NBA Los Angeles Clippers

Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin Can Win MVP This Year

Fresh Videos

By @DSchultz89

Blake Griffin NBA Clippers

Getty Images

The Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin is currently off the to the hottest start of his career, averaging 27.5 PPG, 7.8 RPG and 3.8 APG on 50 percent shooting from the field while guiding his team to a 3-1 start.

Griffin has already demonstrated a drastically improved jump shot, making him an even more dangerous threat on the pick-and-pop kind of plays that his point guard, Chris Paul, loves to run from time to time. Griffin’s athleticism is still mind-blowing, and he has also shown a skill for getting out on the break and leading it himself, which is rare for a big man to be able to pull off.

Many people still consider Paul the best player on the Clippers due to his creativity, defense and pure offensive game, but given Paul’s natural point guard tendencies to look to make his teammates better, this could be the year he plays a big part in helping mold Griffin into a legitimate MVP candidate.

The question is, how does Griffin become more than just a dark horse for the award like he is now and instead a favorite to win it?

First, he needs to keep shooting the ball with confidence as he has done so far this season. Opposing teams already know that he loves driving to the basket, so at this point they will live with his mid-range game compared to running out on him and risking letting him blow by them for a dunk. An underrated part of Griffin’s game is his passing, where as noted, he is averaging almost four assists per game. If he continues to become a dangerous mid-range threat as well as post option down low, teams may begin double-teaming him which would allow him to record more assists per game.

Perhaps most importantly, though, Griffin needs to work on his defense and make it a goal to average at least double-digits in rebounds and at least 1.5 to 2.0 BPG. The last two seasons, he has not averaged double-digits in rebounds. He does have DeAndre Jordan on his team, who snatches up plenty for himself, but Griffin is such a freak athlete and high jumper that if he wants to be viewed as an MVP in this league, he needs to get up for more rebounds. His defense on opposing power forwards must also get better, as he has never averaged at least a block per game during his short career. This is not to say he should totally focus on shot-blocking but also aggressively challenging and affecting shots as best he can.

Finally, if Griffin wants to be considered for MVP he must guide the Clippers to the top seed in the Western Conference. The Oklahoma City Thunder are currently in a lot of trouble right now with injuries to their team, and the San Antonio Spurs have a track record of resting their players during the regular season, so this puts the Clippers in prime position to get home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.

Personally, I think Griffin has a real shot at being MVP this year given his vastly improved offensive game, but now he must work on becoming a feared rebounder and shot blocker on the defensive end if he wants to be thrown into the same category as Kevin Durant and LeBron James for years to come.

Dan Schultz is an NBA sports writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on twitter @dschultz89. “Like” him on Facebook and add him on Google.

Share Tweet
Trending Now on