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3-on-3: Blake Griffin, Season Two

Oct 30, 2011
by Jovan Buha



Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images

In the first installment of 3-on-3, three ClipperBlog contributors discuss Blake Griffin’s 2010-2011 season, his potential and his greatest need for improvement.


1. What’s your favorite Blake Griffin memory from 2010-11?



Jovan Buha, ClipperBlog: November 20th, 2010, against the Knicks. Not only did Blake bust out a slew of impressive dunks, but he also managed to score 44 points, grab 15 rebounds and dish out 7 assists in his breakout performance of the season. My favorite part of the night was his fast break, spin-move posterization on Danilo Gallinari. Oh yeah, this was cool too.

Breene Murphy, ClipperBlog: Knicks game in November. I don’t know how many times I’ve told people about being at that game. And it’s not just the Mozgov dunk (and the Amaré nod), but the open court spin move on Gallo to the tomahawk jam. Right at that moment, everyone knew he was a star.

Mark Shore, ClipperBlog: Blake’s first triple-double, against Washington. He not only showed that he’s more than just a highlight reel by dishing out a season-high 10 assists, but he also guarded John Wall on a couple of plays in crunch time and shut him down. Griffin easily proved he was the cream of the crop for rookies on his way to a unanimous Rookie of the Year selection.

2. Blake Griffin will be the best power forward in the NBA by ____________.

Jovan Buha, ClipperBlog: The end of the 2012-2013 season. Last season, there were only two power forwards with legitimate claims of supremacy over Griffin – Dirk Nowitzki and Pau Gasol. In two years both will have dropped off significantly, and Griffin will be much, much better (in all facets of his game). I don’t see LaMarcus Aldridge or Kevin Love surpassing him either.

Breene Murphy, ClipperBlog: The 2013-2014 season, though I could be talked into 2012-2013 if Blake gets a (mostly) full season in this year. Dirk and Pau are still better. Z-Bo’s about even, though I’d take Blake over Amaré and Bosh right now. Even though Dirk and Pau are older, their games will transition well with age. Although it’s less about their games than how good Blake’s will be. Give a year or two with the rate Blake improves and he will be a much better defender and leader on top of being more offensively well-rounded. And if it weren’t for LeBron and Dwight, I’d say Blake could be the best overall player by that time.

Mark Shore, ClipperBlog: The start of the 2013 season. Despite being an elite player in terms of size and athleticism, he still needs to improve in some key areas including becoming more consistent defensively and developing a repertoire of post moves. If nothing else, his LA counterpart Pau Gasol has two more seasons left in him as the premiere power forward in the league.

3. If you could magically endow Griffin with one skill he doesn’t currently have, what would it be?

Jovan Buha, ClipperBlog: A reliable jump shot, particularly from 15-18 feet (in the mold of Amare Stoudemire, Gasol or David West). Although I’m inclined to say the defensive end (especially shot-blocking), the ability to stretch the defense and keep his defender honest would do wonders for the Clippers’ offense. Imagine a Griffin-Gordon pick-and-roll with the pick-and-pop threat. Unstoppable.

Breene Murphy, ClipperBlog: Shot-blocking, because I think he’ll progress by non-magical means into developing the other facets of defense and offense. I just don’t see shot-blocking ever being a significant part of his defensive repertoire, though he’ll still be effective on D. Don’t think that’s possible for a big man? Look at Chuck Hayes: great defender, not a shot-blocker.

Mark Shore, ClipperBlog: Becoming a defensive stopper. He’s one of the league’s top rebounders and has the speed and footwork to defend well on the perimeter, but his post defense is suspect at times and he averaged just 0.55 blocks per game (27th among power forwards). If Griffin can become an elite defensive player, he and DeAndre Jordan will be a black hole for opposing post players.

Twitter: @JovanBuha, @BreeneMurphy, @markshore12

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Jovan Buha

Senior Contributor at ClipperBlog
Jovan Buha is a staff writer and Digital Content Programmer at FOX Sports. He also contributes to ESPN Los Angeles’ Clippers and Lakers coverage. Jovan graduated from USC with a degree in Print & Digital Journalism and a minor in Sports Media Studies in 2014.
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  • Griffin

    1. My favorite moment welll I have two I know I’m cheating but there’s a bit of a reason for that. One his game against dallas late in the season. This around the time where blake was becoming effective late in games. The clips down 16 with two mins to go and blake brought down to six in like a min. If gordon was healthy and not coming off injuries clips would have stole one. The other is the indiana game where blake had a monster game with no dunks. That was a preview of how good he’s gonna be. Once the shot start fallen.

    2. Blake might become the best pf in 2013-2014 it might be earlier then that. Hope he is too. Blake is improving faster then anyone has entacipated and he might transcend beyond just an all star pf into a super star or legendary status in just 3 short years of the nba. Espn already rated this guy in the top ten he’s gonna get the respect he earns for that top ten and wil deserve honors for being in the top 5 in 2012

    3.I agree with everyone else when blake needs to be a shot blocker. Blake has amazing skill already and his shot wil get there maybe within a year becuz of his insane progress. His post defense needs work and I’m sure he can average a lot of points and assit but maybe not so many blocks becuz he’s the focal point of the offense. But once griffin can make defensive stops without getting a defensive foul his defense should be fine

  • Pingback: 3-on-3: Blake Griffin, Season Two – Clipperblog (blog) | Blake Griffin Zone

  • http://www.barmapla.com FD

    So the cavs can use amnesty to dump Davis. Can this Baron Davis trade get any worse?

    • Bongstradamus

      Well, if Kyrie Irving becomes one of the top 3 PG’s in the league, and the Cavs win multiple championships, then yes. It could get worse.

  • DeMote DeAndre

    Here’s a good look at the future. Small forward Harrison Barnes of North Carolina was voted to the preseason all -american team today. Sullinger was a unanimous pick with 65 votes, and Barnes was second with 63.

    He also was voted to the preseason all american team last year as a freshman.

    His North Carolina team was also ” a runaway choice for No. 1 in both the AP and ESPN/USA Today coaches’ polls”

    That’s where the Minneosta pick should go.

    Griffin at power forward and Barnes at small forward. Then we can finally forget about Davis . . . about which everything was bad.

    http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/7174426/jared-sullinger-ohio-state-buckeyes-leads-ap-preseason-all-america-team

    • Griffin

      And that wil fill our sf void but we would need a good pg now too . Someone like d will or cp3. I hope we can get one of the three

    • JaySee

      You’re forgetting Minnesota got Derrick Williams, an improving Kevin Love, and Rick Adelman. That pick is no longer a strong #1 candidate unless Rubio stinks up the court like in Europe.

      • Bongstradamus

        Rubio won’t need to shoot with the offense minny has. He can chuck bad 3s all season long in adelmans system but he won’t.

  • Clips4

    We need a coach who can actually coach and maximize the talent on the roster already so that when the draft comes around again and we pick up new players, they can contribute in the system. VDN needs to go.

    • Bongstradamus

      Let him play out his deal in a shortened season. It won’t matter till next draft anyway. As long as EJ and Blake get 30 mins a game I don’t care

      we need to turn kaman into another piece of the puzzle because I doubt we’d resign him at his current rate. Better to get something than nothing

      • JaySee

        With Minnesota possibly getting better lowering our #1 pick possibility, I’d trade Kaman away for more picks and cap space. If Marvin Williams gets waived for amnesty he’d be a decent risk to take at a low price. There’s also Richard Jefferson, Mike Miller, and Rashard Lewis who might be waived and signed at a decent price.

  • Griffin

    No games no blake griffin dunks no listening to ralph lawler commentary. No listening to brian semen commentary of kfwb 980 on the way home from work or at work. Such a boring fall and winter this will be. Christmas didn’t come early this year like it usually does with some clipper basketball of blake gordon dj and my favorite commentary of ralph lawler and brain semen

  • Neiru

    My favortie Clipper moment, but Blake had a big part in this game was..the game against Miami in L.A. The team was so hot and the ending was so awesome. The heat using dirty tactics, thought they could intimidate Blake, but it back fired. Don’t get Blake mad..you wouldn’t like it.
    Blake can be the best power forward by the 12-13 season. Pau and Nowitski are best right now and they don’t have much left at least to be on top.
    Blake will have the jump shot and the moves. Those will come because he has such a great work ethic. But he will not be an elite defender or shot blocker. So I would give him that magically.

  • DeMote DeAndre

    Here are the teams with the most losses last season.
    Minnesota – 65
    Cleveland – 63
    Toranto – 60
    Washington – 59
    New Jersey – 58
    Sacramento – 58
    Detroit – 52
    Clippers – 50

    The Minnesota pick stiill looks good. Cleveland will improve considerably. Most of these other teams will improve too.

    If the season gets cancelled and they use last seasons standings for the next draft, the Clippers are in real good shape.


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Executive Editor: D.J. Foster
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Senior Contributors: Jovan Buha
  Jordan Heimer
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  Breene Murphy
Staff Writers: Patrick James
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