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5 Reasons For Blake Griffin To Join Westbrook, Thunder Next Year

By Sai Mohan

December 21, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) controls the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka (9) during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
December 21, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) controls the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka (9) during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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December 21, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams (12) plays for the ball against Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) and forward Blake Griffin (32) during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
December 21, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams (12) plays for the ball against Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) and forward Blake Griffin (32) during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

A Potentially Deadly Frontcourt

Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan have formed arguably the best frontcourt in the league over the past few years. However, Jordan’s shortcomings on the offensive end, highlighted by his substandard free throw percentage, have often left Griffin with additional scoring duties.

Steven Adams, 23, is five years younger than Jordan, and a possible candidate to win Most Improved Player next season. During this year’s playoffs, Adams averaged a near double-double and played stellar defense while guarding the likes of Dirk Nowitzki, Tim Duncan, LaMarcus Aldridge and Draymond Green, even showing the ability to switch and guard smaller players with precision.

Related Story: NBA Trade Rumors: 10 Landing Spots For Blake Griffin

While Jordan still remains the better rim protector, Adams is improving at a rapid pace, and is poised to become a top-five two-way center in a league that is suffering from a dearth of quality big men.

Both Adams and Griffin set excellent screens and are high IQ players. While Griffin is one of the best playmaking forwards in the league, Adams made some noteworthy plays during the gruelling seven-game series against the Golden State Warriors.

Defense has never been a strength of Griffin, who can defer to Adams on both ends of the floor. Adams won’t have the luxury of Serge Ibaka coming over from the weak side to block shots, but Griffin’s overall impact on a game far supersedes what the Congolese did for the Thunder.

The Griffin-Adams frontcourt has astronomical potential, especially with Russell Westbrook breaking down defenses and operating with a well-spaced floor.

If Chris Paul throwing up lobs to Jordan and Griffin gave birth to “Lob City,” the younger and more athletic Westbrook could terrorize the league with two ultra-intelligent big men to rely upon.

Next: More Depth Than Clippers

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