How Blake Griffin’s leadership has proven key to the Celtics’ success

How Griffin has contributed to the Boston Celtics.

Prior to Boston’s season-long, six-game swing on the road, Griffin had appeared in just eight contests this season, putting up four points and three rebounds shooting 50 percent from the field and 40% from distance.

Presumably, Horford sitting in that second game in Toronto with it being the day after visiting the Nets in Brooklyn, usually, Griffin plays those scheduled stints being capped in the 18-20 minute-range. On Dec. 5 against the Raptors, Griffin earned his minutes in crunch time with some vintage, thunderous and impressive plays.

This outing already gave the Celtics and Joe Mazzulla confidence in giving Griffin the green light in 32 minutes, and the timing of the boost of faith could not have been better with Horford missing the remainder of the trip due to Health and Safety Protocols and the birth of his daughter. That was the most time Blake had recorded in a regular-season contest since his old Pistons were in Boston on Feb. 12, 2021.

Griffin also recognizes the rumors from past years with the C’s.

"“I talked to Brad two years ago when I was leaving Detroit and had a great conversation,” he also said that first day of practice. “Always had a lot of respect for him, so, sparked back up.”"

Boston was 5-0 with the 2009 first overall pick in the starting lineup until their play finally showed some humanity dropping two consecutive to the Warriors and Clippers, that being the first the Celtics have done so since October.

Now, they’re 6-2 with Griffin averaging 8.6 points and 5.8 rebounds shooting 56.5% and 35% from three.