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Los Angeles Clippers: Quarter Season Report Card

By Cameron Stewart

Nov 24, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers with guard Chris Paul (3) and forward Blake Griffin (32) in the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 24, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers with guard Chris Paul (3) and forward Blake Griffin (32) in the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 28, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) dunks the ball against the Sacramento Kings during the second quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

Blake Griffin

Grade: A

Key Stats: 24.4 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 5.0 APG. 52.3 FG%.
PER: 26.1

The Clippers’ season hasn’t been all smiles and rainbows, but Blake Griffin has been the one player who hasn’t disappointed this season.

If not for the team’s struggles and Stephen Curry being from another planet, Griffin would surely be in the MVP conversation. He’s increased his scoring average to a new career-high of 24.4. His rebounds are up to 8.6, a step in the right direction compared to his 7.6 rebounds per game last season. Griffin’s assists are staying in the five-per-game range.

Another sign of growth from Griffin is his improved shooting stroke from outside the paint. He’s shooting a career-high 41.9 percent from the mid-range, according to NBA.com/stats, and caused his overall field-goal percentage to rise back up to 52.8 percent from last year’s 50.2 percent.

All the while, Griffin has become more efficient while also taking on an even bigger role in the Clippers offense. Griffin’s shot attempts per game (18.7) and usage rate (31.0) are career-highs. Those numbers will likely decline, as Chris Paul and J.J. Redick have missed quite a few games and will take a chunk out of Griffin’s use.

Griffin’s success at carrying the load is encouraging for his growth as a player and has shown he’s capable of doing so if Paul has to miss time going forward.

Griffin has rounded out his game about as well as anyone could’ve imagined a few games ago. The days of Griffin being at the top of SportsCenter’s top 10 plays every night might be gone, but so are the days where people criticized him for his skills outside of dunking.

Griffin has been everything fans could’ve hoped for and has been staking his claim as the league’s premier big man so far. Hence, Griffin receives an A.

Next: Chris Paul

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