[chron]Rockets to see firsthand whether Griffin is real deal

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What's all the fuss about?
Rockets to see firsthand whether Griffin is real deal
By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2010 Houston Chronicle
Dec. 21, 2010, 11:10PM

• Video: Check out Griffin's Top 10 dunks so far
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LOS ANGELES — Luis Scola has seen the highlights, as has everyone else with so much as a passing interest.

Scola checked out a Los Angeles Clippers game against the Lakers and maybe half of another game, enough to grow more curious.

In his years of international competitions and four seasons with the Rockets, Scola has gone against every variety of star power forward. Yet few have arrived in the NBA with Blake Griffin's ability to simultaneously take people's breath away and breathe new life into the nightly highlight reel.

The Rockets won't go as far as Ron Artest, who said he hoped Griffin would hit him with one of those mind- and rim-bending slams. Scola does, however, want to see the sensation up close.

"I want to see what kind of player he is, yeah, no question," said Scola, who will do so tonight when the Rockets complete their road trip against the Clippers at Staples Center.

"It looks like he has a bright future," Scola said. "There's been a lot of talk about him. Even before this season, when he got the injury, everybody was saying he was going to be a good player. It looks like he's going to be great. To get a chance to see him up close - yeah, I'm looking forward to it."


Scola, Hill eager to see

Griffin's reputation began to soar with his dunk-contest throw-down on the New York Knicks' Timofey Mozgov. There was a 360 spin in the air against Detroit, followed by alley-oop chin-ups almost every night, including a few in Monday's 113-90 victory over Minnesota.

For Scola, a matchup with the 21-year-old Griffin offers not just a contrast of styles but a chance to see if Griffin's ability to bound high above the rim will work against him as Scola goes though his usual variety of spin moves and head fakes.

Scola has learned he never knows what will work until he tries.

"I don't know what kind of player he is," Scola said. "You may think he might be a good fit for you, and then he turns out to be bad. You never know. I really have to have a feeling while I'm playing, during the game."

Scola's backup, Jordan Hill, has looked forward to checking out Griffin since before Griffin was the first player taken in their 2009 NBA draft class and before he lost a season to injury and returned to become the best thing to hit the Clippers in years.

"We were supposed to play him my junior year (at Arizona), but we lost in the preseason NIT," Hill said. "He's a player in my (draft) class, so I watch. He's playing real well. I just want to go out and play my game, have fun. I'm looking forward to it."

At Oklahoma, Griffin was the college player of the year. Hill was the eighth player chosen in their draft.

Both had to bring patience to the NBA. Hill rarely played for the New York Knicks before his February trade to the Rockets, and Griffin sat out to repair a broken kneecap.

Hill, however, will not think of the meeting as a comparison, given the enormous difference in their roles. The 6-10 Griffin is averaging 20.8 points and 12.2 rebounds per game, playing an average of 361/2 minutes. Hill comes off the bench behind Scola, playing 17.7 minutes per game and averaging 6.8 points and 4.3 rebounds.

"He's like the go-to guy," Hill said. "I'm still just a role player."


Defensive duty to Hayes?

Hill and Scola might not get the primary assignment on Griffin. That could go to Chuck Hayes, who has spent his six NBA seasons defending the league's best power forwards. He said he had no curiosity about the latest young star, knowing he would learn all he needs to about Griffin soon enough.

"The kid is good," Hayes said. "I'm not going to take away from him what he has done. But as far as wanting to go against him just to see what the fuss is about, nah, I'm not going to do that. I'm just going to play him according to the game plan. If he does something spectacular, then hopefully it's when the game is no doubt over in our favor."

jonathan.feigen@chron.com