Since the start of this season , Griffin has so far shown nothing besides his shot blocking ability . I don't know why everyone one thinks that he has the "POTENTIAL" to be a super star . This guy has NO inside game and NO defense and is not so athletically gifted .
He has a very "live body". He hustles, goes after rebounds, and plays with intensity. He needs to bulk up and improve his back to the basket game. To put things into perspective, At age 20, he would be a soph-junior in college.
I like how you say. "Griffin has so far shown nothing besides his shot blocking ability." Then this part-" This guy has NO inside game and NO defense and is not so athletically gifted." Not trying to start something just thought it was funny. Blatz
Griffin was actually playing quite well before late November or so. His man-to-man defense does need some work, but I think his rebounding is underrated and his offensive game (3PT and also inside scoring) is better than you may think. He just hasn't had much of an opportunity recently to put them into good use now that we have a dominant post presence in Yao. The KT trade should help. IMO, Griffin really doesn't need to score that much when we already have SF, Cat and Yao. So I think that he already has what it takes to be a decent contributor on this team. Namely, he's a good shot-blocker and rebounder who can give us a couple of threes and has a couple of average post moves. His man-to-man defense will probably improve with time. Remember that Brand was a tough matchup for him and he didn't seem prepared to play that much in that game because Kenny was out that night. Now that he has more playing time and less pressure to excel in limited minutes, he should relax more and start showing us some skills.
Griff's a perfect fit for this team because he doesn't demand the ball. He'll be a good role player while he is young. So he's not a star yet but he'll be able to grow and contribute in the meantime. We're not looking for our PF to be our go-to spot and we never will with Steve, Cat and Yao. So while Griff can stand to shore up his defense and post moves, he's perfect for this team. I don't see him becoming a star in this league until he matures and then leaves this team. Hopefully we'll get something in return when his rookie contract is up.
Maybe becuase he was the top High Schooler in the country when he was a senior. And maybe because he lead the NCAA in blocks as a freshman or maybe because he scored over 17ppg in college as a freshman. Griffin is full of potential. Francis was 22 when he was drafted, Griffin was 19.
Did you watch him at Seton Hall? Griffin does have an inside game. His footwork is mediocre, but he has a turnaround jumper and a decent hook shot. The problem, right now, is his body size. He's too small to actually go to the post, and gets muscled around when he does. If he can develop his upper body strength, then he'll be a shot blocking PF with good rebounding skills, a 3pt shot, and an above average post game. That's a star.
One more thing: Griffin is 20. He's younger than Kwame Brown. He's about the same age as Chandler and Curry, and he already looks like a better player. They're given "time to grow" by everyone. Griffin's not, because he played a single year of college. That's silly. Just because Eddie went straight through grade school shouldn't put him at a disadvantage .
Calm down friend. Griffin will be fine. I just hope he can take Yao's spot as league leader in blocks in a couple of years.
shot blocking ability doesn't always equate to being able to play good man defense. but anyhow...eddie's potential is how he was playing at the end of the year in his first season and how he played in college (17ppg/10rpg/4.5bpg), which was pretty damn good. every single scouting report projected great things for him. eddie is young, struggling, and in transition right now. you know not everyone develops at yao ming's pace, so give eddie a chance. its kind of like with minor league baseball players...some guys can make it up to the majors within a year or two others take three or four years, but still dominate once they get there (pujols v bagwell)
Eddie may or may not be a star in this league, but I like what he gives the Rockets right now. With him, Yao and Cato the Rockets are really taking away a lot of easy baskets. It's not only the shots he blocks but the ones he changes and intimidates. Plus he's active, he's scrambling very well, rebounds on both ends, and his 3pt % is pretty good. The one thing that hurts the Rockets now is his mid-range, but other than that he's very helpfull. I don't think his man-to-man defense is bad. He got burned by Brand and Webber, but those are All-Stars.
Griffin is special because he is 20 and will develop into a man in another year or 2. Look at Jermaine O'Neal- Griffin gets older, stronger and improves his weaknesses- don't give up on him now he is not a finished product.
Griffin is 20 folks. Give him time. The best thing about EG's game is he doesn't demand the ball, which we absolutely need on this team. The other thing I like is he has fallen out of love with the three or he at least shoots it less than last year. He will be fine, like most players who come in to this league at such a young age, he just has to get comfortable. It took McGrady and Kobe three years, and that seems to be the path Eddie is on.
Yao Ming has been groomed to be a basketball stud since he was 14 by the Chinese national sports organization and he's played professionally, too, so don't expect EG to blossom into Jermaine ONeal overnight. Even EG said as much - he needs a few years to even think about comparing himself to other guys who got drafted young.
I don't think he'll be a star, but he couldbe a very good player. I just don't like the way he stays perimeter so much. He needs to focus on 15ft and in and really needs to get better lower body strength. 15pts 11 rebs and 3 blks are pretty much going to be his type of numbers.
Griffin is AWESOME!!!!! He is only TWENTY YEARS OLD!!! He has developed the OFF THE DRIBBLE shot... HE IS ONLY TWENTY YEARS OLD!!! HE and YAO are like AWESOME TOGETHER..... BLOCK.....BLOCK!!!!!!......BLOCK!!!!!!!!!!!!.....ANOTHER BLOCK!!! You must be crazy...He is not strong.......and NO FACIAL EMOTIONS...and he will not become a SUPERSTAR.... BUT HE WILL ALWAYS BE WITH THE HOUSTON ROCKETS. lol...did anyone see Jermaine O'neal shoot a 3? counted as a 2 but oh well...lucky shot
Eddie is a OK player right now, young and improving as stated by many buddies. But he got a tough job in PF, he needs to face Duncan, Webber, Dirk..... I wish he work hard in his defense. I don't want to see him got torched by other team's PF again. KH
