this generation’s Larry Johnson. I really hope the basketball gods don’t make me have to watch him on the Lakers after he gets bought out.

Larry Johnson is a solid comparison because of how hard they both worked to transform their games, but I think Blake was going to be better than him before the injuries destroyed his career. As talented as LJ was, he was never doing what peak Blake did in the 2015 playoffs.

To me, Blake is one of the ultimate "what could have been" stories alongside Grant Hill. All that's missing is the late-career reinvention as a key role player on a contender like Hill had in Phoenix. It would be amazing if he came back to the Clippers and revived his career here.

[SK21209]

Unfortunately, Blake is turning out to be this generation’s Larry Johnson. I really hope the basketball gods don’t make me have to watch him on the Lakers after he gets bought out.

Larry Johnson is a solid comparison because of how hard they both worked to transform their games, but I think Blake was going to be better than him before the injuries destroyed his career. As talented as LJ was, he was never doing what peak Blake did in the 2015 playoffs.

To me, Blake is one of the ultimate "what could have been" stories alongside Grant Hill. All that's missing is the late-career reinvention as a key role player on a contender like Hill had in Phoenix. It would be amazing if he came back to the Clippers and revived his career here.

100%, I think 2015 Blake was a top 5 player in the league and LJ never sniffed that. Maybe Blake still has that last iteration left in him, but Hill was able to pull that off in large part because Phoenix was able to keep him healthy. Blake just can’t stay on the court.

[Roscoe Sheed]

Unfortunately, Blake is turning out to be this generation’s Larry Johnson. I really hope the basketball gods don’t make me have to watch him on the Lakers after he gets bought out.

Larry Johnson is a solid comparison because of how hard they both worked to transform their games, but I think Blake was going to be better than him before the injuries destroyed his career. As talented as LJ was, he was never doing what peak Blake did in the 2015 playoffs.

To me, Blake is one of the ultimate "what could have been" stories alongside Grant Hill. All that's missing is the late-career reinvention as a key role player on a contender like Hill had in Phoenix. It would be amazing if he came back to the Clippers and revived his career here.

I agree- there are parallels.

Blake is one of my all-time favorite players. However, I'd be reluctant to take him back if he were to be bought out. There doesn't seem to be a role for him on this team. Would you rather have him play over Batum, Morris, Ibaka, or Zubac? I think each of these players offer more to the team than Blake does now unless Blake has been half assing in Detroit for some inexplicable reason. He doesn't seem effective in any facet of the game except passing.

[SK21209]

Unfortunately, Blake is turning out to be this generation’s Larry Johnson. I really hope the basketball gods don’t make me have to watch him on the Lakers after he gets bought out.

Larry Johnson is a solid comparison because of how hard they both worked to transform their games, but I think Blake was going to be better than him before the injuries destroyed his career. As talented as LJ was, he was never doing what peak Blake did in the 2015 playoffs.

To me, Blake is one of the ultimate "what could have been" stories alongside Grant Hill. All that's missing is the late-career reinvention as a key role player on a contender like Hill had in Phoenix. It would be amazing if he came back to the Clippers and revived his career here.

I agree- there are parallels.

Blake is one of my all-time favorite players. However, I'd be reluctant to take him back if he were to be bought out. There doesn't seem to be a role for him on this team. Would you rather have him play over Batum, Morris, Ibaka, or Zubac? I think each of these players offer more to the team than Blake does now unless Blake has been half assing in Detroit for some inexplicable reason. He doesn't seem effective in any facet of the game except passing.

Yeah I don't know if he's a good fit with us, unless we want to commit to playing really big lineups with Batum/Morris essentially being the backup 3 and Kawhi at the 2 when PG is off the floor (which, now that I think about it, sounds interesting).

[Clemenza]

Love Blake still and would love for him to be back on the Clipps but honestly we have no role or minutes for him as currently constructed. He never was really a rebounder, shot blocker, rim protector even in his prime and that's exactly what we would need from him if he were on the team. Lakers too. Both LA teams don't need anymore scoring

[TrueLAfan]

First—Blake doesn’t fit with us. Second--truthfully, he doesn’t fit with anybody. You’ll get flashes of his old abilities from time to time—and he may be able to tie a few decent weeks together—more bad games than good. But you can’t tell when they’re going to be, and the gaps between those good patches are going to get longer and longer. And his liabilities now are big. He lacks the strength to bang in the post, never had the wingspan, and has lost the athleticism to get loose balls, which means he can’t rebound or defend well inside. He hasn’t got the wheels for perimeter D either. He’s lost his shot, so even with his good passing, he’s a relative minus on offense as well. There are 133 forwards and centers that have played over 1000 minutes in the last two seasons. Blake ranks 131st in Win Shares, 113th in PER, 126th in BPM, and 120th in VORP.

But I don’t think Blake is some tragic story. Look, the man had 9 good to great years in the NBA—600+ games as a 22-9-4.5 guy. 3 times in the top 10 of MVP voting, 5 All-league selections—come on. It was shorter than he/we would like it to be, but he had a really good career. He just can’t deal with the player his body forces him to be now. (Larry Johnson could--really, he was shot by the time he was 27. But he played well in his final years—couldn’t score or bang the same way because his back was so shot, but adjusted well and remained a valuable if lesser player for about four years.)

I'll always like Blake because he was a great player for us for a long time. (Yes, seven and a half years with a team is a long time.) I'd love to sign to him to an offseason deal so he can retire a Clipper. I hope he can come back, even a little bit, and half part of a good seasons or two. But I don't want him to do that, or try to do that, here.

[madmaxmedia]

I object to this thread on the grounds that this was a smart deal the day it was done (check my record in this group - I said it the day it happened) and has been a smart deal since that day.

There is nothing about today that makes the deal more or less smart than the day he was traded. The way he looks now isn't making anybody look smart. They already looked smart on the day of the deal.

Yeah I think the pretty clear consensus in our board was that it was a good move, once you got over the emotional aspect of trading away a historic Clipper. I never worry about what happens after the trade, I always wish our guys well when they go play for new teams, especially Blake.

I'd much rather him still be dominating in the East than where he's at today.

[madmaxmedia]

First—Blake doesn’t fit with us. Second--truthfully, he doesn’t fit with anybody. You’ll get flashes of his old abilities from time to time—and he may be able to tie a few decent weeks together—more bad games than good. But you can’t tell when they’re going to be, and the gaps between those good patches are going to get longer and longer. And his liabilities now are big. He lacks the strength to bang in the post, never had the wingspan, and has lost the athleticism to get loose balls, which means he can’t rebound or defend well inside. He hasn’t got the wheels for perimeter D either. He’s lost his shot, so even with his good passing, he’s a relative minus on offense as well. There are 133 forwards and centers that have played over 1000 minutes in the last two seasons. Blake ranks 131st in Win Shares, 113th in PER, 126th in BPM, and 120th in VORP.

But I don’t think Blake is some tragic story. Look, the man had 9 good to great years in the NBA—600+ games as a 22-9-4.5 guy. 3 times in the top 10 of MVP voting, 5 All-league selections—come on. It was shorter than he/we would like it to be, but he had a really good career. He just can’t deal with the player his body forces him to be now. (Larry Johnson could--really, he was shot by the time he was 27. But he played well in his final years—couldn’t score or bang the same way because his back was so shot, but adjusted well and remained a valuable if lesser player for about four years.)

I'll always like Blake because he was a great player for us for a long time. (Yes, seven and a half years with a team is a long time.) I'd love to sign to him to an offseason deal so he can retire a Clipper. I hope he can come back, even a little bit, and half part of a good seasons or two. But I don't want him to do that, or try to do that, here.

Sadly, he really has no replacement-level skills to offer at this point. There's not really any positives to make up for the negatives, which even vet minimum castoffs can offer (even if it's just hustle and 6 fouls a game.)

I also agree that he has had a really nice career and a lot to be happy about (including a lot of money this year and next even if they negotiate a buyout.) His will has outlasted his body, which is the outcome for probably 98% of pro athletes.

[playaloc916]

It's time for Blake to hang them up. I don't see him re-inventing himself like a Vince Carter (well maybe he has, since it seems he's taking more 3's), and I'm not sure he's a good locker room guy/vet. I think 2Pat's a somewhat close comparison, and at this point I'd rather have 2Pat because at least he's healthy and he's a good locker room vet.

And it's a good point, BG has had a pretty solid career. You have to remember that he already had a rocky start to his career, when he messed up his leg during that rookie preseason dunk. No shame in calling it quits now, instead of playing another few years as a shell of his former self.

[Captain Ballmer]

First—Blake doesn’t fit with us. Second--truthfully, he doesn’t fit with anybody. You’ll get flashes of his old abilities from time to time—and he may be able to tie a few decent weeks together—more bad games than good. But you can’t tell when they’re going to be, and the gaps between those good patches are going to get longer and longer. And his liabilities now are big. He lacks the strength to bang in the post, never had the wingspan, and has lost the athleticism to get loose balls, which means he can’t rebound or defend well inside. He hasn’t got the wheels for perimeter D either. He’s lost his shot, so even with his good passing, he’s a relative minus on offense as well. There are 133 forwards and centers that have played over 1000 minutes in the last two seasons. Blake ranks 131st in Win Shares, 113th in PER, 126th in BPM, and 120th in VORP.

But I don’t think Blake is some tragic story. Look, the man had 9 good to great years in the NBA—600+ games as a 22-9-4.5 guy. 3 times in the top 10 of MVP voting, 5 All-league selections—come on. It was shorter than he/we would like it to be, but he had a really good career. He just can’t deal with the player his body forces him to be now. (Larry Johnson could--really, he was shot by the time he was 27. But he played well in his final years—couldn’t score or bang the same way because his back was so shot, but adjusted well and remained a valuable if lesser player for about four years.)

I'll always like Blake because he was a great player for us for a long time. (Yes, seven and a half years with a team is a long time.) I'd love to sign to him to an offseason deal so he can retire a Clipper. I hope he can come back, even a little bit, and half part of a good seasons or two. But I don't want him to do that, or try to do that, here.

Sadly, he really has no replacement-level skills to offer at this point. There's not really any positives to make up for the negatives, which even vet minimum castoffs can offer (even if it's just hustle and 6 fouls a game.)

I also agree that he has had a really nice career and a lot to be happy about (including a lot of money this year and next even if they negotiate a buyout.) His will has outlasted his body, which is the outcome for probably 98% of pro athletes.

I'm not sure Blake even interested to become a role player for a contender in order to have a chance at ring but If he does, probably best thing for him to do is take the rest of the year off and rehabilitate his mind, game and especially muscles, redefine lower body, get stronger, quicker a little bit. He might have a 20 minutes of role.