LA Clippers Fall to Portland, But the Future Is Bright with Blake Griffin
Blake Griffin is giving Clipper fans something to cheer about. The first-overall pick from the 2009 NBA Draft looks to be ready to make an impact right now.
Blake sat out all of last season after suffering a stress fracture of his left patella and undergoing surgery to repair the injury.
Griffin spent much of last season, and the entire offseason, rehabilitating the knee. He made his NBA debut tonight and posted 20 points, 14 rebounds and four assists.
The Clippers may not be in the playoffs this year, but they will be better and they have a lot to look forward to with Blake Griffin on the roster.
Blake Griffin's Athleticism
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Blake is 6'10" and 250 pounds, but he moves like he's much smaller. He's fast, has a quick first step, plays light on his feet, and gets high off the floor.
As I watched the Clippers and Blazers game tonight, I kept thinking to myself, "A man that size should not be able to move like that." It's actually fairly similar to the way I feel when I watch LeBron James play.
Obviously, Griffin can't handle the ball or pass quite like LeBron. But in terms of the combination of size and athleticism, he's in the same league as James and other elite athletes like Dwight Howard.
That's not to say he doesn't have some dribbling and passing skills. Tonight he took the ball at the opposite free-throw line, brought it up the floor on the dribble and then threaded a one-handed bounce pass on the run to Eric Gordon, who finished the play with a lay in.
Griffin's athleticism is certainly something for Clipper fans to be excited about.
Youth
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Blake Griffin missed all of last season but he is still just 21-years-old. Barring any serious injuries, Griffin will be dominating for the Clippers for years to come.
He is not the only young guy on the team who has a lot of potential. Eric Gordon has already established himself as a good starting shooting guard, and he's also just 21-years-old. He's averaged 16.4 points and 2.9 assists in his first-two NBA seasons.
Two other Clipper rookies who played well in college are Eric Bledsoe and Al-Farouq Aminu. Of these two, I see Bledsoe having a better career. But the point is the team has a good amount of young talent.
Effort
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Griffin worked very hard to get himself back onto the court following the season-ending injury he suffered in 2009. Knee problems are extremely hard to bounce back from, especially as a basketball player. In a sport that requires so much jumping, running and cutting, knees are critical.
Blake made it clear tonight that he doesn't just work hard off the court. He was attacking the glass all night long, especially on offense. He had nine offensive rebounds and looked to be working harder than any other Clipper.
Attitude
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His attitude and effort are directly linked. It is his good attitude that fuels his great work ethic.
He knows that he can be a dominant player, but he also knows there is a lot about his overall game that he can prove. He'll work hard to get better each-and-every year he's in the league.
Blake Griffin won't allow himself to fall short of his potential.
The Future Is Bright
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The Los Angeles Clippers fans have had little to cheer about for years now. They had to wait an extra year to see Blake Griffin, but that wait will be well worth it.
He's already one of the most exciting players in the NBA, and he's only going to get better.
