I'm starting to get the feeling that Eddie Griffen may never be the SuperStar that the Rockets brass was hyping him up to be. The fact that they're getting Glen Rice hints that Griffen is not a starting caliber player. The vibes I'm getting say that Griffen will be a "fine" player, like a Detlef Schremp, but not a great player like Garnett or Duncan. Does anybody disagree?
STRONGLY.....Rice was brought in to allow mgmt to bring Eddie up more slowly. He has good all around skills and will be a star in the league. He can play the 3, 4, and 5(if he grows a little vertically and horizontally). I think he's 6'10"(he grew an inch since the draft). He'll fill out as he gets older. You can't expect miracles as he is only 19. Have some faith.
Uhhh... maybe they acquired Rice because Anderson was asking for too much and Houston wanted a shooter. Or maybe the acquired Rice because they eventuall expect Griffin to play PF or even become a Theo Ratliff-type center. Or maybe they expect Griffin to be coming into his own at the advanced age of 22 when Rice leaves. Or maybe they know that Griffin is 19 now and want a talented SF to tutor him and bring him along slowly Or it's possible that they want Griffin to have to earn his playing time by eventually beaitng out Rice. Or maybe they just want to win now. A few too many "maybes" to start talking bust, don't you think? Let's watch him and enjoy it. And stop worrying about busts.
Griffin should not start immediately. He had one year of college ball and will need time to adjust to the NBA level. I believe he will develop nicely logging minutes at the 3 and 4 positions. He may not be an all star player in his first years, but his impact on the franchise is anticipated to be significant. He is a rebounding, shot blocking force. His offensive game will develop and he will be a threat in the post. It's a lot of pressure for a rookie to come out and start in the Western Conference. In time, Eddie will be the man.
I don't know if he'll be a bust, but from what I've seen so far, I have reservations that he'll ever be a superstar. He doesn't seem to have exceptional athleticism (quickness or hops) or a tremendous feel for the game (on offense at least) where he would be able to make his teammates better. At this point, I would expect a better version of Ratliff.
I think Griffin's stats will make him look like a bust- and the media will no-doubt paint him that way. But, in a few years, he will be in the top 5 players.
How much better could Ratlif be without being becoming a superstar? If Griffin ever averages 17pts, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocks.... he'll be a superstar .
What the heck are you talking about? He "does not seem to have exceptional athleticism (quickness or hops)"????? How did he lead the nation in blocks as a freshman in the highly competitive Big East last year. The guy had 4.5 blocks a game! I am excited, because when Cato goes up too early for a block, and his man fakes him out, Griffin is going to be there to clean up the mess. I think Griffin is going to average 1.5 blocks, and 5 rebounds a game in 20 minutes next year. We won't need his offense for awhile, but when we do, I think he will be ready.
I do not consider Ratliff or anyone who simply averages a double-double and a lot of blocks to be a superstar. Joe Smith has done that several seasons (albeit w/ not SO many blocks). I think Griff will be a solid player, just not one of the top 15-20 players in the league. As far as his athleticism goes, I meant on offense, ie. blowing past his man to get to the rim/set up a teammate or shaking his man in the paint w/ 3 moves for an impossible fadeaway. Granted this is not something essential to having superstar talent. But at the same time I don't think Griff will ever have Larry Bird or even Barkley type of presence/court awareness to compensate. As far as his shotblocking avg at Seton Hall, that does not automatically translate to "he must have hops out the ceiling." The athletic Kelvin Cato is living, wallowing proof that shotblocking has to do w/ timing more than any other factor (given the defender is not like 6foot2 or something ) I agree that Griff will be a great defensive player, but never a good enough scorer to get superstar billing.
pippendagimp is right on the money! And ZRB, what could ever prompt you to utter such hyperbole!!! It's one thing to be optimistic, but quite another to say that Griffen will ever be one of the top five out of more than four hundred players in the league!!! Get a grip man. Come down to earth!
I think we might be jumping the gun a bit to just assume anything about this line up. Rice could come off the bench and fill the combined rolls of Walt and Bull or he might start. Mo might start at the PF spot or he might not have a defined forward position at all playing the majority of his minutes at the SF. Griffen might split time backing up both forward spots or possibly even start because of his rebounding and shot blocking. If Cato does not show he is ready to start Rudy T just might go with a starting line up that has Mo and Eddie starting in the low post and Rice starting at the SF. IMO there are only two certainties and that is Franchise will start at the 1 and Cat will start at the 2. All else is going to be experimented with a lot IMO.
wwwwaaaaaayyyyyyy toooooo eeeaaaaaaaarrrrrrllllllllllyyyyy. ...Can't...have...discussion....until...January!!! Potential there but doesn't mean he'll use it. Horry had/has potential too. So does Cato. -krosfyah
Yeah, we can't tell anything yet. There were encouraging signs in summer league play but its way, way, way, way, way, way too early to call someone a bust. Usually it takes several years to determine if they're a bust or not, not several weeks.
in my opinion, it is, to say the least, WAY too early to be talking about Eddie Griffin being a bust....He's 19, has played exactly 0 NBA games, and is coming off only one year of college... When we drafted him I was not amongst those expecting miracles from this kid out of the gate, and as I saw more and more posters proclaiming him a given double-double, or the easy favorite to win ROY, I grew more and more concerned about the inevitable backlash these overinflated expectations usually cause...However, even though I expected him to go through growing pains (like virtually every HS or 1-year college player has done), and I expected there to be panic amongst those predicting immediate semi-stardom for EG, I have to admit I'm amazed it's already happening before the season is even underway...It's too early to say ANYTHING except he's talented, raw, a bit better on the defensive end than the offense at this stage, and doesn't show much emotion...And isn't that what we all knew on Draft night?
Griffin is considered a better talent than anyone else on our team was at 19. Are people forgeting that Giffin was a superstar in HS? He then went on to be a great player in the Big East at age 18. I like the fact that he followed up the HS hype with a damn good season at SH. 18-11-4.5 is not too shabby. How many playes have a par of 30 in the NCAA? How many do it at age 18? Give him time, he will be great. No hops?
He will grow 3 inches and gain 45 lbs Seriously, he's 19 and he's already grown an inch since the draft. He's got a wide frame (shoulders) that can realistically support another 20-30 lbs of muscle easily without hindering movement (important). He WILL be our starting 5 in the future, barring a blockbuster trade for someone else. With the right diet and a few good weight sessions, he is a 5. And it won't take longer than one year. He won't even recognize himseelf when he's done.
