Blake Griffin: FIBA Rules Will Destroy Physical Forward's Olympic Experience
It happens to most every American big man that goes to the Olympics. Tim Duncan refused to play internationally again, and Dwight Howard and Shaquille O'Neal were both less than dominant. It will likely happen to Blake Griffin as well.
International rules favor the Pau Gasols and Dirk Nowitzkis of the world. Bullish offensive players on the block are often frustrated by the fact that they aren't allowed to play as physically as they have become accustomed to.
Griffin will be relegated to lob plays and transition buckets. At this point in his career, he doesn't have a ton of back-to-the-basket finesse moves. He bangs his way in, and often times he makes tough lay-ins off of the contact he initiates.
It would be smart to decline this invitation at this stage of his career. He needs to stay healthy as to not derail his NBA future, especially when the odds say, he will not be effective in his Olympic endeavors.
A Griffin injury would be a deadly blow to the Clippers organization at this point. Without him, the Clippers are mot much better than the Hornets team Chris Paul was just traded from.
The team Team USA sent to the World Championships had the types of big men that were best suited for international competition—lean players who either don't score, or score off the dribble or with mid to long-range jump shooting. That may actually play a part in the final selections.
Though consideration of Griffin is both natural and deserved, it best suits Griffin and Team USA to not unite.
