Los Angeles Clippers Need To Focus On Blake Griffin In 2015-16 Stretch Run

The Los Angeles Clippers have a 42-22 regular season record and they are very close to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference standings. They have even managed to win so many games without their most versatile player in Blake Griffin. But the team is still going to need him if they want to win a championship.

Chris Paul elevated his play and is playing more aggressively than ever. This season he is taking an average of 15.5 shot attempts per game and that number is his highest while playing for the Clippers. He is also averaging 19.9 points per game (his highest points-per-game average while playing for the Clippers franchise). Paul is helping the team survive, but that isn’t necessarily the way it needs to be.

Paul’s elevated play is great, but it also is putting more physical and mental stress on his body. When Griffin returns to the team, Paul needs to be still aggressive while allowing Griffin to take some of the load off his shoulders. Griffin was an MVP candidate several years ago and it’s not as if Griffin isn’t one of the best power forwards in the league.

During Griffin’s absence, the bench has also been able to play better. Depth has always been the Clippers’ Achilles’ heel and it has kept them from escaping their cycle of losing in the second round. With Griffin coming back, the bench won’t have to worry about having to make up for the starting lineup’s lack of offense.

DeAndre Jordan has also stepped up as well, but he can only shine when Paul is getting him the ball in the right spots. J.J. Redick is also a great shooter, but his damage is done with elaborate pick-and-rolls. Griffin is the only starting quality player who the Clippers have that can create his own offense and that is important in the playoffs.

In the playoffs, the game slows down and every team needs to have multiple players who can make their own shot when the defense becomes too tight. Integrating Griffin back into the Clippers’ system may be a little difficult for the team because of how much time he’s missed, but it needs to be done if the Clippers want to win a championship and finally claim the city of Los Angeles as their own.