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NBA Playoff Notes: Blake Griffin is not ready for prime time

by Tyler Conway       May 18th, 2012 9:21 AM
  • NBA-Playoff-Notes-Blake-Griffin-is-not-ready-for-prime-time
  • Credit: Soobum Im-US PRESSWIRE

    • Am I the only one who felt déjà vu watching the Spurs 105-88 thrashing of the Clippers last night? It felt as if we shuffled around a few pieces, displaced stats and came out with the same result. There are no takeaways from Game 2 that you couldn't have had leaving Game 1 Tuesday night.

    But the nice thing about not writing a notes piece for Game 1 is now you get all of my petulant musings that seem fresh and interesting.

    Before that, however, I have to get something off my chest…

    I can't be the only one who thinks it is weird hearing Kanye West and Jay-Z's "N***as in Paris" and Tyga's "Rack City" in constant rotation at San Antonio's AT&T Center. It feels like that time your uncle had a mid-life crisis, bought a convertible and cheated on your aunt with the 22-year-old, big-breasted, hair-lipped temp at his insurance office. I realize that this is wholly stereotypical of me, but every time one of those two songs play over the PA system I picture 18,000 San Antonians awkwardly dancing like this.

    I don't know, it bothers me. I'm blaming Captain Jack.

    Other observations:

    Blake Griffin: 37 minutes, 1 rebound


    Credit: Soobum Im-US PRESSWIRE

    After spending all regular season wearing the rose-colored LOB CITY glasses and ignoring most of Blake's faults — to the point I touted Griffin as a third-team All NBA Selection — I have come to realize he is way more flawed than any Clippers fan would like to admit.

    All-NBA selections grab more than one rebound in 37 minutes. All-NBA selections don't get eviscerated by Boris Diaw and Tiago Splitter on the defensive end.

    You could say Griffin's sprained knee, which has him at "between 75 and 80 percent," is the prevailing reason for his struggles. I could buy that, but the Blake Griffin I saw play Thursday night was flying with the same reckless abandon we have seen for the past two seasons.

    You could also say that most 23-year-olds losing their playoff virginity would shrink up at least a little bit (smiley face). Fair enough, but Griffin doesn't seem to be pressing or shrinking. He's the same player I watched for during the regular season, and that's the problem.

    The fact is, Griffin isn't just not good enough yet for this stage. His post moves are predictable to any above average post defender, he's uncomfortable shooting even wide-open 18-footers, and his defensive deficiencies have been noted. We've all just been too wowed by the theatrics to notice.

    Chris Paul: Actually injured or being destroyed by a better player at a convenient time?


    Credit: Soobum Im-US PRESSWIRE

    Probably the former. But even though Tony Parker hasn't been lighting the world on fire, I'll be damned if it doesn't seem like Tony Parker is ethering CP3 right now. Through two games, Paul is averaging almost as many turnovers (6.5) as points (8) per game and hasn't been able to penetrate to get easy looks for Nick Young and Caron Butler.

    Parker, on the other hand, has only been stopped from slicing into the paint when Eric Bledsoe has been in the game.

    If you would have told me at the beginning of the playoffs I would be more comfortable with Reggie Evans and Eric Bledsoe on the floor than Blake Griffin and Chris Paul, I would have kicked you square in the dink. Yup, the dink.

    Boyyy, those officials were terrible last night.

    I'm not one who normally spends time railing against officials because it seems we spend way too much wasting our breath on something that will never change. Officials are poorly trained and constantly blow calls in every sport. The Donaghy scandal just makes us more sensitive to NBA officiating.

    Regardless, the first three quarters of Thursday night's game were officiated by the crew from the infamous Game 7 Lakers-Kings game in 2002. The Clippers were going to lose the game no matter how the officials called the game, but Ken Mauer , Ed Malloy and Leon Wood should be taken to task for their bafflingly uneven work.

    Spurs Quickies:

    1. Pops can make an NBA player out of anyone, and will reach the podium on my list of all-time NBA coaches with a championship this year.

    2. The Spurs should win the championship. They're the best, deepest and most fun to watch team left in the playoffs. Yes, the Spurs. Fun to watch. You heard me.

    3. Tim Duncan somehow managed to have the most boring profile in world history in this week's Sports Illustrated. Cliffs for those who wanted to know anything: Duncan hates Kevin Garnett and cheats at paintball.

    4. I hate Danny Green.

    What did you think? Leave a comment

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