How does Blake Griffin stack up against Karl Malone and other similar big men?

[Chad Feldheimer]

Blake has the chance to become an excellent defender. He has all the tools to do it. My guess is that in a couple years Blake will be averaging over 2 blocks a game, and over 1 steal a game. People will start to view him differently. He is already an elite rebounder.

Another thought on him is that I think he will raise his free throw percentage. Looking at a lot of those other guys, it took them a couple years to get it there. He has a nice shooting stroke, and soft touch. He will also be money from mid range like Karl was. He is just young pup in this league and he is already really good. I see him getting a lot better. I think he will average 30 pts a game at least once in his career.

This a stretch. You realize only 4 guys in the whole league averaged 2 or more blocks last year? He is going to go from a pretty bad defender to an elite defender? Just because he wants to?

 

[Gyp Rosetti]

I'm shocked that someone with Blake's jumping ability averaged only 0.7 blocks last year. I highly, highly doubt he gets to 2.0 but who knows, stranger things have happened.

 

[TheSilencer1313]

I'm shocked that someone with Blake's jumping ability averaged only 0.7 blocks last year. I highly, highly doubt he gets to 2.0 but who knows, stranger things have happened.

Doubtful.
How does a guy that does this, all of a sudden get 2 blocks a game?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFj_aDUbscA&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Here's some of his best moments though....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2-D2EpzkSs&feature=youtube_gdata_player

As opposed to a player that has an actual chance at getting 2 plus blocks per game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiGIbsc3oxE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[NUMBERICA]

Ya, Ya...I can see what you guys are saying now. Jumping ability doesn't do anything for you in basketball. I see, I see. Just think, how much better would Jordan be if he couldn't jump?

You two are brilliant.

Don't treat me like I'm the dumbass when you're the one that doesn't understand that jumping is a base ability that enhances skill and not a skill itself. DUDE CARL LEWIS WAS SUCH A GOOD BASKETBALL PLAYER THO

 

[Gyp Rosetti]

Don't treat me like I'm the dumbass when you're the one that doesn't understand that jumping is a base ability that enhances skill and not a skill itself. DUDE CARL LEWIS WAS SUCH A GOOD BASKETBALL PLAYER THO

Somebody woke up on the wrong side of his vajayjay this morning.

 

[Hotdog]

This a stretch. You realize only 4 guys in the whole league averaged 2 or more blocks last year? He is going to go from a pretty bad defender to an elite defender? Just because he wants to?

Ok. 1.8 blocks per game.


How is it a stretch? He is 6'10 and jumps like Dwight Howard. I've seen him block some shots that were Dwight Like. A lot of guys come on later in their career. Blake hasn't even hit his peak yet. You guys act like this it. This as good as he is going to be. The whole point of the thread was to show the trend between great Power Forwards. I was simply showing he is on track or even ahead of the curve to be just as good as those other guys.

What players have ever been at their best in their first two years?

 

[Hotdog]

Don't treat me like I'm the dumbass when you're the one that doesn't understand that jumping is a base ability that enhances skill and not a skill itself. DUDE CARL LEWIS WAS SUCH A GOOD BASKETBALL PLAYER THO

Good point grumpy.

 

[Chad Feldheimer]

Ok. 1.8 blocks per game.


How is it a stretch? He is 6'10 and jumps like Dwight Howard. I've seen him block some shots that were Dwight Like. A lot of guys come on later in their career. Blake hasn't even hit his peak yet. You guys act like this it. This as good as he is going to be. The whole point of the thread was to show the trend between great Power Forwards. I was simply showing he is on track or even ahead of the curve to be just as good as those other guys.

What players have ever been at their best in their first two years?

I never said he wasn't getting better. I am saying averaging 2 blocks a game is an elite defender. If you look at guys who have average in the range (1.8 to 2.0) they rarely if ever come from season averaging 0.5 & 0.7. Point is good shot blockers just don't just develop over time. They either are good from the beginning or they are not.

Karl only averaged over 1 block a game for 3 years.

Webber & Duncan were better shot blockers (if you go by average per game earlier in their careers)

 

[squareinthecircle]

Blocking shots doesn't make one an elite defender. Blocking 2 shots a game might impress these days but in the 90s it was common. To get someone to block 2 a game now all you need is desire and work, it's not as impossible as some might believe. Shot blocking is a rhythm thing that many never get but Griffin has proven athleticism and if he wanted to I'm certain he could.

 

[Hotdog]

Blocking shots doesn't make one an elite defender. Blocking 2 shots a game might impress these days but in the 90s it was common. To get someone to block 2 a game now all you need is desire and work, it's not as impossible as some might believe. Shot blocking is a rhythm thing that many never get but Griffin has proven athleticism and if he wanted to I'm certain he could.

Thank you.

Finally someone who gets it.

 

[TheSilencer1313]

Shot blocking is a rhythm thing that many never get but Griffin has proven athleticism and if he wanted to I'm certain he could.

That's the problem. Blake has shown no desire to play defense, what so ever.
Does that mean that he never will? No, obviously it doesn't.
Griffin so far, has shown that he 'could' have spectacular basketball ability, but....

1. He's lazy, and hasn't shown any improvement on his inside game, mid range game, or free throw shot.

2. He's an L.A. player, and seems to me (for the time being anyway) that he's lost in that L.A. spotlight a little bit.

3. Ally-oops might be the strongest part of his game, and maybe always will be. That is, until he gets older.

4. He has absolutely no basketball IQ at this point, although I think Chris Paul will help him immensely on that.

5. He's sort of a sideshow attraction at this point, considering jumping over a car has been the pinnacle of his success.

 

[Hotdog]

That's the problem. Blake has shown no desire to play defense, what so ever.
Does that mean that he never will? No, obviously it doesn't.
Griffin so far, has shown that he 'could' have spectacular basketball ability, but....

1. He's lazy, and hasn't shown any improvement on his inside game, mid range game, or free throw shot.

2. He's an L.A. player, and seems to me (for the time being anyway) that he's lost in that L.A. spotlight a little bit.

3. Ally-oops might be the strongest part of his game, and maybe always will be. That is, until he gets older.

4. He has absolutely no basketball IQ at this point, although I think Chris Paul will help him immensely on that.

5. He's sort of a sideshow attraction at this point, considering jumping over a car has been the pinnacle of his success.

You couldn't be more wrong.

I disagree with all of your post.

My guess is you have never seen him play. All you have seen is highlights.