Well he's certainly not our point guard of the future. How many 6'10" small forwards with Griffin's body type can you name? Probably not very many.
I think Griffin and Taylor will grow nicely together as possible star forward tandem. I would probably compare them most closely to the T-wolves' forward combo of KG and Googs a few years ago. KG was the tall SF with shot-blocking and rebounding capabilities; Googs was the PF with a good jumpshot and ability to run the floor. If only Taylor can become as good a rebounder as Googs was, the Rockets are set at both forward positions for years to come.
Bima - That's how I see Griffin, like Garnet. I am not saying he will be as good, but the situation is similar. I just don't want to see Griffin, in the near future, covering Duncan, Malone, Webber, A. Davis, Oakley, Mcdyss, etc. I also don't want to see Mo chasing Carter, Nowiztki, Stojacavic, Odom, Szczerbiak, etc. This post was also a sort of inside joke. T-Pooh, Bah, I'm calling ya out.
So you'd rather have Griffin chasing Carter, Nowitzki, Stojakovic, Odom, and Sczcerbiak? I guarantee if you put Griffin on someone like McGrady, he may become scarred for life.
I am not sure how effective Griffin will be this year. But as a young guy, he should be able to defend those people on the perimiter better than Mo. If those players try to go inside on Griffin, he will be fine. Mo could definetly defend those players inside as well. My fear is that the PF in the West would eat Griffin for lunch. Remember Randolph? Moment of Truth - Griffin or Mo Who do you think would be more effective on Carter, Nowiztki, Stojacavic, Odom, and Szczerbiak? Who do you think would be more effective on Duncan, Malone, Webber, A. Davis, Oakley, and Mcdyss? I would wager most knowledgeable fans would call this a no brainer.
Originally posted by Timing I guarantee if you put Griffin on someone like McGrady, he may become scarred for life. That's exactly how I have envisioned Griffin's play. I have images of Griffen (McGrady), Francis, Mo Tay, & Mobley and a nasty center.
Colby I don't think that Griff is the weakling that some make him out to be. Having said that I would think that if we are playing man to man that Mo would go up against Webber, Duncan, Davis... I don't think that Rudy T intends to use them in more of a zone keeping Griffin closer to the goal for his rebounding and shotblocking which is superior to Mo's. Having said that I think we are more likely to see Mo garding people on the perimeter with help. I would not be shocked to see Mo have more of the small forward type of resposibility. Think about it Mo is a great perimeter player on offense (although not to the 3pt line) and although I think his defense is a little underrated how do we position our best rebounder and shot blocker (Griffin) away from the basket on defense? I think a lot has to do with matchups how well he progresses during the season and if Rudy T is going with a zone or playing man to man. One other thing to remember is that depending on Cato and Collier we may find Rudy playing a lot of small ball with Griffin and Mo maning the low post.
McGrady is a 2, so I don't see why Griffin would be covering him. Griffin will have his hands full with Hill and Miller. I don't think Griffin is weak, but he will find it very hard, at age 19, to cover the PF in the west. Duncan/Robinson Webber Wallace Malone Mcdyss Garnet Gugliotta Howard J Smith Brand Baker Thats rough.
I hope you're not serious. T-Peso would light Griffin up like an Aggie bonfire. McGrady is the real deal, the scary truth, the big bad monsta man, and many other exemplary adjectives as well.
O yeah I'm serious. When did McGrady become the real deal? It took him three years. Just wait a year and 1/2, mark my words, like you did with ZRB! i
Timing - Yes, McGrady can and has played the 2 and 3. Maybe you can tell me the linup for Orlando. I was under the impression that Miller is their 3.
What do lineups have to do with anything? Grant Hill has played a lot of point forward but there's always a point guard in the starting lineup. During the course of a game there are lots of different matchups out there.
Since Griffin will likely be a SF on defense I can see him guarding wing players like McGrady and I like his chances. Griffin is a natural defender, he doesn't just play solid, straight up defense he is a smart defender, and reacts well. I think he will be a nice defensive stopper for the Rocks next season.
Lineups have everything to do with playing basketball. It is important to make sure you match up defensively, as defense is very important. Sure GH has played point foreward, but you don't cover him with your point guard, do you? I don't. I would asume Orlando will throw out a starting linup of Armstrong TMac Miller Hill Ewing Why would you put Griffin on TMac? It would seem clear to me to put Cat on TMac. The rest kinda falls in line. I guess you could put Francis on Hill, but I think Mo would be a better choice. I would not feel very sure having Mo cover Armstrong. Please explain how this helps us with defense?
Are you kiddin? you like Griffin's chances if he guards T-Mac? McGrady has unbelievable handles, and is a SG that can play PG and the SF. Right when u hear the phrase that he can play point guard, that automatically takes Griffin out of the picture.
Yep I like Griffin's chances of guarding McGrady in the future, maybe not next year because of a lack of experience. Griffin is just as big, long, tall and athletic as McGrady, he just lacks experience. Griffin is a solid on the ball defender, McGrady isn't unstoppable, and nobody expects people to hold McGrady to 8 points. But Griffin is the type of player tailor made to stop guys like McGrady.
Griffin is all of those things, except he is not nearly the athlete that McGrady is. Griffin is a good athlete. But he is not in McGrady's league in terms of pure athleticism. McGrady really is in that exclusive top echleon of 3 or 4 athletes in the league. Griffin might be a good option on McGrady if he receives a lot of defensive help. At least McGrady won't be able to post him up and overpower him all day. But he like most people will struggle guarding him on the perimeter without major help. And Griffin is not a good perimeter defender. Post defender/weak side defender he is, perimeter defender he is not. That's one of the good things that I saw in us drafting a guy like Richard Jefferson. Because our team really needs a good size, athletic swing defender, which Jefferson would have provided. Guys like McGrady, Kobe Bryant, and Paul Pierce were virtually unstoppable against us. We had no answers and literally threw 3 or 4 different defenders in our futile efforts.
