Complete 2013-14 Scouting Report and Predictions for Blake Griffin

Blake Griffin and the Los Angeles Clippers are ready to take the next step toward greatness entering the 2013-14 NBA season.

At 24 years old, Griffin is approaching his fourth campaign. A recent survey conducted by NBA.com shows that general managers believe the big man is tied with LaMarcus Aldridge of the Portland Trail Blazers as the fourth-best power forward. The only names ahead of him were Tim Duncan, Kevin Love and LeBron James.

Being named the No. 4 player at your position is an honor for most players, but in the case of Griffin, he has the talent and potential to be even higher. James is a natural small forward, Love is coming off of an injury-battled season and we can only assume Duncan will someday remember how old he actually is.

Griffin has enough athleticism to have already made a name for himself, but taking the next step is going to be more about his progression as an all-around basketball player. The time to step up is now, as a revamped roster and new head coach leave him no excuses when it comes to finding both team and individual success.

Biggest Narrative Surrounding Blake Griffin

According to Griffin himself, "Lob City is done." It's a sad thought for casual fans across The Association, but as ESPN's Shelley Smith reveals, it's about re-defining what the Clippers are aiming to accomplish.

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"Lob City doesn't exist anymore. Lob City is done," Griffin told ESPN's Shelley Smith in an interview this week. "We're moving on and we're going to find our identity during training camp, and that will be our new city. No more Lob City."

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Entering the new year, Griffin is showing an attitude that makes it clear he is ready for business. The 2012-13 campaign saw his numbers drop across the board—especially in the playoffs—and a healthy, productive season will do wonders for his reputation as a franchise player.

	2010-11	2011-12	2012-13
PPG	22.5	20.7	18.0
RPG	12.1	10.9	18.0
APG	3.8	3.2	3.7
FG%	50.6	54.9	53.8
BPG	0.5	0.7	0.6
MPG	38.0	36.2	32.5

Bleacher Report's own Adam Fromal recently wondered aloud whether or not we can constitute Griffin as a superstar. It's a strange question when you think about his popularity around the league, but it's a fair query considering his statistical deterioration and his lack of overall improvement.

As long as Chris Paul is on this roster, Griffin will be looked at as a No. 2 option, and rightfully so. But while the big man is playing the role of sidekick, that doesn't mean he can't continue to improve and boost his status toward the No. 1 power forward in the league.

What's on the Line for Griffin and the Clippers?

To put it bluntly, Griffin and the Clippers are aiming for the same thing in 2013-14.

Elite status.

Griffin wants to be taken seriously. He knows how to make us laugh off the court, but popularity among pop culture fanatics can only get you so far as an NBA player.

The Clippers are in the same boat. They've been one of the most entertaining teams to watch since the acquisition of Chris Paul, but untimely postseason exits haven't done anything to help cement themselves as true contenders in a stacked Western Conference.

With Doc Rivers on board, L.A. is looking to compete with the top teams out West. In that same GM survey from above, the Clippers received the third-most votes to win the Western Conference, and you'd better believe that an improved Griffin will help that come to fruition.

To assist Griffin and the Clips, the team went out and revamped the roster during the offseason. As a deep team with an accomplished coach, Los Angeles has a chance to compete with anybody from the top of the roster down to the bottom.

The catch is putting all the pieces together, which is something both Griffin and the team will aim to do in 2013-14.

Scouting Report for 2013-14 Season

At this point in Griffin's career, it's difficult to define his go-to move. Timofey Mozgov, Kendrick Perkins and most recently Rudy Gobert might disagree, but the truth is that a finish above the rim is hardly a reliable option on an every-play basis.

The reason it's so tough to define Griffin's go-to move can be found when looking at his advanced statistics, provided by NBA.com. During the 2012-13 season, the big man attempted more alley-oop dunks than almost any other shooting category.

Only jump shots, layup shots and hook shots saw more attempts, which points us to one of his glaring weaknesses: a lack of creativity on offense.

In Griffin's defense, he has a solid spin move that can be classified as his primary attack down low. His quickness and athleticism allow him to make plays, and when he gets above the rim, defenders had better watch out.

The problem is that nobody can dunk the ball on every possession, and when Griffin faces a defense that has brought help (or used a big man quick enough to stay in front), it becomes an easy move to stop.

Griffin needs to improve both his low-post and mid-range game throughout his fourth season. If he can do one of those things, he'll be on his way toward becoming the game's best power forward. If he can do both, he'll be one of the most unstoppable players the league has today.

As easy as it is to point out the flaws in Griffin's game, we can't forget about the positives. The truth is that Griffin's athleticism is a major asset. Regardless of what he improves throughout his career, he can't lose the aggressiveness that has gotten him where he is today.

Griffin is also a very good passer. He's only averaged 3.6 assists for his career, but greater attention to his open teammates will highlight the fact that he can actually make the players around him better.

Talk about his defense all you want, but DeAndre Jordan is more physically gifted when it comes to defensive tools. Nobody would complain if Griffin became a better defender, but it's Jordan who has the potential to become a shot-blocking presence right away.

Conclusion

Griffin and the Clippers have the luxury of possessing both a high ceiling and a high basement. Think of it this way: If the team wins a championship, it has lived up to its expectations. If it doesn't, it still likely makes the playoffs and wins a round or two along the way.

Griffin is in the same position. Best-case scenario is that he becomes a full-fledged superstar and establishes himself as the best power forward in the entire Association. Worst-case scenario is that he stays where he is today—a legitimate All-Star—as he's unlikely to regress outside of the top five at the 4-spot.

Expect Griffin's numbers to improve during the 2013-14 campaign. In fact, don't be shocked if he averages a double-double when the season is said and done, just as he did during his first two years as a pro.

A deep roster will likely keep him away from the 38 minutes per game he played as a rookie, but 35 minutes will be more reasonable than the 32.5 he played a year ago. The important thing is that he doesn't see another statistical drop, and that's unlikely to happen if his minutes improve.

If Griffin can show progress in the low post and/or the mid range, there's no reason to believe he can't boost his points-per-game average to career-high levels. He posted 22.5 per contest as a rookie, and 23 should be the goal this time around.

Defensively, don't be disappointed if the big man stays around half a block per game. His boards should be improved from 2012-13—expect about 11 per game—but not even Doc Rivers can improve his wingspan (lack thereof).

Aside from defense, Griffin can improve his free-throw shooting if he wants to exceed expectations. The big man doesn't have terrible form, and an improved shot from mid range should result in a better stroke from the charity stripe as well.

Griffin has all the potential in the world to become a superstar, and it's time for him to take the next step toward greatness. Lob City may be gone, but all eyes remain on Griffin when it comes to the 2013-14 season.