Slam Online's Top 50 -- #14 Blake Griffin
Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2011 7:24 pm
For the first time in a very long time, or maybe even ever, the Los Angeles Clippers not only became watchable, but also one of the NBA’s main attractions. The Clippers’ home attendance didn’t just skyrocket at Staples Center, which was Laker-Town from the get-go, but the franchise also was among the top teams in the League in drawing crowds on the road. Averaging 17,614 fans per night in away games, the Clippers finished seventh in road attendance. Just the previous season, the same L.A. team finished second to last—29th in the League—in the aforementioned category. Undeniably, the Blake-effect.
It shouldn’t be to anyone’s surprise that this 6-10 forward, despite having never been ranked in SLAMonline’s Top 50, stands today among the top-14 players in the League. You’ll be hard-pressed to find someone his size with the amount of athleticism and poise he has. There just aren’t many, if any, power forwards who could imitate his game.
Reality is that at some point in his pro career, some point very soon, he’ll probably expand his game outside of the paint. He easily averaged a double-double last season, 22.5 points and 12.1 rebounds, without any true offensive threat from mid-range or beyond. It’s only a matter of time before his jumper becomes one that demands respect. I honestly believe he could be peaking at 27 ppg and 15 rbg by that point. Once his shot begins to sink in consistently, Griffin could go from being one the most entertaining players to watch, to one of the most dangerous offensive threats in the L—although technically he already is one.
Franklyn Calle, Slam Online
