Clippers need Blake Griffin for far more than his offense

While Blake Griffin’s versatile offensive prowess is the obvious benefit of his highly anticipated return, his rebounding is what the Los Angeles Clippers desperately need to get even better as well.

With J.J. Redick‘s hot shooting (22 points on 9-of-12 from the floor), DeAndre Jordan taking control in the paint and Chris Paul taking over with 18 points in the third quarter, the Los Angeles Clippers added another win to their excellent spell of play in the absence of Blake Griffin. Now at 24-8 since his time out started after Christmas Day, they’ve gone above and beyond all limited expectations as most thought they were bound to struggle.

They were already struggling early on with a revamped bench, still failing to prove themselves as more than the team who blew a 3-1 series lead in the playoffs.

Then Griffin’s quadriceps injury came and matters surely looked far worse. Yet, as the team has adjusted to a small-ball style, assembling a group of shooters (albeit inconsistent ones like Paul Pierce at power forward) around Jordan, they’ve found success. Along with greatly improved defense to rank 5th in the NBA for defensive efficiency, the Clippers keep rolling.

When Griffin comes back the Clippers have a chance to reach another level. With their leading scorer, capable of running the offense, anchoring the second unit in certain rotations, creating scores and assists from the post, it’s obvious how Griffin will help. However, there’s one key element of his game that hasn’t received nearly as much attention when it comes to the thought of his return.

More than anything else right now, the Clippers need to improve on the glass, which is where the absence of Griffin is hurting them just as much (if not more) than the loss of his offensive prowess.

In comparison to other big men, it’s easy to say that Griffin isn’t an elite rebounder. And that is somewhat the case; he isn’t on the level of someone like his teammate DeAndre Jordan. That being said, it’s also easy to overlook Griffin because his average has declined from 12.1 rebounds per game in his rookie season to 8.7 this season before his injury.

A large part of that is because Jordan is controlling the glass instead, though, and Griffin is more than capable of taking over when necessary.

In the playoffs last year, his 25.5 points, 6.1 assists and 12.7 rebounds per game tell you all you need to know. And before his injury in December, Griffin was enjoying what could have been a career-year while raising the Clippers’ total rebound percentage when on the floor and providing a legitimate big lineup next to Jordan.

This is where his absence has been detrimental to the Clippers’ performance, even if the win total doesn’t show it.

Dec 19, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) pulls down a rebound against Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) in the first half at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports

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Even with Griffin they weren’t an elite rebounding team, but without him matters are even worse. Now, ranking 20th in rebounds per game (42.9) and 27th in rebounding rate (48), it’s hurting their ability to get more defensive stops and avoid surrendering second chance points or earning some for themselves.

When players such as Paul Pierce, Wesley Johnson and Jeff Green are rotated around at power forward, the Clippers immediately surrender size and defensive authority in the paint against physically superior fours. Even though Johnson and Green are equipped with explosiveness, they still can’t come out on top when it comes to defending a player backing their way into the post or out-rebound taller opponents.

With Jordan or Cole Aldrich at center, they have all the pressure on their shoulders to control the glass, and even with DJ it doesn’t work that well.

The best rebounding lineup the Clippers have had this season in terms of rebounding differential was with Griffin at power forward next to Jordan. Those two in the frontcourt combined with Luc Mbah a Moute, Redick and Paul had a total rebound percentage of +8.5 (the Clippers’ rebound percentage minus their opponent’s rebound percentage). This equates to the group out-rebounding opponents by a margin of +3.9 boards per 100 possessions.

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As you can see by the numbers, the Clippers can quickly get lost on the boards. Jordan is responsible for 32.8 percent of the their total rebounds per game this season, and no matter how dominant he is, rebounding is a team attribute and they’re not doing enough despite his stellar efforts.

It requires everyone’s attention, everyone getting in position, everyone boxing out rather than just waiting for the ball to fall into their hands, and everyone playing with more intensity to make up for the loss of Griffin.

It’s no secret that one of the major flaws of the Clippers this season has been rebounding, but it’s not what seems to garner much attention when it comes to the highly anticipated return of Griffin. Make no mistake, his work on the boards is going to be absolutely vital once he’s back and it will make the team better immediately.

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It’s just another reason of many as to why they need him for the future, too.