What Blake Griffin Should Learn From Chris Paul's Game 1 Heroics vs. Grizzlies

Blake Griffin's postseason debut was anything but forgettable, even if his 17 points and seven rebounds were precisely that.

Griffin was treated to a show as much as anyone else was Sunday night. This was Chris Paul's comeback. This was the supporting cast's comeback.

This was not Blake Griffin's comeback.

Paul may claim he doesn't know how it happened, but the rest of us have an idea. The Los Angeles Clippers' historic 28-point turnaround against the Memphis Grizzlies had a lot to do with aggressive defense, timely passes and a couple of free throws with 23.7 seconds left in the game.

Griffin could learn a thing or two from Paul's masterfully orchestrated fourth quarter.

The results might not have looked like a Lob City production, but they were far more effective. Paul didn't try to win the game alone–he carved up Memphis' dazed defense and let his perimeter shooters do the rest.

The passes weren't highlight worthy, but they were crisp and on the money–that's what matters to a shooter looking to release the ball before his defender has the chance to get a hand up.

And those are the kinds of things that win games. Even, if not especially, the games that feel like lost causes.

It's not that Griffin is one-dimensional. He's much better than that.

But that doesn't mean he's everything that he needs to be. The Clippers' All-Star power forward is still a work in progress defensively, and his decision-making in the post is sometimes suspect.

It goes without saying you don't want him on the line with 23.7 seconds remaining (or, really, with any amount of time remaining). 

And, while he's typically a good rebounder, seven boards in 35 minutes against the Grizzlies leaves something to be desired.

None of this is anything to be ashamed of. The guy is still just 23 years old and deserves a little time to round out his game.

Nevertheless, Griffin isn't yet the superhero his dunking ability suggests him to be.

Paul showed us what real superheros do. It's not always flashy, and it won't wind up on any posters.

Fortunately, that won't bother him one bit.