This is from Johnathon Feigen's most recent article. I deemed this worthy of a new thread because I really think that Eddie Griffin's value should be reevaluated now that JVG is on board. Last season he looked pathetic and disinterested at times but that's simply because he wasn't involved in the offense at all. I think it would be wise to wait and see what he can do under this new regime before shipping him off. In case we have forgotten, he is a truly "special" shotblocker, often recording 4-5 blocks in a game before his lack of involvement just seemed to cause him to lose all motivation. He also is a natural rebounder with good instincts and long arms. My lasting memory of the '99 playoffs was of Camby at center court trapping with the guards and running the break, blocking shots, and getting rebounds. Eddie is a better natural shotblocker than Camby. Rudy once said in a call-in show that he never traps because the percentages are against a turnover and it serves no purpose. I disagree as a trapping defense is the one way to force a higher tempo. Hopefully JVG can bring this defense to Houston and we can see a more productive Griffin, trapping, blocking shots, and filling the lanes.
I still think that Eddie G. will become a great player. And as we have all read a thousand times, but when he gets stronger he will become exactly what this team needs.
I think we throw around the word "great" way to easily these days. I call it the high schooler syndrome. Great points in your posts about EG. I wish we understood how this guys ticks because he seems so disinterested at times. I think it was more of our offense that caused his perceived attitude. Hey, if the coach allows/wants you on the three point line then you gotta be there. Defensive changes are a coming. This is what I am most excited about. I agree about the trapping and the up-tempo game. What Rudy may not understand is that teams are younger and less experienced and a trapping defense just makes sense to exploit these issues.
If he hasn't put on 10 or more lbs, then this whole thing is a moot point. He can't score consistently on jumpers and 3-pters, because he simply isn't that good at it. he HAS a post game, but doesn't have the physical tools to use it. Once he gets stronger, I think we'll see his % go up, and that will ultimately lead to him becoming a good player for this team. I just waiting for that anual report from CLutch that says "Eddie has been bulking up, looks like he put on 15lbs".
Agreed. And I would also like to point out that how much better would Eddie look if he got some easy scores running the wing on a fast break the way Kenyon Martin and RJ get easy scores in New Jersey? If Griffin can get 4-6 fast break points a night and 4-6 rebound putbacks a night then he does not have to rely as much on jacking up 3pt jumpers. Clearly I want to see him put on more weight and use his post up game with his turnaround jump shot and perhaps a baby hook shot. That would do wonders for his game. But if we could get him some easy high percentage looks a night via the fast break and via fighting for rebound putbacks then I think his game will really take off.
Last season's D surprised me and pleased me. If the O had matched it they would have played into mid-May, at least.
As special as people want Eddie to be, I think he'll be a Donyell Marshall type of player which would be good on this team. I've said it since JVG was hired was gone are the days of the Rockets being so spaced out, that the spacing is bad. The offense this team is more likely to resemble is Sa. Once Ming post up, Taylor or Griffin will be at the ft line or backside similar to what David and Malik rose does in Sa. The key for Eddie's improvement is strength, being able to hit the Horace Grant elbow jumper, and the ability to finish inside when diving to the basket. If he improves this, his scoring will go up to about 13 pts per game and his rebounding will also increase to 8-9 range which would be perfect for this team. At best, Eddie will be a 3rd option on this team in the future, but with his lack of being able to get his own shot, thats were he'll be.
I am very interested in following Eddie under JVG. When we first got JVG, I posted some Camby statistics vs. Eddie's- Eddie rebounded at a higher clip than Camby the first couple years, then Camby bumped his rebounding up to 11 per game. They've got similar body frames. I think Camby's motor may be a little faster than Eddie's but that could just be because we've been so stagnated the last couple years. I believe JVG will be around the summer league, so we should get a first glance of a "new Eddie" then. lee- I would be fine with Donyell Marshall plus Eddie's shotblocking instincts.
I think he's beyond repair, all the negatives in his game that people noted as a youngster still exist, and he has made almost no progress in alleviating them.
As a youngster? I didn't know 20 was considered grizzled and washed up these days. (Dear Jonathan Feigen: If there's little hope for a 20 year old Eddie to fulfill his potential, what hope is there for a 26 year old Francis to cut back turnovers and raise assists?)
Part of the problem with this is that Griffin can't dribble to save his life. On fast breaks the odds are he would have to put the ball on the floor at some point, and that would just throw off his timing. And if Griffin managed to get 4-6 putbacks a game that would have him leading the league in offensive rebounding. I don't see that happening (unless you were talking about points and not rebounds...in which case nevermind).
All I want to see is improvement in any area. Eddie is a 21 year old that was one of the 10th most youngest guys in the league and you really caint get no worse than what he was. He´s going into his 3rd year (Damn) as a pro around this time or there 4th year is that you find out if he still can improve or be a bust! Just give him a bit of time!!
One of the things I noticed about EG while watching him play in the Summer Leagues last year is the guy does have a couple of quick post moves. I've seen him use them in "real games" during the season, too. The problem is, one of the moves I saw him use is a turnaround jumper where he seems like he's leaning into the basket. Just like most of his shots, it's about as awkward looking as it gets. That worked in the Summer Pro League, but in the NBA, I'm thinking most defenders would swat that crap back in his face. As has been stated before, he physically cannot bang with the big boys and doesn't have enough moves to shoot or move around them like KG. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think EG's first step is to learn how to dribble. After that, let's worry about bulking the boy up to 250 or whatever.
i think griff got so comfortable camping out in the perimater he probabally forgot how to score in the post,lol.wasent comfortable doin it i guess.he probably dont have the confidence to score in trhe post with the big guys.guess im just making excuses for him i dont know!
He seemed disinterested because he was smokin pot!!! And also...because they didn't involve him in the offense. He is athletic...and doesn't need to post up. Hopefully JVG will find a way to use him...like Camby. He can become a great role player!!! REMEMBER.....HE'S ONLY 21!!!!!!!
A few things. First off, Camby was a National Player of the Year in college, no? Chances are he's just a better player than Griffin. Also, Camby's best shot-blocking came in Toronto, by far. He blocked 3.65 shots a game in his 2nd season. His best shot-blocking year in NY was 2.16, in his 5th season. He even blocked 2.06 as a rookie. If anything, his shot-blocking was stunted under JVG. Camby also came out averaging 15 pts and 6 boards as a rookie, shooting close to 50 percent. He obviously had some talent. I'm not willing to give too much credit to JVG for improving his game here. Just check the numbers. His rebounding jumped to 11.5 a game, but that was only in his 3rd year under JVG. He still averaged 7 boards in 21 minutes at Denver, albeit only playing in 29 games.
Problem with your outlook is that Steve is a natural scorer and Griffin lacks total fundamentals and skills. If I wanted a shot blocker Id trade for Theo R. Griffin is also 21. He dribbles worse than some 10 yearolds at the YMCA.Dribbling is almost a gift you either have or you dont. Its eye-hand coordination. Griffin lacks it completely and I dont think hours and hours of practice will help. And the longer the rockets take to figure this out,the lower and lower his trade value gets. I wanted him traded last year for a lotto pick to try to get a Butler or Amare. The rockets didnt agree. He will never be a sf. As a pf he has a looooong way to go.Im talking years. If ever. It doesnt take a genius to know this. If JVG doesnt trade both Griffin and Cat this offseason this franchise is doomed. If we wait till NEXT summer to trade them,then word around the NBA will be out they suck. And you can forget about a cat/eddie for Jo Neal trade ever happening if the rox wait any longer. Also,with Ming,Griffin is doomed also. We need a pf that actually is tough and gets physical and watches mings back. Its not in Griffins personality to do this. Jvg cant change a persons personality. "cutting to the basket" sounds cute but thats not what we need out of our pf's. You cant rebound when your trying to space the floor. If the rox HAD to keep Griffin then we need a sf that is tall that can rebound like 10 rbs a game to complement Eddie. There are some I know of,but people on this board dont want them.I'll leave it at that.
the main problem with your logic is that if the rox stand pat and wait "to see if hes a bust in his fourth year" then word around the league will be out and you can forget about his trade value. The smart thing to do,is recognize his faults before everyone else(Like I did) and trade him before everyone figures out he cant dribble. If practice is all it took to be a great player,then we all would be stars.
