I think, for Eddie, the most important thing is getting his arms stronger. I remember having a horrible horrible shot, terrible dribbling, and I'd get tired shooting the ball barely 400 times. But once I did some weightlifting concentrating on my arms, everything got SO much easier. It really keys a lot of things. It's like a whole sense of confidence in your dribble, your shot. I'm telling you. Work Griffin in the weight room half way to death, and bring in an enforcer who would give him advice (Oakley, Brian Grant, TyHill, .....), and it's all over. Same for Ming. His timing on blocks would improve tremendously if he worked on his arms a bit more. Ming/Griffin is the future frontcourt. They can average 5 blocks a game, believe it.
Larry Smith is a very good low post teacher/coach and I would to see him work more with Eddy (i.e. see more Results as in Yao and Othella's case) because I don't want Eddy to be another Rober Horry (which though is not necessarily a bad thing). One thing I love about Eddy is his knack to rebound and play defense - and he is still improving, he is only 20. People quesion his passion for the game (which is arguable) but that man has heart - if he is open he will not shy away from the challenge.
Agree. Many of the posters here think the Griffin has no heart or passion for the game because he maintains a calm demeanor rather than posture with an animalistic face and cry. Instead, he demonstrates composure and intelligence.
I think Eddie's biggest weakness is defence at the moment. He's a great weakside shotblocker, but has anyone seen him effectively shut down a player he's guarding straight up? OK, he's having to go against the bigger 4's, but that's because he hasn't got the foot speed (IMHO) to guard the 3's. This is a major factor in whether he plays the closing moments of games on a consistent basis.
I do not agree. You don't have to 'shot down' any player to be deemed a good defensive (especially playing out west). You can only hope to contain star NBA players - you rarely shot them down and it takes a total team effort (plus advance scouting of course). Although he has succeeded in doing it a few times, eddy tries to block the shot of the man he is guarding - he does not have to do that - all he has to do is to context their shot and make them make a more difficult basket (Yao needs to learn this too). All these comes with experience. I also noticed that Eddy (and many more NBA players) play better defense when he feels he contributing or having an impact in the game. So with more PT and increase in confidense Eddy will certainly get better. Finally, Eddy is our best player to defend those tall, long and athletic 4s out west - Duncan, 'Sheed, Nowitzki*, Amare, KG*, Gasol, Malone etc. Neither Mo Taylor and Kenny T (who is a good D also) can hang with those guys before of height difference. Kenny can only stop someone like Brand because of their like statue.
Griffin's defense, especially against stronger PFs, is totally erratic and at times nonexistent. Elton Brand has eaten Griffin alive the past 2 games they've played. Nobody did a thing against Nowitski in the Dallas game. Likewise, he's not really slowed Chris Webber either. Eddie did a good job against Rasheed in one of the Portland games, and occasionally he does play good defense. But Gasol scored a ton against our power forwards, no one stopped him. Brand, in the first Clippers game, was shooting 100% against Griffin until they pulled Griff. If Griffin is the defensive solution at the "4", then he's next year's solution. Dave
