Can some one tell me what Eddie Griffen is good for?

Ultimatum. If Eddie doesn't improve his game next year to decent stats, like hitting 43% of his shots and getting 8 rebounds in 30 minutes a game, no doubt I'll jump off his wagon.

 

My main problem with EG is that he doesn't seem to improve his game at all as the season goes by. Yao improves game by game so do other young players like Curry and Chandler.

And frankly I don't see very huge "upside" in him compared to other youngsters. He's not the most athletic in the world. He's not particularly quick or strong etc. He's not fundamentally sound. His shooting form is strange. And he doesn't seem to have much passing instincts and ball-handling skills.

Being young doesn't automatically mean you would definitely dramatically improve. And EG needs to improve dramatcially otherwise he's just a .

 

Please marry me.

EG has ZERO potential, until he shows he's hungry. I was expecting him to show SOME semblance of a post-up game this year, but he has show none.

What did he do this past summer?

He better work his ass off, if he will ever be the next Duncan or Wallace, or whatever absurd comparisons of him have been made.

 

Eddie is good for about 10k by brake check for blocked shots.
Eddie is a key part to winning another Ring
Eddie and Yao in the backcourt 2 years from now...Ouch!

 

I think it's mainly because EG doesn't seem to have a great knowledge and feel for the game (or some say basketball
IQ) but you couldn't really fault him hard for that as I think it's a problem for most young players (particually those highschoolers or players with limited college experience). Steve at the start of career was the same but he improves. Ming does everything well but he also had a ton of pro and international experience. He spoiled us.

 

Contrary to what many say, Griffin has improved in the post. It is an incremental improvement, but it's improvement nonetheless. For instance, his staple move (the turnaround jumper) from the post has actually been pretty decent. He doesn't take it often, and he still has nights where he misses it, but it IS certainly better than last year where he just had no clue as to what to do in the postup. You have to look hard for improvement, but it IS there, and it's not like he hasn't been working on his game over the summer. Everything I've read, from quotes to articles, indicates that Griffin does work on his game... just looking at his strength improvement (10 lbs of muscle) will show you that he is trying to get stronger and improve. Griffin HIMSELF has even said that he wants to be an inside presence eventually, so that shows that he IS aware of the improvements he will have to make.

I don't like Griffin's shot 1 bit, but he does have range which is a major plus in our offense.

 

As i've posted many other times about Eddie when he just seems too passive when going to hoop on offense. He for a young player he has no explosion going to the rim. I don't know which player needs to learn to take it up strong everytime Eddie or Yao.

That being said, Eddie does have a tendency to stick his nose in for rebounds(offensive and defensive). He can block shots especially from the weakside. With some added weight, and dose of confidence Eddie can be our starting 4 of the future. Lets just give the 20 yrd old more time.

 

I wasn't really respondin to ur question exactly. To answer your question though: Griffin is good for his long term potential. Currently though, I'd rather have MoTay play the majority of the minutes.

 

I've said this before, but is there any doubt the Rockets would be a playoff team this year, if they had simply picked up a decent (not great, just decent) veteran point guard last summer.

The Rockets must really love EG, because they're willing to miss the playoffs for a fourth straight year, just so they can give him heavy minutes, as a starter.

Gee, other teams wouldn't realize how important it is not to hurt EG's confindence. They'd be stupid, and actually consider making the playoffs more important, than giving serious minutes to a guy who by any measure is a bust. They'd actually bench EG, and pick up T. Hill off the waivers, and make a statement to the fans, that this is THE YEAR the Rockets break though.

Nope, it's a good thing the Rockets aren't jerks like that. It's a good thing we have the honor of supporting a team that, night in and night out, puts 4 1/2 players on the court instead of 5.

All because the think developing EG is more important than making the playoffs.

Actions speak louder than words.

Bench EG.
Aquire a veteran PF like T Hill or Horace Grant.

Raven

 

The first paragraph should be this:

I've said this before, but is there any doubt the Rockets would be a playoff team this year, if they had simply picked up a decent (not great, just decent) veteran power forward last summer.

I wrote point guard instead of power forward - heh.

Raven

 

Sorry just a question for you.
What exactly great "potential" EG has? What made you think he's any more special than other 20-year-olds?

 

someone already said and I have said one zillion times--Eddie needs to learn how to shoot and then he will be one hella playa...

I have not seen a player get more wide open turn arounds, fall aways, cross lane hooks and just flat out brick them....

he is the King of Brick 100%. The kid does have game and can easily manage 15-18 points per if he would hit his jumpers, whether 3 feet or 22 feet.

I plotted his shots one night (very therapeautic I might add):
-he hit 3/9 (which is his typical game), including one 3pter, one medium jump shot and one tap in.
-Of the missed 6, one was a 3pter, 5 were 12 feet or in
-Of the 5 from 12 feet in, 4 were wide open 3-8 feet shots.

what does this all mean?

this kid gets open, gets shots in the lane, but cannot finish because his shot is lame and his touch is nonexistent....

with all this being said, he needs some severe shooting clinic to become formidable......he has the ability to create inside and elevate, but just needs a shooting clinic 101....

 

Sorry your theory seemed a bit weird for me. I mean if he can shoot, the defenders won't leave him as wide open as he's now. What made you think he can score 16-18 ppg? Don't think that right now the open looks he got were created by double teams on Francis and Ming, rather than he got open and created himself?

Also this "if he can shoot, he can be a star" argument isn't very good. Hell if Darius Miles can shoot, he would be a star too. Actually that statement can appy to about 100 other NBA players.

 

I usually use the Red Auerbach "Rule" for winning championships - to paraphrase..."Championships are one with 2 great players and three very, very good players".

To rearrange that thought just a little (on the assumption that Steve and Yao will become great players) - in order for the Rockets to win a championship Griffin will need to become a "very, very good" player.

That does not mean he has to be a Garnett, Duncan, Nowitski, Webber, Malone, or Brand. The Lakers win with a PF combo of Madsen and Walker. Horry also plays PF and shoots a worse FG% than Griffin (currently 27.7% from the arc).

One final point.

Look at the starting lineups of all WC playoff teams. Cross off the top three players on each team. Now, instead of comparing Griffin to Duncan or Garnett compare Griffin to the 4th or 5th best player on those teams. IMO, that's the realistic expectation level which should be used. Not Nowitski, Nash and Finley - LaFrentz or Raja Bell. Not Webber, Bibby or Peja - Vlade or Christie. Not Duncan, Parker or Manu - an aging DRobb, Willis and Bowen.

If this is still an issue at the trade deadline next season, let's revisiti it then (after Griifin is 21 years old).