Why Blake Griffin Will Become a Superstar in the 2012 NBA Playoffs

The Los Angeles Clippers' All-Star forward Blake Griffin could be ready to take his stardom to another level.

It's not that Griffin isn't famous enough. Between his incessant commercial exposure and penchant for making highlights, few stars can hold a candle to this guy's celebrity.

That doesn't mean the 23-year-old has accomplished all he's set out to do.

This may not be the year that Griffin wins a championship. In fact, no one really expects his Clippers to come anywhere close—even with Chris Paul playing MVP basketball. Los Angeles doesn't have the depth or the defense to scare the San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder or Los Angeles Lakers.

They might not even have what it takes to get past the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round.

It should go without saying that any chance the Clippers have to make a deep playoff run depends in large part on how quickly Griffin acclimates himself to life after the regular season.

He'll be asked to do a lot more than score points. Someone will need to body up on Zach Randolph and deny him prime post position. Someone has set hard picks to give Paul the room to work his magic. And of course, just about everyone will be called on to rotate on defense and close out on open shooters.

However, if Los Angeles falls short, it won't be Griffin's fault alone.

In fact, the Slam Dunk Champion should be highly motivated to distance himself from his image as the lucky recipient of lob passes.

He's scored 21, 36 and 29 points in his last three games, apparently ratcheting up his game in time for the postseason, shooting over 70 percent in each contest. Griffin may still be a ways from his potential, but he'll give us some sense of what that potential looks like if he can put those kind of numbers up in the first round.

The 6'10" power forward is averaging 10.9 rebounds on the season, and he'll need to do more of the same to cement that superstar status.

The talent is there. Now, perhaps, the urgency will be there as well.

Los Angeles may not go far in these playoffs, but they probably don't need to for Griffin to make a point. As long as he continues doing what he's been doing—and just a little bit more—this star will prove he's about more than highlights.