Griffin Without CP3

KyletheDingbat · Post #1 » by **KyletheDingbat** » Sat Jan 18, 2014 7:34 am

Has any one else noticed Blake Griffin is a very assertive leader when CP3 isn't playing? He controls the pace, manages his teammates, directs traffic, and basically acts as a floor general. When CP plays that role is obviously his, and I'm not sure Blake knows how to play naturally beside him. He does fine, obviously, and spectacularly since mid December. But if Blake can get comfortable in his role beside Chris, whatever that is, this team could win it all.

Love that we're on a five game streak and only lost one since Paul went down. This team needs to gel under these circumstances so we don't have a total collapse in the playoffs.

LACtdom · Post #2 » by **LACtdom** » Sat Jan 18, 2014 10:44 pm

The loss of CP3 will hurt our record but I think we will benefit from it come playoffs. The team seems to be developing some mental toughness like we showed against Dallas. Other players like DC and Barnes seem to be stepping up and Griffin is leading by example. Hopefully everything will come together when CP3 returns.

Neddy · Post #3 » by **Neddy** » Sat Jan 18, 2014 11:58 pm

off topic, but we have 3 Kyles on this board. Kyle, Kylethedingbat, and Kylem. most Kyles ever for a clippers forum? or is Kyle the next Johns and Mikes?

kylem4711 · Post #4 » by **kylem4711** » Sun Jan 19, 2014 2:35 am

its getting rediculous

DraftSpecialist · Post #5 » by **DraftSpecialist** » Mon Jan 20, 2014 12:38 am

Blake kinda reminds me of LeBron playing next to Wade that first year kinda passive and defers to him. I'd like to see him keep this mentality up once Paul comes back

Post #6 » by **og15** » Mon Jan 20, 2014 1:48 am

Well he has to be more assertive, that is generally how it works, if a really important player goes down, someone has to step up to try and maintain the status quo as best as possible.

In his last 20 games:

24.4 PPG / 9.7 RPG / 3.8 APG / 1.3 SPG / 3.1 TOV / 51.7% FG / 77.2% FT / .597 TS% / 114 Ortg

All in 35.8 MPG! Yup, he's certainly been killing it

Even with Paul in that same span (36.3 MPG):

24.3 PPG / 10.7 RPG / 3.2 APG / 0.9 SPG / 3.3 TOV / 50.9% FG / 77.9% FT, .586 TS% / 111 Ortg
Without Paul (34.9 MPG):

24.4 PPG / 7.9 RPG / 4.9 APG / 2.0 SPG / 2.7 TOV / 53.3% FG / 76.3% FT / .618 TS% / 120 Ortg

He's producing the same or better in all offensive categories including efficiency and doing it with about one less MPG. Of course the sample size is only 7 games, but this is also what we were already aware of when some people would conveniently forget that Blake produced quite well as a rookie before Paul was even on the team.

Post #7 » by **mkwest** » Mon Jan 20, 2014 5:18 am

While I would rather have Paul out there playing than not playing, his absence could be beneficial to the team in the long run. The team as a whole is forced to make do without him. They have to step up as scorers, as facilitators and in overall responsibilities. The pressure is mostly put onto Blake's shoulders, so he's forced to look within himself to get it done. We need that type of aggression and assertiveness for him for the postseason.

Paul is definitely watching and should be noticing what is working and what isn't. My hope is that Paul and the rest of the team work to balance it all out over the final 8 weeks of the season once he returns to action.

Quake Griffin · Post #8 » by **Quake Griffin** » Mon Jan 20, 2014 6:49 am

why the hell did he stop rebounding once Paul got injured?

TheNewEra · Post #9 » by **TheNewEra** » Mon Jan 20, 2014 7:19 am

Would be nice to see the rebounding jump back up because we already know Dudley won't cover Pauls rebouding.

McAdoo · Post #10 » by **McAdoo** » Mon Jan 20, 2014 7:32 pm

Quake Griffin wrote:why the hell did he stop rebounding once Paul got injured?

Playing more of a facilitator from the wing means you are farther from the basket, so it translates into less rebounds on the offensive end. Also with Barnes playing again our SF is actually grabbing a few rebounds.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using RealGM Forums mobile app

Woodsanity · Post #11 » by **Woodsanity** » Tue Jan 21, 2014 6:37 am

Basically his offensive numbers have improved while his rebounding has dropped.

The stupid notion that Blake needed Paul to thrive was silly to begin with. Playing with Paul doesn't really improve Blake's numbers at all. He isn't a shooter who needs someone to create for him. In fact, playing with Paul might actually make his numbers worse but you need more than one star on a team to have success.

The better the players on the your team the lesser role you usually play.

Post #12 » by **og15** » Tue Jan 21, 2014 6:43 am

McAdoo wrote:
Quake Griffin wrote:why the hell did he stop rebounding once Paul got injured?

Playing more of a facilitator from the wing means you are farther from the basket, so it translates into less rebounds on the offensive end. Also with Barnes playing again our SF is actually grabbing a few rebounds.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using RealGM Forums mobile app

I think the change is actually more in defensive rebounds.

With Paul: 8.4 Dreb
Without Paul: 6.3 Dreb

Offensive rebounds are down to 1.6 from 2.4, so that isn't really where the majority of the difference is. Why? I don't really know, maybe he's leaking out more?

McAdoo · Post #13 » by **McAdoo** » Tue Jan 21, 2014 8:20 am

og15 wrote:
McAdoo wrote:
Quake Griffin wrote:why the hell did he stop rebounding once Paul got injured?

Playing more of a facilitator from the wing means you are farther from the basket, so it translates into less rebounds on the offensive end. Also with Barnes playing again our SF is actually grabbing a few rebounds.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using RealGM Forums mobile app

I think the change is actually more in defensive rebounds.

With Paul: 8.4 Dreb
Without Paul: 6.3 Dreb

Offensive rebounds are down to 1.6 from 2.4, so that isn't really where the majority of the difference is. Why? I don't really know, maybe he's leaking out more?

Leaking out more and deandre is grabbing everything in sight.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using RealGM Forums mobile app

Post #14 » by **QRich3** » Tue Jan 21, 2014 11:50 am

Yeah I agree, I don't think his rebounding numbers going down since Paul's been out has a lot to do with Paul being out, but more with DJ going insane and grabbing everything in sight. That would've happened with or without Paul probably.

What surprises me the most is that we're still having an awesome offense without Paul, and starting our offense through Blake in the post is working out even better than doing it with Paul pick and rolls. It makes me question how much we actually need CP and how much of a luxury is to have him on the court.

littlecha · Post #15 » by **littlecha** » Tue Jan 21, 2014 3:24 pm

CP3 is way overrate!
Collison, JJ, or Crawford can handle his job. OR even Turkoglu is a point forward.

Clippers line-up without CP3

C: D.Jordan
PF: Griffin
SF: Barnes
SG: JJ
PG: Collison

Bench: J.Crawford / Turkoglu / Jamison
trade him for more assets!

Post #16 » by **QRich3** » Tue Jan 21, 2014 7:46 pm

lol no, not what I wanted to say at all, just saying that what he's best at is the team's strong area even without him. Good luck going into the postseason with the guys we're playing right now, we'd be eaten alive.

Quake Griffin · Post #17 » by **Quake Griffin** » Tue Jan 21, 2014 7:47 pm

littlecha wrote:CP3 is way overrate!
Collison, JJ, or Crawford can handle his job. OR even Turkoglu is a point forward.

Clippers line-up without CP3

C: D.Jordan
PF: Griffin
SF: Barnes
SG: JJ
PG: Collison

Bench: J.Crawford / Turkoglu / Jamison
trade him for more assets!

Post #18 » by **og15** » Tue Jan 21, 2014 7:48 pm

littlecha wrote:CP3 is way overrate!
Collison, JJ, or Crawford can handle his job. OR even Turkoglu is a point forward.

Clippers line-up without CP3

C: D.Jordan
PF: Griffin
SF: Barnes
SG: JJ
PG: Collison

Bench: J.Crawford / Turkoglu / Jamison
trade him for more assets!

Lol, let's no get carried away now. Let's also remember that we didn't have J.J. for a good amount of the season.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using RealGM Forums mobile app

okpistolpete · Post #19 » by **okpistolpete** » Tue Jan 21, 2014 9:45 pm

littlecha wrote:CP3 is way overrate!
Collison, JJ, or Crawford can handle his job. OR even Turkoglu is a point forward.

Clippers line-up without CP3

C: D.Jordan
PF: Griffin
SF: Barnes
SG: JJ
PG: Collison

Bench: J.Crawford / Turkoglu / Jamison
trade him for more assets!

New to this message board. Can't seem to find the "minus 1" button. Little help?

McAdoo · Post #20 » by **McAdoo** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 1:02 am

QRich3 wrote:Yeah I agree, I don't think his rebounding numbers going down since Paul's been out has a lot to do with Paul being out, but more with DJ going insane and grabbing everything in sight. That would've happened with or without Paul probably.

What surprises me the most is that we're still having an awesome offense without Paul, and starting our offense through Blake in the post is working out even better than doing it with Paul pick and rolls. It makes me question how much we actually need CP and how much of a luxury is to have him on the court.

Come playoff time you need to have a dominant guard who can get off his own shot, create for others and demand double teams, no one else on our roster fits that bill. Though Blake has been great, down the stretch Bigs will always need great guards and CP is a great guard.