Blake Griffin

[Covert Rain]

Suns drafted a C with a fifth pick, and they traded for another one. There is no room for Okafor on the Suns roster even if he were healthy and wanted to play in Phoenix for a minimum contract.

Suns don't need a Center- they have two youngsters that need playing time. What they need is a power forward.

In some ways it feels so weird to still be saying that. It seems just like yesterday we had a stud there..with faults...but still a stud.

 

[sunsfan88]

exactly none except passing maybe and face up moves.

Aldridge is a much better defender on his own than Griffin, better post moves and much better shooter.

And how is Love not better than Griffin? They both suck defensively, Griffin dunks better but Love is better at everything else.. passing, shooting ,rebounding..

Lol Love is not a better passer than Griffin. Blake is probably the 2nd best big man passer in the league after Noah.

And Griffin is also a better defender than Love. Unlike Love, Griffin doesn't sacrifice defense in order to get rebounds to stat pad.

 

[Absolute Zero]

Lol Love is not a better passer than Griffin. Blake is probably the 2nd best big man passer in the league after Noah.

And Griffin is also a better defender than Love. Unlike Love, Griffin doesn't sacrifice defense in order to get rebounds to stat pad.

I am not buying all of this. Love has more assists per game than Griffin this year with a weaker group of teammates to pass to, and has the Wes-Unseld outlet pass down. In fact, he modeled it after him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEIbLbvjPtM Passingwise, I just don't think Griffin is better.

As far as D, I don't see either of these guys as great defenders, but at least Love has the size to match up with the taller big men.

 

[sunsfan88]

As far as D, I don't see either of these guys as great defenders, but at least Love has the size to match up with the taller big men.

Griffin has the athleticism to actually jump and contest/block shots.

 

[Absolute Zero]

Griffin has the athleticism to actually jump and contest/block shots.

This is true

 

[AzStevenCal]

I am not buying all of this. Love has more assists per game than Griffin this year with a weaker group of teammates to pass to, and has the Wes-Unseld outlet pass down. In fact, he modeled it after him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEIbLbvjPtM Passingwise, I just don't think Griffin is better.

As far as D, I don't see either of these guys as great defenders, but at least Love has the size to match up with the taller big men.

Griffin has the athleticism to actually jump and contest/block shots.

Griffin is much more athletic but according to DraftExpress he's also almost an inch taller than Love.

Steve

 

[Absolute Zero]

Griffin is much more athletic but according to DraftExpress he's also almost an inch taller than Love.

Steve

Love is a legit 6-10"; Griffin just does not look that tall. It wouldn't be the first time that a team pumps up its star's height; Barkley is a good example of that.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Love is a legit 6-10"; Griffin just does not look that tall. It wouldn't be the first time that a team pumps up its star's height; Barkley is a good example of that.

Sorry, he just isn't. Google it if you don't believe me (and why should you believe me), just make sure you read some of the articles about it instead of accepting the listed height. You watch him play and he clearly does not rise above the other 6'8/6'9 players in the league for the reason that he simply isn't 6'8 let alone 6'10 (W/O shoes). Even in shoes he only measures 6'9. Regardless, he has no height advantage over Griffin whether shoed or shoeless. I'm not worried about his height or Blake's though as they both can clearly play their position but neither of them matches up with someone like Aldridge that has true PF height.

Steve

 

[JCSunsfan]

I am not buying all of this. Love has more assists per game than Griffin this year with a weaker group of teammates to pass to, and has the Wes-Unseld outlet pass down. In fact, he modeled it after him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEIbLbvjPtM Passingwise, I just don't think Griffin is better.

As far as D, I don't see either of these guys as great defenders, but at least Love has the size to match up with the taller big men.

The ball is in Love's hands more than it is in Griffin's. Of course Love has more assists, he doesn't have CP3 on his team to dominate the ball. According to their predraft measurements Griffin is an inch taller than Love (without shoes). So unless KLove has grown since being in the league. . .

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Blake-Griffin-1268/
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Kevin-Love-1062/

But aside from all that, Love is the more polished player and obviously has a nose for rebounding. If I had to choose between the two, I would take Love.

 

[slinslin]

Griffin USG 29%
Love USG 28.8%

so you are pretty much wrong on that Love has the ball in his hands more.

 

[SirStefan32]

While I like Love more than Griffin, one thing to note is that Griffin has developed a really nice jumper this year. Suddenly, Griffin is no longer that one-dimensional player he was in the past. I am really starting to see a pre-injury Amare when I look at Griffin.

Don't get me wrong- I will take Love over Griffin, and LMA over both of them, but Griffin is a much better player today than he was a year or two ago.

 

[Absolute Zero]

Sorry, he just isn't. Google it if you don't believe me (and why should you believe me), just make sure you read some of the articles about it instead of accepting the listed height. You watch him play and he clearly does not rise above the other 6'8/6'9 players in the league for the reason that he simply isn't 6'8 let alone 6'10 (W/O shoes). Even in shoes he only measures 6'9. Regardless, he has no height advantage over Griffin whether shoed or shoeless. I'm not worried about his height or Blake's though as they both can clearly play their position but neither of them matches up with someone like Aldridge that has true PF height.

Steve

So Kevin Love is really 6'7". Hmmm. I guess I will have to look into that. Seems like everyone in the NBA has their height overstated.

 

[Phrazbit]

While I like Love more than Griffin, one thing to note is that Griffin has developed a really nice jumper this year. Suddenly, Griffin is no longer that one-dimensional player he was in the past. I am really starting to see a pre-injury Amare when I look at Griffin.

Don't get me wrong- I will take Love over Griffin, and LMA over both of them, but Griffin is a much better player today than he was a year or two ago.

He is better defensively than Amare ever was and he is a much much much better and more willing passer than Amare. Really, outside of mid range jump shooting and FT shooting Blake is a superior player across the board.

Jumping into the Blake vs Love debate. They're both really good, hard to say who is better. Love is a better pure scorer and better rebounder, although Blake is good in both areas. Griffin is better defensively, but to the point of being adequate on that end while Love is bad. Both are very good passers for big men. Love is probably the best outlet passer in the league while Blake can make some very impressive passes on the break and to guys streaking toward the hoop.

I'd take either of them in a heart beat. But Blake isnt going anywhere.

 

[slinslin]

I wouldn't want either on the Suns considering we would have to give up a fortune to get them and I don't believe you can win a championship with Griffin or Love at the 4 unless you have an all-defensive center to protect the rim since neither Griffin nor Love provide that and it seems to me that you better have 2 very good defenders at the 4 and 5 to seriously challenge for the title unless you simply have that much more talent than anyone else.

 

[Errntknght]

Its all wishful thinking but I'd take Griffen over Love for this team - first he loves to run the floor so he fits our style and second is that we need every bit of defense we can get. As a bonus, Griffen is playing well in the playoffs which is always important. As we all know well, Love has never made it to the postseason fray but he doesn't come alive down the stretch and carry his team - so that's another edge for Griff.

Frankly I wouldn't give up a ton to get Love if he were available... I don't see him having the killer instinct that you want in your best player - weak defense being part of that.

 

[AzStevenCal]

So Kevin Love is really 6'7". Hmmm. I guess I will have to look into that. Seems like everyone in the NBA has their height overstated.

Well, I wouldn't ignore that three quarters of an inch but yes he's under 6'8 in bare feet or at least he was as a rookie. It's possible he's grown a little but if you look at that picture of him standing next to Derrick Williams it's hard to believe he's grown very much. As for being understated, there's a lot of players that go the other way such as Garnett and Duncan. I don't think it's the teams doing it either, I suspect it's the Agents more often than not. In the end though, wingspan and the difference between height and length is often more important than height by itself.

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

He is better defensively than Amare ever was and he is a much much much better and more willing passer than Amare. Really, outside of mid range jump shooting and FT shooting Blake is a superior player across the board.

Jumping into the Blake vs Love debate. They're both really good, hard to say who is better. Love is a better pure scorer and better rebounder, although Blake is good in both areas. Griffin is better defensively, but to the point of being adequate on that end while Love is bad. Both are very good passers for big men. Love is probably the best outlet passer in the league while Blake can make some very impressive passes on the break and to guys streaking toward the hoop.

I'd take either of them in a heart beat. But Blake isnt going anywhere.

I agree with all of this and I'd also add he's better with the ball in his hands too. Better decisions and better ball handling.

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

I wouldn't want either on the Suns considering we would have to give up a fortune to get them and I don't believe you can win a championship with Griffin or Love at the 4 unless you have an all-defensive center to protect the rim since neither Griffin nor Love provide that and it seems to me that you better have 2 very good defenders at the 4 and 5 to seriously challenge for the title unless you simply have that much more talent than anyone else.

You're a little bit right but you miss the big picture. Yes, Blake and Love fall short as rim protectors so you need that from your other big. But it's much easier to find a solid defensive center than it is to find a Griffin or Love. There aren't a lot of well rounded centers but if you just need a defensive presence that's not that hard to find. And lumping Love and Griffin together defensively is just wrong. Griffin is pretty good defensively as long as he isn't pulled too far from the basket. He uses his body well and has great hands in addition to his ability to get up.

Steve

 

[Superbone]

So Kevin Love is really 6'7". Hmmm. I guess I will have to look into that. Seems like everyone in the NBA has their height overstated.

It must be the beard.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Griffin USG 29%
Love USG 28.8%

so you are pretty much wrong on that Love has the ball in his hands more.

Still trying to figure out what this stat means. It is field goal attempts plus free throw attempts (x.44) plus turnovers, all divided by possessions.

While it does indicate how often a player touches the ball, it does not indicate how long it is in his hands. Certainly they are related. I could be wrong, but who knows. I didn't even know this stat existed so I am not the expert on this.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Both are great players. Griffin is certainly much more entertaining. There is just such a speed and intensity to him. Love is crafty. It might be good to watch these. They only show offense, but it is interesting to watch side by side.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwxvZmPcKaU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEnSiBWvRmU

 

[Mainstreet]

Both are great players. Griffin is certainly much more entertaining. There is just such a speed and intensity to him. Love is crafty. It might be good to watch these. They only show offense, but it is interesting to watch side by side.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwxvZmPcKaU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEnSiBWvRmU

Offensively Griffin reminds me a lot of Amare prior to his knee injury.

Although Gugliotta didn't have the stats of Love, his game reminds me a bit of Love before he suffered injury as well.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Let's face it, we're not getting any of the three talked about here. We just need to find and develop our own Griffin, Aldridge or Love.

Steve

 

[Phrazbit]

Let's face it, we're not getting any of the three talked about here. We just need to find and develop our own Griffin, Aldridge or Love.

Steve

I think getting Love is very realistic. Barring a huuuuge leap next year by the Wolves, he is gone from Minnesota and, of the teams that could realistically resign him, the Suns probably have the most flexibility to pull off the deal.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I think getting Love is very realistic. Barring a huuuuge leap next year by the Wolves, he is gone from Minnesota and, of the teams that could realistically resign him, the Suns probably have the most flexibility to pull off the deal.

Yeah I shouldn't have lumped him in with the other two. Love is a possibility. I don't know that it's "very realistic" but it's not the Powerball long shot that Aldridge and Griffin would be right now. But I'd be very concerned about the rumors that his agent wants him in a media center if I were putting a package together to trade for him.

Steve