Los Angeles Clippers Need Big Year From Blake Griffin

By Mark Bruty | Sep 28, 2014

May 15, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) reacts during the fourth quarter in game six of the second round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /

The Los Angeles Clippers have made a few minor offseason tweaks in order to try and push their way further up the Western Conference standings. Realistically though, the Clippers will take into this season essentially the same team that was bounced in six games in the playoffs last season by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

So where are the extra wins and the playoff series victories going to come from? Blake Griffin and Chris Paul.

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Paul has been arguably the best point guard in the league for the past few seasons. His ability to run an offense, make plays, score, distribute and lead the team on both sides of the ball makes him a complete player. He is ultra consistent and the Clippers know exactly what they are getting night in and night out from him.

Entering this season, the Clippers will be relying on more of the same out of the point guard position, but in order to go further into the playoffs and actually contend for a title, Paul is going to need a little more out of his teammates.

DeAndre Jordan is going to have to step up. Jamal Crawford and J.J. Redick are going to have to continue to contribute and they young guys like Reggie Bullock are going to have to step up and play a role. Spencer Hawes, brought in this offseason, will also have to do what is asked of him, but mostly, the improvement is going to come from Blake Griffin.

Griffin entered the league as a dunker. An athletic, high flying dunk machine that was able to score in transition, throw down huge dunks, catch lobs – and that was mainly it. He could rebound because if his physical gifts and was an average defender. Over the past few years — and last season especially — we began to see just how much room Griffin has to grow and develop as a basketball player.

Mid range jump shots, post moves, more focused defensive efforts and better footwork – Griffin was widely considered one of the best power forwards last season and potentially an MVP candidate. This season, the Clippers will want Griffin to build on his career year and further improve. He will need to add more variety of the offensive end, become a bit more of a play maker off the ball and he will need to really lock in defensively – but all the signs and tools are there.

If you are wondering how the Clippers can get better this season, you start and finish with Blake Griffin. He is an All Star with unlimited upside. When Chris Paul missed 20 games last season, the Clippers didn’t miss a beat. Griffin essentially carried the entire team for a couple of weeks and ensured they kept winning games and playing quality basketball. When you play with a leader like Paul, it is easy to defer to him, but when his team needed him most, Griffin delivered.

On the back of last season, look for an even bigger campaign from Blake Griffin this year. The Clippers are relying on Griffin to help them take the next step and all signs are pointing to the fact that he is the man to get them there.

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