NBA Fan's Perspective: What I Learned About NBA, the Raptors and Blake Griffin 3

This is my third and final installment of this mini-series and it has to do with the most exciting player in the NBA right now.

Part 3 Blake Griffin

The Big Show

Can you believe that in a league with Kobe, Lebron, Wade, Durant, Amare, Melo and Paul, that a rookie would become the biggest draw?  He has been drawing crowds around the league, and I can only think of maybe two games all year when he didn't put down a highlight reel-caliber dunk.  He has become such a phenomena, that when my wife was purchasing tickets and asked who I wanted to see, I said the Clippers.  I don't think that thought has ever crossed my mind before. 

When I got to the ACC on Sunday, there was a buzz in the building that I had only experience one time before, when Vince returned for the first time.  I have seen Lebron twice, and even he didn't generate the same "oohs" and "ahhs" as Blake did.  It was really something to see.  

Starting with warm ups, you could hear the excitement build every time it was his turn in the lay up drill.  As the game started, every time he pulled down a defensive board and took more than two dribbles up court the crowd began to stir in anticipation, knowing they may see something spectacular.  It finally came part way through the first quarter off a no look ally-oop from Baron Davis. 

Interesting little side note, there was a funny love/hate vibe in the building.  The fans wanted to see Blake put on a show but not at the expense of a Raptors win. And when he picked up his third foul in the second quarter, the fans cheered just as loud as when he threw down that ally-oop. 

Strength

We all have noticed his athletic ability, but I don't know if people realized just how strong this guy actually is.  When he doesn't jump over someone to collect a rebound, he rips it away from them.  When he shoot free throws you can see that he seems to put a little extra effort to make sure he puts it up softly, and doesn't fire it throw the back of the building. 

One thing that really stuck out, and it is something that I noticed earlier this year as well, is how he finishes plays when he gets fouled.  Usually a guy gets hit and ends up throwing the shot up with one hand, or sometimes he just throws it up and prays.

Griffin, on the other hand, drives to the hoop, gets in the air, gets hit, and rather than losing his balance, he just continues on and finishes as if nobody touched him.  And this is not one of those weak fouls; you know, when the defender's jersey rubs the offensive guy's thigh.  This is a full on assault, and he motors on through like a tank over a tricycle.

The Solar System is the Limit 

Is there anyone else in the league with a brighter future than this guy?  In two or three years we can be talking about this guy as the best player in the league, and possible MVP candidate.  Don't think so? Just look at his numbers.  22.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists.  Did I forget to mention HE IS A ROOKIE?  Why should that matter, you ask?  Because he does not even know how to play the NBA game yet.  Are stats like 30 points, 15 rebounds and 6.5 assists a season too much to expect from this kid?  I don't think so, and I'll tell you why.

1) He has a very good shooting form.  So with some time in the gym he will improve his free throw shooting, continue to develop his Tim Duncan style bank shot (which is not too bad already), and even extend his range out to the three point line where he has actually hit 7 of 15 shots this year.

2) He isn't that great on the box out.  That's not to say he can't box a player out, its just that right now he doesn't, because it's so much more fun, and probably more demoralizing, when you can jump 35 feet higher than your opponent. If Kevin Love with his -2.2 inch vertical can average 15.5 rebounds strictly off of boxing out, hustle and anticipation, I may well be underestimating Blake.  He may average 17 rebounds a game.

3) He is a pretty damn good passer.  Sometimes you see when he's in the post, he picks up the ball, surveys the area and fires a bullet pass to a guy wide open at the three point line.  Surround him with shooters, like Orlando does with Dwight, and he can draw double teams and drop dimes all night.

You guys know how I feel about this guy.  He is a star on the way to super stardom. He has made the rookie of the year race a one man show.  He has made the Clippers must watch TV, and a box office draw.

Lets see if this weekend in Los Angeles he can add to his already legendary status.