Eddie is a D specialist and should be considered that from now on, because his % will always be low based on last year and partially this year and our coaches have not and apparently cannot correct his poor shooting form and his lack of touch. I am fine with that....I want him to have a Rodman court mentality (minus the antics and shirt removals). He can be at that level I think defensively and shoot limit his shoots to set up others... he does not need to shoot jump shots every time he is open... in fact, he sould shoot 6-8 times per game, get to the line and average 10-12, concentrate on rebounding at 10+ and blocks at 3+..this would be huge at the position for us. Realities: Eddie has no touch, poor form , no post moves and is streakie, but Eddie is strong defensively and can get hot...Our coaches do not have the technical depth to correct his offensive deficicencies, so let's ride with it and play to his strength!!!
Dennis Rodman has no touch or form. Ben Wallace, no touch or form. Cato. Mutombo. Foyle. Fortson. I think you are alone in comparing his shot to those players. <blockquote><hr>Originally posted by montgo Our coaches do not have the technical depth to correct his offensive deficicencies, so let's ride with it and play to his strength!!!<hr></blockquote> Are you saying that no coach could correct this, or are you referring specifically to our coaches? If you are referring to our coaches, I defy you to find even the biggest Rudy bashers to say Rudy doesn't know the art of shooting, or how to teach it. Then you have Calvin Murphy on payroll giving tips, too. Someone corrected Mobley's shot last year. Maybe it was all Mobley, but I think it is quite a stretch to say Rudy doesn't know how to shoot or scout shooting woes.
I'm with heyp on that. Griffin, as a 19 year old, shot 33% in the NBA from three point range. An NBA three is a deep shot. You can't consistently make that if you have no form or touch. Eddie made 90 last year. Whether there is some kink in his shot, or not, you can't argue with the fact that he has the raw talent to be an above average jump shooter. I'm sure the Rockets would have no qualms hiring additional, expert, coaching staff if they were needed to fine-tune someone's shooting mechanics. However, with Calvin and Rudy T there, I don't think that'll be necessary.
I think these are great ideas. I think he has some shooting and offensive ability--but he too undisciplined and unfocused right now. Start by getting 1 bread and butter mid-range spot, and maybe 1 bread and butter down low spot if the situation is real advantagous (playing a slow or short player). That is it. If he gets these two things going he can focus on being a very good defensive player, and an offensive player just good enough to make you pay if you ignore him, and nothing more for the time being. He doesn't need to be trying to do offensive damage all over the floor, that is not healthy for the team.
Ihave wondered why the coaches don't seem to work a pick and roll play for Griffin since he sets up high, sets a pick, then drifts back and waits for the three. Why not roll him to the hoop and have one of the guards float one in so he can take it to the basket. They do it with Cato and he learned how to at least make it on occasion... why not Griffin?
All his additional upper body muscle mass changed his shot mechanics. He has depth perception problems with glass backboards. He's a young man with a lot of uncomfortable, built-up sexual frustrations. (aka cheerleaderitis) Maybe he should focus more on put-backs.
I just think that last night, he was put in a position that he was THE MAN with KT and MT out and choked. Nothing against EG, but it was a lot of pressure and he didn't come through. During the preseason with MT there, he was playing like an all-star. I predict better things for him tonight.
How about this one... T-mo passed on his shooting woes to Griffin? The misses are like a common cold passed along until everyone's gotten over them But seriously, increased upper body strength can affect shooting performance over the short term, as well as game time confidence and rhythem. I don't think everyone should be worrying too much after one game though. Give it a couple weeks to settle out and if it doesn't I think questions need to be raised about how and where he gets his shots within the offense, as well as any shooting form/techniques that could inprove his accuracy over time.
Do you think Dream would care to collect a pay check in Houston again to teach these new kids to shoot? He could even pass along some footwork tips for overall improvement in mobility. As for Griffin, I do agree that he is very pressure sensitive, and learning to deal with it will come with experience. But as for his shot, well ...it appears that he is rushing it a bit, but his selection is poor at times as well. I think better shot selection will come when he learns how to move aound and open himself up. He often will go through posessions where he is merely a spectatoror reclined on the three pt arc. But all this comes in time...it all depends on how much he really wants it.
I think I agree with this. Griffin doesn't seem have an "area" that he likes. On the plus side, the defense can't force him out of his comfort zone-because he doesn't have one. He needs to develop a comfort zone that he feels at home in. Griffin still scores mainly off what others do. I think the fact that the Rockets had to go small, while Indiana is tall, long, and athletic, especially Jermaine O'Neal (O'Neal, KG, and Chandler are probably the only other guys with Eddie's height and quick leaps). I don't think the Rockets, and Griffin, got the kind of spacing they should be able to get.
Good take. Griffin doesn't look like he can create his own shot, either. He's only 20, and hasn't yet developed any "go-to" moves. At this point, Drew Gooden is light years ahead of EG. But, EG's upside is much higher, he just needs lots of work. Nike's right about Jermaine O'Neal comparisons. We just need to be patient with Griffin, and he'll blossom eventually. It's evident that neither he nor Ming are ready to start yet. That's why we signed Mo Taylor and kept Kenny Thomas. Those guys were sorely missed last night. Oh, and Morris has no business in the starting lineup I wish that fat Rice would nut up and take the floor already.
Jermaine O'Neal improved his post game by learning from one of the best (wasn't he?), Mark Aguirre. Isiah brought in Mark, or sent O'Neal to Mark, specifically to teach O'Neal how to play down low, and his game skyrocketed as we saw last year (or was it the year before last?). From what I saw last night, O'Neal has great footwork on his post moves. On offense on the low block, Eddie has no footwork. Like someone already posted, all he has is that Karla right foot turnaround jumper. If Aguirre was able to teach J. O'Neal, why can't our supposed teachers of the post up game (CD?) teach EG? Maybe this is asking too much, too early?
Hey lets remember Griff's age too. Hes only 20 and outside of High School, has only played 2 years of competitive basketball. Unless you are Kevin Garnett, I think youll be hard pressed to find a 19 year old coming into this league and shooting anywhere near 50% in his first year or so. Griff is just know working on his low post and mid range game. Its going to take time for him to get use to shooting those shots. When he does, I would hope that his % will even out. For now, if he can get some rebounds and keep blocking those shots, hell be helping us out tremendously. Any offense he can give us, could be considered a bonus.
I have one word: Corruption! Rudy corrupted griffin last yr and it will continue to dog him throughout his career like Antoine Walker and Derrick Coleman. Sometimes its good to have limitations and stay within those limitations. I'm pretty sure Duncan could have winged it from 3pt land at a 36% clip coming out of college, but he didn't. The hardest thing for a big buy to do is become a good low post player after being perimeter oriented. There lies the problem with Griffin and thats what will seperate him from the other 4's in the league. Make no bones about it, I'm not comparing Griffin to some of the hall of fame players i will mention. Coming into the league as a raw ,physical player, all Karl Malone could do is attack the rim and draw fouls. Even though he couldn't hit a ft he still kept attacking the goal drawing fouls. When he needed pts or was in a drought, he would draw a foul. It wasn't until later in his career , once he got older that he would shoot jumpers. Only after all the abuse that he took inside did he shoot the fall away and 20ft jimmy. Another example that is even more recent is J. Oneal. Out of high school and earlier in his career all he could do is dunk or play inside. Even though he wasn't strong enough to do it consistently, he was preparing his mind and game to become an inside player.It took a trade and gametime but what you saw last night was a offensive low post force that didn't stray 17ft from the basket. When the rocket made a run the pacers tossed it inside to O'Neal and he delivered a high % shot within 12 ft. It didn't take them 18 seconds and a bunch of between the legs dribbling to get the good shot. O'Neal posted up, got the ball and scored or got fouled. What does this have to do with Griffin? When you struggle as a big guy or small from the floor, you have to know and be able to get a good shot. A good shot isn't just a open 20ft shot because as we all know the further you move from the goal, the lower the percentages are. I really hoping that Griffin learns unlike DC and Walker that its better to shoot a contested 8ft shot than a uncontested 23ft shot when you're struggling. Hope is still there because i rememeber Kenny Thomas shooting 3's and shooting a low % also before last season the he used what he had and sharpened his drive to the basket and pivots. I just hope they reel him in and sets that will have him using mid range shots and post ups as opposed to long range Robert Horry type stuff.
HP: referencing coaching Eddie's shot...I do not see his flat, side spinning, knuckleball shot any different than when he played last year at shooting 29%. When you shoot 29%, there is definitely form, shot selection and ability issues. Rudy T has never been a miracle shot-altering coach--he could shoot, but no coach shooters. He is a freestye coach and until we do he will not shoot over 40% on a consistent basis. Additionally, who on the staff is known shooting clinics, besides Calvin? Bottomline: He is not a consistent shot maker. He will hit long bombs at an average or slightly above clip (33%), but he has not touch inside as seen in his many missed bank shots and he cannot create right now. So, why push it. Put him in a position to succeed and have strength. Rebound, block, play D and occassionally pop a three some dunks and some trash points and average a double double!
Ever since that three point shot was added, players have been tempted to always get one more pont than the normal field goal of two points. Eddie is taking too many outside shots. Why doesn't he try to emulate Otis Thorpe's game? Field goal attempts were always close to the basket or plain dunks. Griffin should just concentrate on blocking shots, and rebounding. If he's free for a dunk, dunk. But no three point shots please. Just play in the shaded lane, Eddie Griffin.
Every now and then, guys will have an off shooting night even for a seasoned veteran. The only way of getting over it is to shoot more, get some easy baskets. In Griffin's case, he just did not get any easy shot and clearly Steve did not help him out by passing him the ball when he was in a good position to score.
