Blake Griffin: 10 Reasons He Will Lead the Los Angeles Clippers To the Playoffs
The one man show that is Blake Griffin has blown everyone away with his athleticism, rebounding and ability to flush bring the house down with his dunks. The guy has been what every team wishes the first overall pick is going to be.
But will Griffin be able to do the unthinkable? Will he lead the Clippers, yes, the LA Clippers, to the playoffs? I think he will, and there are a few reasons why.
So come check out my logic behind this.
10. Chris Kaman Will Come Back Just In Time
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Chris Kaman, the Clippers' big man, is due back in early February. His goal is to be back right before the team leaves for their 11-game road trip that could make or break their playoff hopes. Kaman needs to be back by then, at least.
Having the seven-footer back in the lineup would instantly make them much tougher down low and give them some good depth. DeAndre Jordan has been great in a filler role. But Kaman also brings toughness, defense and rebounding. Not to mention they will gain depth at just the right time.
It would take some big man responsibilities off Blake Griffin and allow him to operate more face to the hoop, which he likes.
9. Clippers Are Improving
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Unless they get their wings clipped with an injury (see what I did there?), the Clippers should be able to fly up the standings into the eighth spot pretty easily. If they can just sustain the level of play they are at now, they will be able to jump five teams in front of them to get the final seed in the West.
The Clips are 7-3 in their last 10 games and are looking for their fourth straight tonight against Portland. But the team has gone up in almost every statistical category in the past 10 games.
Over the course of the season, the Clippers have been scoring an average of 99.37 PPG, good enough for 15th in the league. Over the past 10 games, they have put up 106 PPG, which is thrid in the league.
Defensively they have improved as well, allowing fewer points per game. But the offensive improvement has been staggering.
8. Griffin and Gordon Emerging As Leaders
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Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon, two of the NBA's emerging stars, are growing into more of a leadership role with the team. It is a lot easier to follow the leader when he is leading in every statistical category he can lead in.
Griffin and Gordon just flat-out get it done on the floor and don't do much talking off of it, and that is a good model to go by. It is a fool proof system. You don't see them acting like idiots; in fact, they lay pretty low.
The only time you hear their names are when a play-by-play man is screaming in reaction to yet another ridiculous dunk.
But they are setting the tone for how their team plays, including veteran fat guys like Baron Davis. He has catered to their game, and they are succeeding as a group now.
7. Clippers Are Getting Better, West Is Getting Worse
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Blake Griffin is leading his team to the playoffs because every team in front of them, with the exception of Memphis, is getting worse in some way. The Clippers started the year 1-13 and dug themselves into a hole. But now they are digging themselves out, and in a hurry.
The Grizzlies are the one team in front of LA that could pose real problems for them getting the eighth seed. They have a very good group of players and are well-coached. But there have been trade talks in Memphis, and things could get shaken up. The Clippers better hope so, because unless Carmelo Anthony gets traded, causing Denver to drop out of the playoff race, it looks like it'll be Memphis and the Clippers battling it out for the last spot.
The Clippers are 13th right now. Here is a reason they can jump each team in front of them to get to eighth.
8. Portland: With Marcus Camby now hurting his knee, that makes essentially the entire starting five injured. May the losing begin.
9. Memphis: (See second paragraph)
10. Houston: A bunch of misfits and overachievers. Aren't good enough defensively.
11. Phoenix: They are looking to trade Steve Nash for picks and call this season quits. The fact that they are considering this means they have quit on this team.
12. Golden State: Monta Ellis is good and scores a lot. That's it. He doesn't get you in the playoffs
6. Clippers Will Get to Playoffs Because Ron Artest Said So
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Ron Artest believes the Clippers can get to the playoffs as a fifth seed. And who am I to fight him on this? I am actually afraid he will find me if I say anything negative about him. So I love Ron and his psychiatrist. There, I said it.
But the Lakers seem poised to make another run towards the top seeded Spurs, and it would be cool to see an LA-LA playoff series. I think if we do see it, it would be as a first-round eight-one battle.
5. The Fans Are Starting To Believe in Blake and the Boys
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If there is a group of season ticket holders who deserve an electrifying forward and a playoff team, it is the dozen or so LA Clipper season ticket holders, with the exception of Bill Simmons.
Simmons got in the game late and is the only season ticket holder I know by name. But he is quite lucky, and he appreciates it.
He is a major fan of Blake Griffin and called his success from day one. But now the LA fans are starting to come around to the fact that their team might be decent and they are showing up to the game. Maybe it's because they care about their team. Maybe it's because they want to watch some of Griffin's NBA Jam-like aerial maneuvers. Who cares? They're there. And these guys have something to play for.
Last year, the Clippers were averaging crowds of 16,343. This season, they are up to an average of 17,040.
Do you think Vinny Del Negro said earlier in the year, "There's a chance, if we win, that Jessica Alba will start sitting courtside at our games."
And then they went on this tear.
4. Because Blake Griffin Has One Speed
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Blake Griffin only goes at a pace of 100 percent. He knows nothing else, and that is why he is so good at what he does. A lot of players—especially big men in the NBA —play not to get hurt. Meanwhile, as the first overall pick two years ago, but in his rookie year still, Griffin goes up with absolutely no regard for his body and is trying to do one thing. Win basketball games.
This attitude is what propels him to 22.7 PPG, 13.7 RPG and 3.4 APG. He is relentless, and his teammates have finally caught up to his level. Most of them at least. I think Baron Davis is as close as he's going to get.
3. Beating the Best
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Blake Griffin and the Clippers haven't just lucked out and played bad teams on this nice little 11-4 run they are on. They have beaten some quality teams such as: the Heat (with the big three playing), the Lakers and won in Chicago (I'm sure Vinny wanted that one).
They are beating not just playoff teams, but championship contenders.
2. Balanced Scoring
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The Clippers are led by Griffin and feed off the energy he brings, no doubt. But they are a very balanced team, especially as of late. In the past eight games, Baron Davis has averaged just over 16 PPG, up from his season average of 11 PPG.
Eric Gordon is averaging 23.8 PPG on the year and is a beast at the two spot. Blake Griffin is averaging 22.7 at the four, and they are getting help at the center spot from DeAndre Jordan and Ike Diogu, who are both averaging 6.9 PPG.
Rookie guard Eric Bledsoe has been pretty solid off the bench with 6.9 PPG, four APG and three RPG. He needs to cut down on his turnovers, though. He is averaging 2.5 turnovers per game. As a rookie, he should get better with experience.
1. This Would Seal Griffins Fate As One of the Best Rookies Ever
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First, we were blown away by the idea of Blake Griffin. We were smitten with the idea of what this guy could be. But that happens every year, and we're usually a little let down. Well, he proved he was something when he burst on the scene with those thunderous dunks.
The it was "Well what if he can just throw down big dunks. Who cares if you can't do anything else."
Griffin answered that by grabbing 13 boards per game and scoring almost 23 points per night.
Then it was the response of "Who cares? He's on the Clippers. They're 1-13."
Well, they're 16-25 and have won 11 of their past 15. Blake's gone over 40 twice and is third in the league in rebounds. Eric Gordon is one of the best scorers in the league, and Baron Davis can go a whole game without a Thanksgiving dinner now.
But this would be huge for Griffin's legacy. If he could elevate the Los Angeles Clippers to the NBA Playoffs in his first year, that would be miraculous. It would be the team's second playoff appearance since 1997 and a step in the right direction for a franchise synonymous with losing.
Here are his top 10 dunks on the year. Out of control.
