Dispelling the Blake Griffin MythsAs the Clippers continue to win without Paul, it becomes increasingly clear the “HE CAN ONLY DUNK!” crowd simply does not watch Los Angeles Clippers basketball. The schedule has been easy and heavy on Eastern Conference teams, but the Clips are 9-3 since Paul went down, and Griffin has been sensational in shifting into a role as the team’s clear no. 1 option. Griffin has produced in exactly the sort of varied ways the screaming mobs claim are beyond his skill set. The Clippers have had the most efficient offense in the league since Paul’s injury — read that again, but also consider the schedule — and Griffin has shot better overall and gotten to the line more often this season with Paul on the bench, per NBA.com. He is not a remora fish mooching off a shark.
The Post GameThe four players who have exceeded Griffin’s post-Paul efficiency on the block: LeBron James (the best player alive, though Kevin Durant is closing the gap); Brook Lopez (out for the season); Boris Diaw (not nearly as frequent a post-up scoring threat); and Dirk Nowitzki (sort of a well-known post-up guy). Griffin’s post-ups this season have produced .981 points per possession, meaning he’s actually been better without Paul, even while assuming a larger burden. But even so: That .981 figure ranks Griffin 12th among those 79 players, in a virtual tie with some dude named Kevin Durant. Respected post scorers below Griffin include Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, David Lee, Al Jefferson, Zach Randolph, Kevin Love, DeMarcus Cousins, Nikola Pekovic, and many others.
How He’s ImprovedGriffin has post moves and countermoves. I repeat: Blake Griffin has actual post moves. He prefers to work from the left block, as most righties do, and if he’s backing you down there, he’s probably going for his righty jump hook in the lane. Sit too blatantly on that, and he’ll fake it, watch you jump, and go to a lefty up-and-under layin. He’s gotten stronger as a back-down force. You can’t guard him with weaker post defenders anymore, and he even knocked Joakim Noah off-balance with shoulder blocks last week in Chicago.
Zach Lowe, Grantland
Lowe goes in-depth into his post game, mid-range shooting, defense, crunch time play and more. It's definitely worth reading.
