NBA Los Angeles Clippers

Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin Needs To Go Back To Basics

Fresh Videos

By @Terri7589

Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images

Getty Images

The Los Angeles Clippers were down by two points in overtime to the Phoenix Suns when Blake Griffin took a buzzer-beating three-point shot that bounced so high off of the rim everyone knew they lost the game. Then, miraculously, that bounce guided the ball right to the bottom of the net where the game ended with everyone in Staples Center going crazy including Griffin’s teammates. That miracle happened three weeks ago, and Griffin still seems to be riding high from it.

That shot not only won the game, but it cemented Griffin’s all-around player status. Griffin has grown in confidence, and now he is attempting more jumpers and three-pointers than ever before. Prior to this season, Griffin was a 23 percent three-point shooter. In Griffin’s first four seasons he averaged 53 percent in field goals, but now that he is shooting outside of the paint more often, his season average has dropped down to 48 percent. Griffin’s shooting statistics are no big deal in a large spectrum; it is actually good that his confidence has grown, but Griffin is now relying on his ability to not only dunk and it is doing more harm than good.

Griffin’s field goal average since the Dec. 8 game against the Suns is 44 percent, and the Clippers have gone 5-6 in the last 11 games since his buzzer-beater. He has only made 1-of-5 three-pointers in the last 11 games, and he scored a season low of 10 points in a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Dec. 13.

This causes concern because Griffin is not penetrating the paint the way most people are used to seeing. He is using the weapon of being able to connect on jumpers way too often. His lack of being in the paint has resulted in seven games where he grabbed less than 10 rebounds. In his first four seasons, Griffin was averaging a double-double in points and rebounds for his career, a feat he has only reached 10 times this season. In the last 11 games, Griffin is averaging just three more rebounds per game than point guard Chris Paul.

Griffin has improved his game greatly which has helped the Clippers on several occasions this season, but Griffin shying away from what he is known for and what he has proven to be successful needs to change immediately. The Clippers are just 14 losses away from last season, a franchise best, but with over 50 games left in the season, things need to change in Los Angeles starting with their star.

Terri Washington is a Los Angeles Clippers writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow her on Twitter @Terri7589, “Like” her on Facebook or add her to your network on Google.

Share Tweet
Trending Now on