Great breakdown of Blake's game on Grantland

For those who can handle the truth, Jay Caspian King breaks down Blake's shortcomings on the offensive end. He may be our deity, but he's also still a work in progress...

4 months ago boltsfan21 16 comments 0 recs |

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Everyone around here pretty much knows that

Blake still is a work in progress. The kid is still developing. CP3’s and Chauncey’s influence will help him tremendously.

by lovinglosangeles on Feb 2, 2012 10:43 AM PST reply actions

So...did you read the article? Or just assuming you already know everything there is to know?

Sorry, didn’t get how your post relates to this FanShot.

Proudly enduring the pain since the days of Bill Walton's foot.
Now living the good life in Lob City, CA.

by boltsfan21 on Feb 2, 2012 11:08 AM PST up reply actions

That was my reaction...

The guy didn’t read the article.

by John Raffo on Feb 2, 2012 1:12 PM PST up reply actions

This

"[Fans are] not technically a lot of times savvy. They don't understand and they don't weigh issues the way that [I] weigh them."
Mike Dunleavy, Sr.

by Jax on Feb 2, 2012 11:37 AM PST up reply actions

states (although in a much better written way) what we all have been saying. Blake’s hesitation kills him, hopefully he can learn to trust himself and learn to just to go instead of pausing and thinking. We definitely need to be patient though, jump shots don’t just magically appear in a player’s game. Blake will likely slowly develop his jumper to a point where he shoots it with confidence instead of hesitating (on a side note, this might explain why Blake seems to always hit buzzer beater jumpers. Due to the lack of time to think Blake is forced to just shoot, and when he does not hesitate before going into his shooting motion he is a pretty decent shooter). Blake is still early enough in his career where his game can be molded, having vets like CP3 and Chauncey will definitely help as they have both played with good bigs and can give Blake advice.

"It's better to be an optimist who is sometimes wrong than a pessimist who is always right"unknown

by bestclipfan on Feb 2, 2012 11:30 AM PST reply actions

Actually, there are quite a few things in there that we haven't all been saying

The stuff about the spot-up shooting is pretty obvious, but I found myself surprised by other things, like the fact that his scoring rate on possessions in the post is so low. It seems like his hesitation and indecisiveness affect more than just his jump shooting.

Proudly enduring the pain since the days of Bill Walton's foot.
Now living the good life in Lob City, CA.

by boltsfan21 on Feb 2, 2012 12:37 PM PST up reply actions

good analysis

agree with most of what he says.

No, it's the Clip Show!

by dan73962 on Feb 2, 2012 11:37 AM PST reply actions

Hesitating is definitely a problem for Blake

But it is a fixable one. He might be a bit hard on blake, i mean even if hes a bit clunky at times, he still scores consistently in the post with his moves. His post game is developing, but its on the right track, at times his footwork looks impeccable. Defensively i feel like hes playing better man defense and gradually getting better at the rotations, plus hes setting way better screens, and still giving it 100% every play.

by ClipperFon on Feb 2, 2012 12:31 PM PST reply actions

Actually

Far from being dismayed, this to me has always been some of the best news about Griffin. He’s got so much too learn, yet he’s already so productive. I see no reason that he can’t address these issues, at which point he’ll be unguardable.

In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd

by Steve Perrin on Feb 2, 2012 12:40 PM PST reply actions

+1 million

"[Fans are] not technically a lot of times savvy. They don't understand and they don't weigh issues the way that [I] weigh them."
Mike Dunleavy, Sr.

by Jax on Feb 2, 2012 2:17 PM PST up reply actions

That's the hope, anyway

The interesting question to my mind will be how much can be fixed through practice, how much can be learned through experience, and how much is a certain type of basketball instinct that he lacks. Certainly he’s very productive now, and will likely improve. The question is how much will he improve, and will it be enough to make him a super-duper-megastar Hall of Famer, or will he top out as an average, run-of-the-mill multiple-time All Star?

Proudly enduring the pain since the days of Bill Walton's foot.
Now living the good life in Lob City, CA.

by boltsfan21 on Feb 2, 2012 3:17 PM PST up reply actions

sure

Generally, players with Blake’s work ethic, general level headedness and basketball IQ learn what they need to learn. If you think about the players that showed this type of promise, but never improved as much as they should have, there was generally a reason. Think Shawn Kemp.

That’s my gut anyway. Remember a few of things about Blake: (1) he’s 22; (2) he has played 101 NBA baskeball games. where was Dwight Howard after 101 games? Kevin Love? (3) after his freshman year at OU, Blake would likely not have been a lottery pick. After one more year of college, he was a consensus number 1.

He’s shown every indication of getting better year over year.

In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd

by Steve Perrin on Feb 2, 2012 3:28 PM PST up reply actions

One example of a player who exceeded expectations through work...

…is the former Clipper power forward who shall not be named. He had limited talent and was dismissed as having maxed out his upside after his rookie year. But he got better and better and better because of his extraordinary work ethic.

The big question for me is, given Griffin’s rawness, is he surrounded by suitable coaches? Who’s the Clipper coach (or player) who’s teaching him to use his left hand or find another reliable inside move? Who’s instilling confidence so he’ll eliminate his hesitation? Who’s encouraging him to slow down and pace himself, so he can last 35 minutes plus for eighty games a year?

by John Raffo on Feb 3, 2012 9:00 AM PST up reply actions

The article is true, but so is Steve Perrin, for all his defficiencies he has handled himself very nice.

by germanclipper on Feb 3, 2012 2:11 AM PST up reply actions

his work ethic gives me confidence...

that he’ll only get better and better.

We need Bill Walton back: "THROW IT DOWN BIG MAN...THROW IT DOWN"
___________
Follow @manlinessprime

by banandy on Feb 2, 2012 3:26 PM PST reply actions

Needs a left hand (Blake" trampoline, mad dog, beast, exodus, war machine, dunk omatic, Oh me o my "Griffin

I love and hate watching him play. He frustrates me with his inability to use his left hand. Milph always seem shocked when he actually uses it. He also seems to lack confindence in shooting in a jumper ( wich i think causes a lot of the hesitation) i think this article was dead on. It’s just great knowing that he has played less than 200 regular season games, and everything that he has an issue with he can fix. ( training camp would have been great)he’s one dream camp (nigerian nightmare) away from being unstopable. May be karl malone should have a camp as well.

by clip shot on Feb 2, 2012 3:27 PM PST reply actions