Thursday, May 17th, 2012 at 5:35 pm  |  18 responses

Blake Griffin Finds Criticism of His Game Premature and Unfair


Blake Griffin is one of the NBA’s best young players, and plays in one of the League’s biggest markets. As such, he is under a very large microscope. Every miscue is analyzed to death, and the Clippers’ star forward thinks it’s unfair at this stage of his career to take such a beating from critics. From the LA Times: “Is there no patience when it comes to a young guy playing in only his 156th game? ‘Nobody is giving me time to develop,’ Griffin said without complaint while both knees were wrapped in ice after the Clippers’ 108-92 Game 1 loss to the Spurs. ‘I have years to improve, but for some reason everyone talks now about what I can’t do.’ […] ‘It’s not fair,’ said Coach Vinny Del Negro. ‘He’s not 100%, it is his first playoffs, he just came through a rugged series and there’s a learning curve. It doesn’t happen overnight.’ It will be time to play here again Thursday, and if the Clippers expect to throw a scare into the Spurs, they will need more from Griffin and [Chris] Paul. It’s that simple. ‘I don’t know what everyone expects,’ said Griffin. ‘I expect a lot of myself, but at same time I know this is a process. I look around the league, and sure some guys have early success but for most it takes time to develop. I’m not going to stay the same player for the next 10 years.’”

  • Add a Comment
  • Share
  • RSS

Tags: , ,

  • ti-sizzle

    True. Now everybody feel sorry for this flopping, offensive fouling, wack staring, funny-looking, one dementional young millionaire.

  • ash

    So why is the comments unfair and premature?? Its the truth he even agreed

  • http://slamonline.com The Philosopher

    Welcome to the big time, ‘ol Blake.

  • JL

    It’s actually a huge compliment that the critics expect more of him. Why is he getting frustrated when all people see are potential for him to get better. If there was no hope for him people would be talking about how bad he sucks. Just his jumpshot and freethrows is already improving throughout the year. He even plays D sometimes now. I think he just gets frustrated that he is not getting accolades for his improvements as much as he gets criticized. Come on, he is averaging 20 and 10. Who does that for the first two years of his career?

  • http://thehoopscene.com lawlow

    crybaby

  • http://slamonline.com 19821982

    If you consider the fact that Blake’s game itself is actually quite premature, the comments are warranted, no?

  • Ldub

    Point is it is just his 2nd year in the L. And yes it will take time for him to develop or potentially develop into the player “people” think he should be. However, he does have a slight point. Because it takes time and it is a process, then the criticism should be held to a minimum. He isnt going to develop a jumper over night…he isnt going to get the footwork down in the post right off the bat. It is going to take time. If he doesnt develop each year, then by all means let him have it. But a dude that has been in the L for 156 games is “limited” to 20ppg,10rbs and 3asts on 55% shooting should be give a LITTLE slack. Next year is different. That mid range jumper needs to be there…plain and simple.

  • LA Huey

    What should he develop first? Mid-range jumper or 2-3 post moves? I say he gets a J first because the P&R game with Chris Paul would be ridiculous.

  • Jeremy

    What he is trying to say is “Hey man, Imma be the first athlete to win an Oscar without actually being in a film”

  • DukeFromDeep

    Griffin is only second year and his game has come in leaps and bounds(pun intended)Why has everyone got to hate on him. He has some solid post up moves and just needs to improve his j, his ft and his post moves, Blake is an incredible player and every game I watch he does something I haven’t seen before. Clipps might be in trouble V spurs but Blake is only gonna get batter!

  • L Dribble

    People need targets, but it is interesting who gets picked. Maybe there is a frustration that there isn’t a big top tier of elite players as there has been in certain ‘eras’. With Rose out and lots of the bigger names ageing we need guys like Blake to be huge and they just aren’t ready. Not saying I totally agree with the list, but if you take out Nowitski, Kobe (past prime) and Rose – then there are only six ‘franchise’ players then Gasol http://nba-point-forward.si.com/2011/08/16/top-100-nba-players-nos-1-10/

  • http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7887970/the-divergent-careers-miami-heat-eddy-curry-new-york-knicks-tyson-chandler Arthur

    Blake Griffin is a massive C.U.N.T. Kevin Love would be more appreciated if he was in LA and seeing as Blake is over rated helps this

  • Derek Fisher

    Just hit your Free Throws.

  • Thee SwissArmyKnife

    That man had 1 rebound last night,Tony Parker had 5 smh.

  • Mike Mihalow

    Time to develop? Thats what 4 years in college is for, Blake.

  • Ldub

    MIKE….4 years of college cannot actually prepare you for everything youre going to feel in the NBA. Prime example is Roy Hibbert. He went to Gtown for 4 years. Came to the L, and just now (in his 3rd season) is starting to see the fruits of his labor. He was an All-star and had his best rebounding game last night against the Heat. It takes time…time that college (and 4 years) cannot prepare you for. Plus in college Blake was running over (literally) and dunking on people. He was a man against boys, much like Lebron in HS. Elite players, elite bodies, elite minds with defenses that are designed to stop him night in and night out…AND he still (in just 2nd year) put up good #’s! Id like to see you go do that in the NBA after being in college for 4 years!

  • http://www.slamonline.com Slick Ric

    His statement has validity to it but like someones else said, this is the big-time so he has to deal with that and prove them wrong eventually.

  • http://WWW.BENNY.COM BIG MONEY

    People would kill to have Blake’s athleticism. When youfrom college to the pros post game has changed all he needs to do is join the bandwagon and practice with ” the dream” like everyone else is

Advertisement