Sam
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I’ve never been a big NBA fan, sure I’d watch the playoffs and during Najera’s tenure in Dallas I would find myself watching a healthy amount of Mavericks games. Even the Thunder moving into my backyard didn’t do it for me but this fall and now winter I find myself huddled around my computer watching Blake Griffin. Maybe it’s a combination of the Sooner basketball experiencing a down swing and free time but Blake Griffin’s NBA games have me excited.
It’s not just the highlight dunks that are making the rounds of youtube and ESPN that have me excited to watch his games. Sure I love that stuff as it causes me to leap off my couch but it’s when he shows flashes of what his offensive skill set could be that gets the wheels turning in my head. It’s the three he hit tonight as the shot clock winded down, or the fade away over Kirlenko as the shot clock expired in Utah a month ago and even when he grabs a defensive board and takes off down the court to find a teammate for a three. It causes the “what if” questions to start for his career, when that stuff starts happening question, oh boy.
Another amazing thing to watch about Blake games to me is how various people in the NBA are receiving him. He almost always goes off for 10 points or so in the 1st, and you can see the coaches and players start changing their schemes to account for the” rook”. Even then he still finds his way to 22+ and 12+ more often than not. Amare’s nod is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to “game recognizing game” for Blake. The look on Gortat’s face and his body language on Sunday when Blake spun by him and threw down the oop are hilarious for me.
Or how the announcing teams call his game, he already has the Clippers group fully behind him. I think Blake could run over some little girl in the crowd and they would blame the little girl. Heck, their play by play guy who’s been doing their games forever already calls Blake one of the best 5 Clippers ever. I know in some why that’s faint praise consider the Clippers franchise but still it makes you think. Or the opposing announcers who are biased for their own teams pausing and going “oh my god, this kid is scary” when he does something.
I admit I’m a homer and biased when it comes to Blake Griffin but I honestly feel like what he’s doing right now with about half of his points a night coming off just being a freak athlete is the makings of something special. If he’s averaging 22 and 12 a night as rookie whose offensive skills are still raw, what will he be doing in a few years? When he’s hitting 70% and up from the line? Forcing people to close out and honor his 16 footers? Has more than just a running hook type floater for a post move? Or when he figures out defense? (That’s his biggest knock at the time, I find myself urging him to hustle more or get smarter on the defensive end) Is he the type who could average 30 and 13?
The sky really seems to be the limit for Blake. He works his tail off and you know with the natural ability he’s been blessed with and the mindset that he has it’s a special combination. Even in my wildest dreams I figured him for 18 and 10 as a Rookie would be a good start. I know the season isn’t even half way over yet so his numbers could drop as he hits the “rookie wall” but even then what he’s done over 32 games has been special in my eyes. Seeing him doing this stuff on the highest stage at only 21, where he already plays like he’s bigger and stronger than these grown me and the best in the world is mind-blowing.
His game on Wednesday is on NBATV at 9:30 Oklahoma time. If you get the chance watch it and appreciate Blake for more than just the highlight dunks. Because if you enjoy basketball then you should enjoy the way he approaches the game.
Just felt like I had to share my thoughts on Blake with somebody and that fact that for me just watching the Dunks highlights doesn't do what he's doing justice.
It’s not just the highlight dunks that are making the rounds of youtube and ESPN that have me excited to watch his games. Sure I love that stuff as it causes me to leap off my couch but it’s when he shows flashes of what his offensive skill set could be that gets the wheels turning in my head. It’s the three he hit tonight as the shot clock winded down, or the fade away over Kirlenko as the shot clock expired in Utah a month ago and even when he grabs a defensive board and takes off down the court to find a teammate for a three. It causes the “what if” questions to start for his career, when that stuff starts happening question, oh boy.
Another amazing thing to watch about Blake games to me is how various people in the NBA are receiving him. He almost always goes off for 10 points or so in the 1st, and you can see the coaches and players start changing their schemes to account for the” rook”. Even then he still finds his way to 22+ and 12+ more often than not. Amare’s nod is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to “game recognizing game” for Blake. The look on Gortat’s face and his body language on Sunday when Blake spun by him and threw down the oop are hilarious for me.
Or how the announcing teams call his game, he already has the Clippers group fully behind him. I think Blake could run over some little girl in the crowd and they would blame the little girl. Heck, their play by play guy who’s been doing their games forever already calls Blake one of the best 5 Clippers ever. I know in some why that’s faint praise consider the Clippers franchise but still it makes you think. Or the opposing announcers who are biased for their own teams pausing and going “oh my god, this kid is scary” when he does something.
I admit I’m a homer and biased when it comes to Blake Griffin but I honestly feel like what he’s doing right now with about half of his points a night coming off just being a freak athlete is the makings of something special. If he’s averaging 22 and 12 a night as rookie whose offensive skills are still raw, what will he be doing in a few years? When he’s hitting 70% and up from the line? Forcing people to close out and honor his 16 footers? Has more than just a running hook type floater for a post move? Or when he figures out defense? (That’s his biggest knock at the time, I find myself urging him to hustle more or get smarter on the defensive end) Is he the type who could average 30 and 13?
The sky really seems to be the limit for Blake. He works his tail off and you know with the natural ability he’s been blessed with and the mindset that he has it’s a special combination. Even in my wildest dreams I figured him for 18 and 10 as a Rookie would be a good start. I know the season isn’t even half way over yet so his numbers could drop as he hits the “rookie wall” but even then what he’s done over 32 games has been special in my eyes. Seeing him doing this stuff on the highest stage at only 21, where he already plays like he’s bigger and stronger than these grown me and the best in the world is mind-blowing.
His game on Wednesday is on NBATV at 9:30 Oklahoma time. If you get the chance watch it and appreciate Blake for more than just the highlight dunks. Because if you enjoy basketball then you should enjoy the way he approaches the game.
Just felt like I had to share my thoughts on Blake with somebody and that fact that for me just watching the Dunks highlights doesn't do what he's doing justice.
