Take off the Rose-Colored Glasses--Is Griffin falling for Headfakes?

crispee,

Either I didn't clarify my position well enough, or you misinterpreted it, but I'm pretty much on the same page as you. I think "weakside shotblocker" may have been the wrong term to use. I WANT him in the paint, one foot inside and one foot outside.

Maybe I should have said help defender? I think his contribution will come more from the shots he alters as opposed to his actual blocks per game. I think he can alter the shots of players who venture into the middle of the lane, and be the eraser type if a player drives baseline.

I'm excited to see the chemistry that he and Dream might have.

The real question is, where do you play Mo in the zone on defense? Do you camp him out around the free throw line, forming a triangular defense of sorts with our big men, or do you just line them up along the baseline.


------------------

 

Randy blew out his knee(s) so I can't really fault the poor guy for that. Even after those injuries and with the Rockets, he showed flashes of brilliance here and there. His story truly is a sad one.

------------------
"Colson makes a mockery of the PG position. It's like he's out there playing 1 on 9." -- pippendagimp with some candid player evaluations.

 

The one I remembered the most was the block he went after on Kirilenko "Son of Lurch". He jumped up and put his hand through the rim to get that one. If I recall, he still got dunked on... blocking shots when you're under the goal ain't too wise, especially if you want to keep your wrists and fingers intact.

------------------
"Colson makes a mockery of the PG position. It's like he's out there playing 1 on 9." -- pippendagimp with some candid player evaluations.

 

I don't know if it was the raucous crowd, TV, or just bad luck, but Griffin did a lot of things against the Jazz that frankly... embarrassed me. I kept thinking, "okay, pal, my reputation is on the line for you to perform like you've been performing now that everybody is watching"

I remember one particular time when he jumped for a block, that for one thing, he had no chance of getting. For another, if the player that was shooting had any brains, he would have leaned in a bit and drawn the easy foul. But he didn't, and luckily the guy missed the shot...

But at that point I knew this thread was going back up to the top...

He looked almost dazed out there at times....
Not a healthy sign at all...

------------------
"There are three kinds of lies:
Lies, Damned Lies, and STATISTICS..."
- Mark Twain -

 

I watched quite a few Grizz games last year, and my thoughts are that he is ahead of Stromile both offensively and defensively.

Stro was unsure of himself on both ends of the court, mainly (imho) because Sidney (the Penguin) Lowe kept jerking him out of the game so quickly.

Actually, I think Eddie is ahead of Stro right now. I have seen Stro in a couple of RMR games and he does look better than last year, but it still doesn't look like he is playing with confidence.

------------------

 

Darkhorse, I didn't mean to second guess you. You know, I wrote this thread 2 days before the game on purpose. I wanted others to watch for this. I appreciate your candor for admitting that I wasn't exaggerating.

I think he did alter some shots, too. I was impressed, overall. I just want him to immediately be told by his coaches to "wait for it."

Here's a motto. When in doubt, stay down and box out.

 

I saw him lose his post position a few times because he was looking to come over for the block too early, but overall I didn't see him falling for headfakes.

Even when he does mistime his jump, he keeps his hands up and still alters the shot.

------------------


[This message has been edited by tacoma park legend (edited July 27, 2001).]

 

TPL, really? you saw no headfakes get him?

 

I noticed him going for headfakes a lot as well, and he got away with a couple fouls that he'd automatically get called for during the regular season. I did notice him stay on the ground a few times when he probably shouldn't have so it seems like he is trying to learn. I'm confident he'll learn to not go for the headfakes, that turnaround shot of his was money though.

------------------
So you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it's sinking,
Racing around to come up behind you again.
The sun is the same in a relative way but you're older,
Shorter of breath and one day closer to death.

 

Not to the point where I thought it would be a problem with him.

Also, you can expect more out of him defensively than what Swift brought to the table his rookie season. Griffin is a much more polished player coming out than Swift was.

------------------