NBA Playoffs, Clippers-Spurs Game 2: The 5 Key Matchups
By Tom West
Blake Griffin vs Aron Baynes (and anyone else he can dunk on) – Round Two
Apr 19, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) drives to the basket against San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) and forward Tim Duncan (21) during the second quarter in game one of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
No, the matchup of Blake and Aron Baynes may not be the most important two player contest tonight, and unfortunately we probably won’t see three more monster dunks between them. However, the matchup that will be key to tonight’s game is whether or not Griffin can continue to abuse the weak rim protection of some of the Spurs’ frontcourt.
Just like game one, Griffin will need to attack the rim with as much athletic aggression as he can manage.
If Timmy and Jordan are on each other, that will allow Griffin to continue abusing the weakness of Baynes, Tiago Splitter and Boris Diaw in the paint.
They are all solid players (with Diaw being one of the most skilled backup bigs in the NBA) but they can’t rise up to swat shots over the rim.
Especially when the man soaring above them is Blake Griffin.
Apr 19, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) goes for a rebound against San Antonio Spurs center Aron Baynes (16) in game one of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Duncan is still the Spurs’ best rim protector, and even at 39 years of age he averaged 1.9 blocks per game and held opponents to just a 46.9 percent finishing rate at the rim this year (per NBA.com). Not the lowest percentage of his career, but still enough for him to be an anchor in the paint when you add in his 11.4 rebounds per 36 minutes, as well.
However, the same can’t be said for the rest of the Spurs’ frontcourt.
Splitter and Diaw are the Spurs’ weakest defenders in the post, allowing opponents to shoot 50 percent and 56.9 percent at the rim, respectively. And even though Baynes is their next best option after Duncan (as he holds opponents to 48.4 percent) it didn’t exactly work out for him very well Sunday, against the dunking terror that is Blake Griffin.
Griffin made 71.5 percent of his shots within three feet this year, and the Spurs have no one to contain athleticism or strong finishing ability when he gets to the rim. So unless they are able to guard him tightly and hold him at the elbow, maybe even by using an occasional double team when weaker offensive threats like Matt Barnes or Austin Rivers are on the floor, they can limit restrict his lanes to the basket.
If they can’t do that, this series is going to become an all out dunk-fest.