Was Clippers’ Blake Griffin snubbed from NBA All-Star game?
By Tom West
Prior to the punch and his hand injury, was Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers snubbed from the 2016 NBA All-Star game?
We know the 2016 NBA All-Star starters and now we know who the reserves are. Obviously, players like triple-double Draymond Green, Anthony Davis and Chris Paul all made the cut thanks to the decisions of coaches around the league. Yet, as is often the case, there are some players who seem more deserving but don’t get voted in, which brings about the issue of the Los Angeles Clippers’ representatives.
Unsurprisingly, Paul is in as a reserve. For the ninth straight season he’s an All-Star and it goes without saying that he deserves this honor. He’s the best two-way point guard in the game and since losing Blake Griffin he’s only elevated his game further with averages of 20.3 points, 10.4 assists and 2.1 steals per game while shooting 41.3 percent from three.
However, the Clippers’ other perennial All-Star hasn’t made the cut this year. After making an appearance for five straight seasons including his rookie year, Blake will now need to continue a new streak of All-Star titles in 2016-17.
Before his torn quadricep injury, Griffin was easily one of the top 10-15 players in the NBA and one of the top 12 in the Western Conference. He was leading the Clippers’ offense with 23.2 points (the second highest mark of his career) and five assists per game, he’d raised his rebound average by 1.1 from 2014-15 to 8.7, he was shooting a career-high 48.8 percent from 3-10 feet out and even 40 percent from 16-24 feet.
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Simply put, he was excellent. He handles the ball like no other big man and can terrorize opponents in transition or in half court with his stellar vision and passing ability. He’s like a second point guard but in a powerful, 6’10” body, with elite post-up ability and flashy dunks.
On top of his highly diverse offensive ability, Griffin had also kept fine tuning his defense. Of course, it’s still his weakness, but he was better defending pick and rolls and cutting off lanes to the basket and did a great job at times of holding opposing big men away from the basket on the low block.
So, what possible candidates could Griffin have replaced (obviously, prior to the punch gate incident and more injury)?
The most obvious player that comes to mind is LaMarcus Aldridge of the San Antonio Spurs. Despite being a feature of a Gregg Popovich team that utilizes team play and an exceptional bench more than any other, Aldridge simply isn’t making a typical All-Star level impact.
Of course, he isn’t playing for a team where he needs to be a constant go-to scorer anymore. In Portland during 2014-15, he averaged 6.5 more field goal attempts per game (19.9) than he’s averaging right now, so it would be impossible for his production to not drop significantly. Plus, the very fact that he’s playing for a Popovich team has something to do with it.
16.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per game is fine, but has he really been a driving force for the Spurs? Despite the way he’s fitting in now, it’s hard for him to spring to mind as someone who has to be an All-Star. Ultimately, it’s more down to the simple truth of the Spurs being the second best team in the NBA and them earning two All-Stars because of it (the other being Kawhi Leonard).
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There are other surprises with the All-Star rosters, too. It’s odd to see neither Tim Duncan or Dirk Nowitzki receive the “legacy votes” as legends of the game to play as reserves, when Kobe Bryant (thanks to millions of voters) got in as a starter.
As for the secondary Splash Brother from Golden State, there’s a case that Klay Thompson shouldn’t have necessarily made the cut. Yes, he’s on the best team in the NBA which garners him more attention and his shooting numbers are excellent, but is he better than certain others?
Before even trying to look at Griffin’s performance prior to his injury, Damian Lillard is carrying the Portland Trail Blazers and is easily a deserving All-Star based on his play and individual impact. 24.2 points, 7.1 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game is light work for Lillard and if there’s one overlooked player who needed to make the cut, it’s him.
So, given his current circumstance, did Griffin fit into the Western Conference All-Star equation?
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Talent and somewhat undeserving players aside, it may be best that Griffin is a snub. In light of his off-court punching incident and the 4-6 extra weeks he’ll be missing due to injury after breaking his right hand, he won’t be the typical feature in the Clippers’ dynamic offense that he normally is. He’ll have missed a major portion of the season and when looking back at his 2015-16 regular season campaign, it won’t be one of his best.
Now that we know Griffin is missing another substantial amount of playing time, it’s almost better that others received the honor instead. Talent aside, those who are producing the entire season are more deserving. The remaining problem is that guys such as Lillard still didn’t make the cut.
That being said, based on skill, statistics and impact, Griffin could (and should) have replaced Aldridge in the frontcourt if he wasn’t ruled out again for another 4-6 weeks.
Next: The good and the bad without Blake Griffin
Unfortunately for the Clippers, they’ll only have one representative at this year’s All-Star game. But maybe that’s how it should be when considering how good the West is.
Just think, one less punch and a little less injury and Griffin might have been there.