Griffin's First Year

Griffin's stats were typical 19-year old stats. If you take a look at Garnett and Kobe's numbers when they just came into the league, you won't see much of a difference. So just wait. I'm sure Griff will come around. He's shown so much potential in just his first season, I can't wait to see him in the future.

 

i don't think he would be as good as those guys. Those guys have sick athletism, and Griffin, well he's not that good.

 

griffin may turn out to be a jermain o'neal with a 3-point shot and even a better shot blocker.

 

excellent argument, because of course griffin isn't the least bit athletic and we all know you have to be a freak in order to be good.

 

With kids this young, you can't look at stats. He indeed tired out at the end, so you have to look at him like a scout looking for strengths and weaknesses.

On defense, he is a true shot-blocker with uncanny instints. Oustanding natural shot blocker. He will be a premier NBA blocker in the stats category the moment he gets the stamina to last a whole season. However, he is a tweener. He is not close to being strong enough to play one-on-one defense against stud PFs. Kenny Thomas tosses him around. He can't get low post positioning, and he can't prevent others from getting it. Whenever he was on the floor with Kenny, Kenny was guarding the opposing PF the vast majority of the time. Griffin's blocks are often blocks of someone else man, right now.

He showed little ability to makes plays off the dribble, but he did show that he can take a couple of dribbles and shoot. There is nothing that as shown me that he can improve into a playmaker. As far as the face-the-basket aspect of his offense goes, Griffin could stall out at Horry offense, everything else is pure speculation/potential at this point, because of lack of NBA play-maker dribbling for a big man. (ie, he can't dribble like Mason, Duncan, Garnett, much less the SFs of the league).

Now, what he has shown is an NBA-class turnaround jumper (kudos to NIKEstrad for predicting this based on scouting his college play). This is very good looking. I am much more comfortable saying that the sky's the limit (Rasheed Wallace) on this becoming a goto shot, than him becoming a face-the-basket scorer. This turnaround is quick and has a slight fadeaway to it, and he shoots it with full extension. This combination makes it difficult to block. This is not a Tony Massenburg-class turnaround that won't produce when defenses start respecting it; this shot is capabable of beating double teams due to how quickly he turns and fires and how high the ball is released.

As for his open jumper, he shoots this with a high release, and above average in how fast he releases it. He doesn't need much room to be open. He can shoot without a hitch from a few feet beyond the arch. Go see a shootaround, if you don't believe me. I have no problem speculating that his open jumpers from 15' out to 3-pt range will become more money soon.

He has no fear when he shoots. He loves to shoot. Kid rarely passes up a chance to shoot, much like Oscar Torres. I love the confidence.

 

I really have to disagree with that logic. I will grant that Griffin may not have the athleticism of a Garnett or a Bryant, but I really don't think that spectacular dunks and such define greatness as a ball player. If that was the case, Vince Carter would be the best player in the world because his athleticism rivals Jordan's. Tim Duncan is a guy that has next to no athleticism, yet you can legitimately call him the best player in the league.

As far as Griffin not being that good, Griffin hasn't come close to realizing his potential. Garnett in his rookie season averaged 10 points a game. Griffin's potential is comparable to both Kobe's and Garnett's.

 

heypartner, that was the clearest, most comprehensive, and (IMO) most accurate description of Eddie at this point in his career that I've ever seen. I think his sense of timing on blocks is what most impresses me. I believe that sense of timing will be a factor in his becoming an excellent rebounder when (and if, but it sounds like he has the required dedication) he bulks up and gets the upper body strength needed to establish and maintain position in the paint.

He and Yao have a lot of development to do, as does Steve as a point guard. But if they can even come close to fulfilling their potential over the next 3-4 years, they potentially represent a trio of top-level, game-changing players. NBA championships are won by having two or three of those and a good supporting cast that works well together as a unit. IMO, we will just need to add a good SF and a commitment to team defense to reach the upper echelon in the next 2-3 years. (assuming we get enough of Yao Ming's time to actually be able to develop him properly and not just regular season/playoffs)

 

Gerald Wallace has that sick athleticism too... would you prefer to trade Eddie for him?

Athleticism helps, but you really need to use it as a factor, not the factor as you appear to be doing in the above post. It helps, but you're not going to go far at all without the fundamentals of the game. Griffin has both.

 

So based on what you have seen heypartner would you say Griffin has the ability to be an all star in this league?

Would he be better suited at SF or PF??

 

I guess I'll throw my Eddie Griffin scouting report into the mix...

Has GREAT range on his shot. He seems more comfortable a couple feet outside the 3 point line than right on it. Towards the end of the season, started taking more shots inside the 3 point. Doesn't elevate too much on his jumper, which sometimes can get it blocked, but at the same time because of his high and quick release, height, and length can get defenders up in the air in anticipation, dribble past them, and take an easier shot. Sometimes has trouble bumping a defender to create space, but that can be attributed to being a 19 year old rookie in need of gaining weight. Has a frame that looks like it could withstand the additional weight, not ultra-wiry like Garnett. Very cool approach-has shown early on that he's not afraid of taking big shots, no matter how he's played, and been fairly successful in "clutch" situations. Can shoot both off the dribble, or in spot up situations. Can finish with a flair like a reverse dunk when he needs to. Doesn't seem comfortable dribbling the ball, but has said to make that a focus of his offseason work, along with playing inside, and strength and conditioning.

On defense, is very quick for a PF, but not quick enough to withstand the quicker SFs. Incredible shot blocker, out on the floor or inside. Combination of long arms and height complement his extremely quick pogostick-like leaping ability, which also helps him rebound in a crowd. Has defensive instincts 20 year olds are not supposed to have. Gets manhandled by power PFs because of his lack of weight. Has excellent maturity and does not let emotions cause him to draw silly fouls, but can get into foul trouble playing help defense. Eddie Griffin has the ability to be one of the best defensive players in the NBA.

 

Rather than me speculating beyond my original post, I'd be more interested in hearing what you think based on what you saw, or based on what I wrote (assuming you want to trust it and envision a player like that).

I'll end with this; I don't know what Griffin will turn into re: SF or PF. He's a tweener, right now; and with zones and a 7'5" center, I'm not really that worried.

 

I love that too. Last year, he was not afraid to take those 4th quarter threes. He has amazing confidence which is good for such a young player.

 

I was really disappointed really. I mean , i think he has a world of talent, he's a good athelete, not great and has a feel for the game. I , believe his 3 pt shooting will be an albatros for his career much like a young DC and now Walker of Boston. I've never seen a big guy start from the outside and work his way in and be a good post player. Never! The only reason why he's a tweener is beacuse the way he was used by Rudy and gang. It was clear he's not strong enough to post every play or possession, but how will he ever learn?

I can watch players mature and the guys with certain limitations seem to do better than the guys who the critics say don't have any. I could care less if griffin has 3pt range. Loo how Mj made his liiving. Look how Kobe makes his. Hell to go further, look how Shaq makes his. They stay within in their stranglehold of limitations. Thats what made J' Oneal effective. Thats what made Grant Hill,Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan effective also. Maybe in time Griffin will see that if he's going to be a 4, he need to be 15ft and in instead of 23ft out. Rasheed Wallace is a guy thats so talented that at 6'11 he can't even avg 9 rebs a game. His game and potential is so remarkable that he shoots 1 ft in an entire game in an elimination game.

Maybe I'm too hard and maybe Griffin will see the 23ft shot is just fools gold. Maybe he will get stronger and become a force or stay the same and gain enough quickness and ball handling to be force at the 3 spot. He had a solid season when he started and when williams, who has no future came back, griffin went to the bench and ended the season poorly. He has a lot of improvement to do but his shot blocking skills and rebounding makes him a decent player already. I just hope he has the determination and desire to improve his weakness. This season i'm looking for 14pts 8rebs and 2.5 blks. I don't think thats asking too much, especially if they trade Kenny and taylor isn't responding well to therapy or is just overweight.

 

Remember how KT got hammered on the BBS for taking so many 3's? This year he took, what, about 10 total? You think he decided to do that on his own? The coaches will work with Griff on his inside game and he's supposed to be adding weight and muscle as we speak. I think we'll see a much improved Griff next season. And he can shoot lights out from downtown already.

 

I only saw him take more than one dribble and make a shot ONE time the whole season, and I watched at least 80% of the games.

I just can't beleive he can be a SF unless all he does is jack up threes. I know a SF can theoretically still post up, but I've never seen that to be part of the Rockets offense. Unless he's got handle he's not showing, I think he has to work hard to bulk up and play PF.