New Orleans Pelicans: What would Blake Griffin add to the Pels?
New Orleans Pelicans: Blake Griffin’s role
Like I wrote earlier, remove the idea you had of Griffin on the Clippers from your head. Griffin might look like the same guy, but he doesn’t play like it.
To get an idea of Griffin’s skillset shift, he shot less than two threes per game while in Los Angeles. In his last three seasons with the Clippers, he hasn’t shot less than six threes on any given night.
His three-point percentages have improved, as has the look of his shot, but this change is also a testament to the withering of Griffin’s athleticism. Griffin has gradually become less mobile and explosive. His burst has gone from a roaring flame to a mere spark. This season, 56 percent of Griffin’s shot have come from beyond the arc. When was the last time you saw him dunk?
Griffin’s responsibilities as a facilitator have also greatly increased. He played a more simplified role for the Clippers which makes sense when you have Chris Paul, one of the game’s greatest point guards ever. Griffin was more of an auxiliary playmaker at the Staples Center, whereas he became almost the crux of the Pistons’ offense after being traded there.
In Detroit, we’ve seen Griffin bring the ball up the court, command his team’s half-court offense, run pick-and-roll, and regularly find his teammates through tight windows. This year, he has posted a good assist-to-turnover ratio as he tries to generate play for the Pistons.
However, Griffin is no longer the alpha dog for the Pistons. Jerami Grant arrived to “Detroit basketball” in the offseason and quickly established himself as their top player. Grant is a surefire candidate for Most Improved Player this season. He’s averaging 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists while shooting 38 percent from three and being one of the league’s best iso players.
The Pistons are among the worst teams in their conference based on win-loss record, but they are prone to offering viewers some of the most competitive games in the NBA. They handily beat the Pelicans in their last game and have defeated the Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, and Philadelphia 76ers. Grant is a big part of that, but the Pistons are not currently focused on winning. Griffin seems to have aspirations to at least suit up for a playoff team—and that is incompatible with Detroit’s current goals.