OUCH..Blake Griffin compared to the Mailman

[MercedeSooner]

Kemp is comparable. I don't know if Amare has the hops Blake has, although he's really skilled and is up there.

The Amare that initially came into the league doesn't look anything like the Amare that's out there now, it's sad we only got to see him at that level for 2 years though before microfracture. Explosive jumper and athlete and a good comparison for Blake. Obviously differences in their game, Blake a lot more physical while Amare has a better offensive game.

Does anybody really doubt barring injury that Blake can't be a 25 12 and 5 guy next year ? All he really has to do right now is get closer to 70% at the FT line and he'll be near the 25 PPG range right now.

 

[followingsooners]

Classy response. What a clown.

I wouldn't call him a clown, he is just old school. This is a true COACH's response. With 33 games into ones career and a 10-23 record, and someone wants him to compare a rookie to the greatest player he has ever coached? The response was not directed to Blake, it was to those Buhahas trying to make stores and profits from creating hypes on Blake. In the end, how can you argue his point if that is how he truly feels? I would take notes and realize how long the road is to greatness if I were Blake.

 

[seniorsooner]

I wouldn't call him a clown, he is just old school. This is a true COACH's response. With 33 games into ones career and a 10-23 record, and someone wants him to compare a rookie to the greatest player he has ever coached? The response was not directed to Blake, it was to those Buhahas trying to make stores and profits from creating hypes on Blake. In the end, how can you argue his point if that is how he truly feels? I would take notes and realize how long the road is to greatness if I were Blake.

No, he's a clown and a bigot. Do some reading about the lovely Jerry Sloan.

 

[Tony]

Honest question: What is a Buhaha? Google search reveals nothing that would make sense.

 

[followingsooners]

No, he's a clown and a bigot. Do some reading about the lovely Jerry Sloan.

Googled, nothing too bad comes out. The point I am making is the following: Blake has given people hopes and expectations, I of cause root for him 100%. But I don't think people making comments about him not being there yet is that bad. On a separate note, I absolutely loathed calling LBJ "the King James" when he came out of high school.

 

[campbest]

No, he's a clown and a bigot. Do some reading about the lovely Jerry Sloan.

...you forgot to add damn good basketball coach.

 

[Max Power]

Googled, nothing too bad comes out. The point I am making is the following: Blake has given people hopes and expectations, I of cause root for him 100%. But I don't think people making comments about him not being there yet is that bad. On a separate note, I absolutely loathed calling LBJ "the King James" when he came out of high school.

I still loath it and refuse to do so. He has done nothing to earn that title

 

[coolm]

Sloan is a real piece of work.

He's fiercely loyal (to a fault as we see here), built on many old-fashioned ideals (which have some racial and non-diverse connotations), and meaner than a damn wet hen.

You ask anyone in the league who is the biggest azz kicker in the NBA and Sloan is at the top of the list. They are ALL scared of Jerry Sloan. That's just the type of answer I'd expect from him - but it's not being disrespectful to Blake.

 

[skyvue]

Saying it's still early in his career is one thing (though even that ought to accompany praise for his early success); singling out the fact that he's had a couple of injuries, as if that makes him a lesser player, is petty and ridiculous.

 

[skyvue]

In his rookie season, Karl Malone averaged 14.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, .5 blocks, and 2.9 assists per game.

Blake is averaging 21.5 points, 12.4 rebounds, .64 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game.

And all Sloan can think to offer is that Blake has been injured a couple of times?

Sorry, but that's nothing but disrespectful. No one's putting BG in the hall of fame yet, but it's possible to give the rookie his due while still remaining loyal to your own great player.

 

[SoonerBabyy]

haters gonna hate. blake griffin has done nothing but amaze people & continues to every time he plays. the clippers sell out because of blake. what dude sucks thats all there is to it.

:griffinwindmill

 

[Dem Coltz]

I don't understand how thinking Sloan is a clown and bigot has to do with anything. So does nothing he say have value? If you're so offended by his bigotry write a letter to David Stern. He's been a great coach for longer than just about anybody else in the NBA, have you seen how much job turnover there is year to year in that league? I don't think a clown would last long. I also don't think you could coach in the NBA long if you were so bigoted it offended your players or blinded your ability to make the right decisions. It apparently doesn't bother his players enough that they quit on him.

As for his statement, as someone else said it's an old school comment by a coach backing the best player he ever coached. He spent 15+ seasons with the guy, every day for 6-8 months, that's a substantial portion of his life. Calling Sloan a "hater" is pretty pathetic. One of Malone's (and Stockton's) most amazing feats was missing so few games playing rough bball for so many years. He was an iron man, kept himself in great shape, and showed up every game ready to go to work. Sloan respects toughness and hard work, which Malone epitomizes. I love watching Griffin, he was unlucky last year getting hurt. Injuries suck but they're a part of the game. For Blake the sky is the limit, but he's been in the playing in the league 4 months and he's getting compared to a guy who gave buckets every night for like 17 years. He's got a lot of work to do to live up to that comparison, is Sloan wrong about that?

 

[stoopified]

Wow I didn't know Malone was such a low-life.

 

[SilliSooner]

Wow I didn't know Malone was such a low-life.

How did polygamous Mormons in Utah view Malone, with disdain or understanding?

 

[skyvue]

he's been in the playing in the league 4 months and he's getting compared to a guy who gave buckets every night for like 17 years. He's got a lot of work to do to live up to that comparison, is Sloan wrong about that?

Here--let me help you with this:

"The young man's certainly made an impressive start, but it might be a bit early to compare him just yet to one of the greatest power forwards ever to play the game. Longevity is a key element of greatness in this game, so let's give him time. It'll be fun watching him develop, though; he's obviously a talented and athletic young player."​

See? Not so hard. Props go to both Malone and Blake, and no one gets hurt.

Instead, Sloan implied that BG's some kind of frail flower compared to rough and tough Malone. No one controls injuries. No one. Malone wouldn't have played with a broken kneecap, either. He was just fortunate enough not to suffer such an injury.

Show some class, compliment the young player, and then give your guy his props. Everyone's happy, and you don't come off as a jerk.

 

[jmizzy4ou]

Not at all shocking to me. Sloan & the Mailgirl were leading the lynchmob who tried to have Magic banned from the NBA after he announced that he was HIV +. Magic said that Karl and Jerry both knew that as long as #32 was running the show in LA, there would be no titles in Utah. LOL. I never wanted to see Malone win anything. I was so hurt when my Lakers signed the chump.

He acts like a good guy and a classy man, and then you read how he has treated his children who he had outside of his marriage. Anyone remember him going after Kobe's wife during the rape accusation?? Kobe said that Malone tried to pick up his wife or something. :facepalm

 

[Dem Coltz]

I disagree Skyvue. Enough with the politically correct answers and verbal handjobs for all. If you prefer that kind of thinking then you must love Ahmad Rashad's weekly kowtowing show. Do you want everyone to hire a handler and speak like a politician? Sloan didn't imply anything. He said what he meant, and no matter what extra stuff you read into it on your own, what he said was true. Blake has played like 30 games out of 110 possible, Malone missed 5 games in his first 13 years in the NBA. Think about that.

I feel bad for Greg Oden getting hurt all the time. But you can't say he was unlucky and Malone was lucky for not breaking this or that. Malone's bones and body were simply built tougher than Oden, luck has nothing to do with it. Hopefully Blake's injury was a total freak accident that will never happen again. But Malone banged and jumped around for 17 years and his body never failed him, you think that's luck or coincidence?

Some people when they speak you have to listen to them based on how much they've seen and how much they know about the game. Doesn't mean everything they say is right, doesn't mean you have to agree with them. But I make it a point to think about what they said and why they said it, there's usually kernels of wisdom to be found. If Sloan implied anything, it's that showing up with a hard hat every day for 18 years in the post and delivering countless baskets deserves a certain level of respect that highlight dunks and potential don't measure up to. What is matters more than what may be. I agree.

 

[skyvue]

So Blake's not as good as Malone because he suffered a broken kneecap last season?

Gotcha. That makes perfect sense, because surely Malone would have played right through a broken kneecap.

Sorry, but that's the silliest argument that I can think of for arguing in favor of Malone. There are many very strong points one might make in Malone's favor, but holding a broken kneecap against BG is inane.

I think your final point is much more valid, but that's not what Sloan said. You're reading into his statement much more than I did.

And there's nothing "politically correct" (what a useless term that is) about giving credit where it's due. Again, I never said he had to agree that BG is in Malone's class. Quite the opposite. But there's nothing wrong with acknowledging a young player's accomplishments, even as you stand up for your own guy's achievements (among which never suffering a broken kneecap ranks pretty low).

My standard for a no-nonsense but classy coach is Bob Stoops (sorry, you football haters). He'll stand up for his players every time, but he's not afraid to give credit to other team's athletes. You lose nothing by tipping your hat where it's deserved. Only a petty and petulant child is unwilling to do so, and it seems that's just what Sloan is.

And I don't know what having stronger bones than your opponent is but luck. It's not hard work or determination that strengthens one's bones; it's luck of the draw. And unless you're claiming that Malone's kneecaps (and other various and sundry bones) are invincible, that they can't be broken by any force known to man, then luck played a role in his never having had one broken, strong and superior as they are.

And I have to think that, when a reporter asks a coach to compare a current player to one of his former stars, bone density and strength are not really what they're asking about.

 

[Dem Coltz]

This thread is classic internet nonsense. OK Skyvue and SeniorSooner and all others calling Sloan a classless clown - did you actually read anything Sloan said other than the opening post? That was only the first thing he said, which is a fact by the way like it or not. I've made my point about that comment already in a post above. People are putting words in my mouth that I didn't say and exaggerating things I did say out of context. No use arguing.

Let's read what other classless things the classless clown Sloan had to say about Griffin and the Clippers shall we?

After his first comment-
"Sloan chuckled and then rattled off a list of compliments in Griffin's direction, which included the Hall of Fame coach calling the power forward "an unbelievable athlete." "

"Griffin is such a wonderful young player," Sloan said after the game. "My goodness … you can't say enough about his abilities."

"Fran (Elson), I thought, tried to get up and guard him and force him out away from the basket a little bit more," Sloan said. "You're not going to stop him. He's so talented."

On the Clippers
“We played them at home to start the season and I thought they had things going pretty well for them. We beat them in an overtime game but then they had some players hurt. They have a fine young group of guys to work with. You need to have patience, those guys are going to be a good team.”

By the way, Utah's Hall of Fame No. 32 only missed 10 games in his Jazz career, playing in 1,434 of 1,444 possible regular-season contests. The Clippers' No. 32 has played in all 18 games this year for the Clippers, but he missed all 82 games last season due to his knee surgery. - Deseret News

Thanks for the laugh fellas.

 

[skyvue]

There was no link to the story, so no, I didn't read it. So I'll cop to being busted on that. But then, I wonder if you'd read it before now, since you didn't refer to his other comments till now.

I still think it was a spurious and not a little ridiculous "first comparison" to make. That's the first thing that leaps to his mind, in comparing the two players -- that BG suffered a broken kneecap and KM didn't? I still feel that's a silly place to start. If Blake were the kind of player to miss every third game with a hangnail, it'd be different, but that couldn't be further from the truth, and if Sloan's been paying any attention at all (and I trust that he has), he knows it. BG's plenty tough and plenty dedicated, and Sloan implying he isn't (sorry, but that seems undeniably to be the point he was trying to make) demeans him, not BG.

But he did go on to praise BG's performance on the court, so my other points are rendered moot (or worse), and I will retreat redfaced.