After recording their first 56-win season in franchise history, the Los Angeles Clippers look to finally win the Western Conference and perform well in the playoffs under new coach Doc Rivers. However, it’s possible that the most crucial piece on this newly improved roster is their power forward, Blake Griffin.
Blake Griffin’s post game will provide great opportunities for the Clippers next season. Photo Credit: Keith Allison/Flickr.com
The Clippers saved their future from falling apart this summer by re-signing six-time All-Star Chris Paul, the leader of their recent regular-season success. Paul has claimed numerous times that his decision to stay in Los Angeles was due to the Clippers having the perfect pieces around him. He has guided Blake Griffin for the past two seasons and been the floor general that the 6’10” dunking phenomenon has needed.
Paul, too, believes that the team is always performing at their peak when Griffin brings his all-around game to the court and plays efficiently. In a recent interview, Paul hinted just how much the Clippers need him if they are going to be any threat in the stacked Western Conference playoffs:
"“People may say he’s a young guy, but he’s been special in this league, he’s been an All-Star,” Paul stated. “His voice carries a lot of weight, and I think our team will definitely go as Blake goes.”"
Being a eight-year veteran point guard, Paul may have found it difficult in the beginning with Griffin having a lot of raw talent and no experience on a top-notch team. When you can create your own offense in the way that Paul does and have earned the respect of others from his unbelievable days in New Orleans, it’s understandable that one’s patience with Griffin’s lack of post offense would be tested.
With that being said, the relationship between this athletic duo in “Lob City” may have grown just enough to make the Clippers the favorites (besides the defending champion Miami Heat) to win the next NBA championship.
"“It’s been a great summer for us,” Paul said. “As you get older you realize it’s all about winning and I think we both realize we really need each other in order to do that.”"
In his two strongest areas, scoring and rebounding, Griffin’s numbers took a bit of a dip last season. Averaging 2.4 fewer points and 2.1 fewer rebounds than his career averages, those decreases were mainly due to the fact that he played 3.7 minutes less per game than the year before. The goal was to try to keep him healthy for the playoffs, but the Clippers needed him to be on the floor in order to obtain the third seed in the conference, which they failed to secure.
Doc Rivers will need to help Griffin improve his skills if he wants his second NBA title.(Flickr.com photo by Keith Allison)
With Doc Rivers now being in control, as opposed to former coach Vinny Del Negro, I expect Griffin’s post game to improve by an unbelievable amount. Rivers knows that it takes a strong paint presence to win a championship and he will run more of the offense through Griffin getting the ball in the low post. It will all depend on Griffin’s ability to make the right decisions on the court, as he will have 3-point specialists along the perimeter in Jared Dudley, J.J. Redick and even Chris Paul.
If Blake Griffin can become a player that other teams fear in the low post, rather than just on pick-and-roll offense, he will take this Clippers team to new heights.