Yea, Griffin is 6 foot 9 1/4 inches but at 19.....Could grow 1/2 inch to inch, maybe more, no?...Dream at supposedly age 21 was 6 foot 10 3/4 inches (maybe 6-11, but no way he is exactly 7 foot, or ever was.) ...And Griffin is 227 lbs., Dream obviously much, much skinnier when he first got here was at 234 lbs. ( or there about) ...obviously he is heavier now at 255 lbs. or so...With the obvious similarity at age in size and weight..it is not a strecth to say Griffin can grow into a size Hakeem is now.... Point #2: I think the Rockets obvious indifference with the Center situation lends justifiable opinion that they have considered Griffin to be THE "Center" in two or three more years. ....Checkmarks point to this including: Signing additional Small Forward to what they already have. Mo Taylor being set for the next several years. It seems that the Rockets are establishing depth and plan to bring Griffin ever so slowly....or perhaps, just perhaps Griffin is the future at the 5...
I can imagine Griffin playing the sort of role that O'Neal plays in Indy. Jermaine isnt totally offensive minded, he may average aroun 12 ppg, but he is mainly defensive minded and can rebound like a mad man.
Griffin, definately has a 5 game. He can play a strong 4 also. He does not have a sm. forward game and he is definately better geared for 4-5. Center would be a great position for him. He has the defensive fire of a top notch 5 and he has a good post game. He can run the floor and he will learn 1-1 defense. He has long arms and has not shown to be foul prone. 6'-10" with long arms would work for every other center except Shaq and no other center can hold Shaq. Griffin could play with all the other centers in the league in 1-3 years. I hope he grows another 1/2 inch but really all he needs is to develop a NBA body with the strength to push and pull in the block.
griffin IS the center of the rocket's future. and new jersey is ridiculously stupid for not hanging on to him.
i've stood next to hakeem a couple of times, and i'm not sure he's even 6'10 3/4. i'd guess 6'9" w/o shoes.
You're projecting Griffin as a center in 2-3 years, and NJ is incredibly stupid? PUH-LEEZ. EG gets abused by anyone with a strong postup game, even if he gets his stats. Didn't you see Zach Randolph school him in the summer league? It wasn't the first time.
EG will never be as good as Olajuwon. He just doesn't have the explosive athleticism that separated Hak from the best.
My very best wishes for Griffin! Its more more likely that you'll receive multiple lightening strikes than rediscover Hakeem in Griffin. Here's hoping he (Griffin) becomes a special player in his own right. Very best regards to Dream in all his endeavors! May the Rockets enjoy pure success and someday learn to appreciate a winner. regards
EG claimed that he was measured at 6'10" and 230lbs at the Chicago camp this year. I think you will see him play minutes at the 5 this year, how many depends on Cato.
I think Griffin's size is much more like Theo Ratliff's or Zo's then it is like Dream's. It could be VERY likely for him to be the center of the future. When KG was Griffin's age, KG was around 6'10. Now KG is a legitamate 7'0. Zo is about 6'10 1/4, 258 lbs and Ratliff is the about the exact size Griffin is right now, 6'10 225lbs. So if Cato's season goes down the crapper, or Colllier sucks (both should be expected), the Griffin will probably be the center, especially in a zone.
Nobody should be compared to Hakeem, Shaq, Wilt, or Jabbar they were one of a kinds: But Griffin will be able to play the 5 alot better than anyone else we have. Griffin compared his game to Rasheed Wallace and I think that is a better camparison, except Griffin has potential to be more active defensively- shot blocks and rebounds I hope he plays some center for us- even though right now he doesn't have the muscle to play man-man on NBA centers
hey genius, 1. did you notice the weight difference btwn zach and eddie currently? 2. if i said 2-3 yrs from now, what difference does it make what zach does now against him?? 3. shouldn't he put on weight in 2-3 years? 4. show me how NJ wins if eddie turns into a legit 7'0", 255-260# center. i'm waiting....
It wasn't the first time. What were the others? Box scores only please-- if you're so sure of yourself, the facts should support it.
Hope you're prepared to wait a long time. You speculated that NJ made a ridiculous trade IF Griffin grows 2 inches, adds 30-40 lbs in 3 years, and learns to play a new position? Rudy is an oracle beyond all belief if that's what he expected when the Rockets drafted Griffin, and it comes to pass. Griffin got skills, and he's got baggage. His attitude at Seton Hall didn't endear him to Pirate fans. His defense left lots to be desired, even with the great stats. Only reason the Nets drafted him was to trade him to the Rockets.
Randolph came off the bench to score 14 to help lead MSU over Seton Hall last year. Randolph was chosen over Griffin for a spot on the national under-21 team 2 years ago,and EG was not happy about it. http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaab/recaps/20001219/maysao.html Michael Bradley had some pretty decent games against SHU, too. Seton Hall had lots of problems keeping other teams off the offensive glass. And that was with Sam Dalembert (Sixer first round pick) playing center. Lots of blocks doesn't necessarily imply good defense.
And neither does one unfavorable head to head necessarily imply Griffin can't handle anyone with a strong post-up game. Further, it is highly, highly likely Griffin will bulk up. Do me a favor fly, watch ESPNClassics and watch the Pippen of old, watch Hakeem of old, watch Malone of old, watch even Jordan of old, but especially big men, (i.e. pf, c) and they all have been lighter when they first arrived in the scene...so it is a fact Griffin is 19 which is younger than a lot of first-timers age when entering, so it isn't unusual to see a kid like this grow (ala KG)...given his already NBA ready blocking and Rebounding ability...I dare say an oracle is not necessary to correlate Griffin's future as a successful center...
Everyone is so worried about the center position, lets face it Hakeem aged and is now a raptor. Lets wish him well over there and realize there isn't a legitimate replacement, especially with Shaq in the league. Cato will have to earn some of that money, at least we are not stuck with an Ostertag, a "big"country, an ike who, shawn bradley, and so on so on. You get the point, our offense well unfortunately be centered around guard play and not a dominant center. Cato deserves the chance to fail on the court with minutes behind him .... remember that "brilliant" preseason, one game, that netted him all the mula. Yeah I do, everyone gave the stiff a standing O, where are you guys now. With that stated, back to the original post ... on the size or potential size of griffin compared to hakeem. I've seen both in person, upclose ... hakeem at UH rehabing in the summers, the guy has a tremendous physique no matter what age he is. I don't recall his younger days body, I just remember the guy could flat out get up and out perform any other. As for Griffin, saw him at the airport about 6wks ago ... he is long and lean. He is definitely not skinny (shawn bradley). Also at the airport that day was Juwan Howard and he and Griffin were about the same height, just with alittle different builds. Griffins looks to have a longer reach. I see Griff as more of a post present, no shaq or hakeem ... but i can see the rocks playing two 4's at the same time, given cato is again a no show.
