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5 Players Needing To Step Up In Blake Griffin’s Absence

By Kyle Tomasi

Dec 16, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; LA Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) takes a breather during the first half against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; LA Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) takes a breather during the first half against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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October 13, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Brandon Bass (30) shoots a basket against the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
October 13, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Brandon Bass (30) shoots a basket against the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Brandon Bass

Coming off an eight-point outing against the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night, Brandon Bass will need to continue to produce for the Clippers coming off of the bench.

Bass is only averaging 3.3 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.2 blocks per game in extremely limited minutes so far. Quite a fall off from the average outing Griffin put up.

Bass has only averaged 10 or more points per game four times in his 12-year career, but has always been a solid backup in the right system.

Now he is being called upon to be a solid role player for the fourth-place Clippers during a tough stretch of games that includes the Spurs, Rockets, Thunder and Grizzlies. He will have to up his scoring to somewhere around eight to 10 points per game during Griffin’s absence.

These are big shoes to fill, no doubt, but if Bass can score a couple more points a game and snag some boards while on the court, the Clippers could see themselves sitting pretty when Griffin returns.

The passing ability and sheer athleticism is where the Clippers might miss him most.

Bass has only averaged 0.8 assists throughout his career and his athleticism can’t be compared to Griffin’s. The high-low offense that the Clippers have been so successful with Griffin and DeAndre Jordan will now see a slight fall off with Bass in the lineup.

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