LA Clippers: Blake Griffin displaying improved shot mechanics

To help the LA Clippers’ offense reach another level this season, Blake Griffin has noticeably improved shot mechanics and new three-point range.

If the LA Clippers‘ offense, especially that of the starting lineup, was going to improve this season, it would be from individual improvement. Kevin Durant becoming the starting small forward was always too hard to realistically imagine, meaning either Luc Mbah a Moute adding a three-point shot (unlikely at this stage of his career) or maybe DeAndre Jordan developing a go-to post move were the other hopes. Instead, the Clippers are benefiting from Blake Griffin‘s improved shot mechanics and a new three-point shot to expand his already exceptional offensive arsenal.

While recovering from surgery on his quadricep this summer, Griffin attempted more threes than ever. Shooting was the best part of his game he could work on in such a condition, and he’s successfully continued the impressive evolution of his game from athlete to versatile scorer and playmaker.

Yet again, Griffin was driven by his tireless work ethic to improve, and he’s done just that.

In the LA Clippers’ open scrimmage to conclude training camp, Griffin went 2-of-4 from three-point range. Against the Toronto Raptors for the Clippers’ preseason home opener, he fired from deep again, going 2-of-3 on three-pointers to help him reach 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting overall.

Griffin knows he shouldn’t overdo the whole three-point thing, though. Some big men, such as the physically dominant DeMarcus Cousins attempting 3.2 threes per game last season, have probably started taking slightly too many, not playing to their strengths quite as often than they should.

It’s important Griffin doesn’t stray beyond the three-point line and neglect drives or his reliable mid-range game, but one of the best parts of this change is that he’s made it clear he won’t get trigger-happy from three.

As Jovan Buha of ESPN reported, Griffin will take threes when they’re presented to him, rather than falling in love with the shot.

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“I still think I’ve got to be effective in a lot of other areas, being a four man,” Griffin said to Rowan Kavner of Clippers.com. “So, it’s not something I’m going to pick-and-pop to all the time, but if it’s there, it’s something I’ve worked on.”

In addition to countless hours in the gym, the Clippers changed shooting coach from Bob Thate to John Welch this summer. New technique is helping Griffin already.

If he keeps the kind of three-point pace he’s shown so far, and doesn’t overdo it (perhaps taking up to around 1.5 threes per game), he can be effective and still utilize his strengths inside. Defenders simply having to accommodate for the threat of him being able to help shoot a three helps him immediately.

Opponents aren’t typically used to covering shots from Griffin from beyond the arc and will instead sag off to cut off driving lanes. But now he can further space the floor and toy with defenders, either by shooting the three when they may not expect it, driving past when they contest him too closely, or passing into the additional space for cutters inside.

Here’s the first three Griffin made against Toronto, with his defender Patrick Patterson leaving him several feet of space.

Griffin only waited a few minutes in the third quarter to bury another three, again with good form.

Yes, these are early days and we’re in single digits for his makes so far, but Griffin’s form looks great. He’s developed a reliable mid-range game over the last couple of seasons which has become a key part of the Clippers’ offense, but he released the ball just as he starts to descend from jumping rather than instantly releasing at the very peak of his jump — in other words, the ideal point of release to maintain consistent form and range.

As you can see in the two three-pointers above, though, Griffin smoothly releases the ball as he hits the top of his jump in fluid form, rather than a slight hitch as his feet start coming back down.

By doing this, he doesn’t sacrifice form and accuracy by relying too heavily on his upper body (albeit an incredibly strong upper body) to launch the ball far enough. This helps him fully utilize the energy he gets from his legs, and use that extra boost to accommodate for the greater distance of a three-pointer.

The same smooth stroke shown in those three-point attempts has been applied to his mid-range game, too. Notice, yet again, that his legs move slightly forward on his jump to help with momentum and, most importantly, he’s comfortably releasing the ball at the top of his jump instead of on the way down.

For comparison, look at the difference from his jump shot just last season. It’s not hard to see on the following shots how he pauses at the peak of his jump and pulls the trigger on the way down.

Now, an already effective shot can be even better.

With continued work on this shot in practice and more comfort from three-point attempts under pressure in games, there’s no reason to doubt the impact Griffin can have from deep. His exceptional work ethic has allowed him to become the player he is today, possessing the kind of ball handling, shooting, and point-forward passing that separates him from pretty much every other big in the NBA.

In the last two seasons, Griffin has shot 39.6 percent from at least 16 feet out. It’s good and a drastic improvement from the early days of his career, but not great. Such shots have come at a higher frequency as well, accounting for 40.6 percent of his field goal attempts in the last two years.

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Providing this improved form continues, and there’s no reason it shouldn’t with more practice and repetition, it looks like Griffin could improve that efficiency. Being selective with his three-point attempts will also help that.

“When Blake’s shooting like that, it opens up the floor for us even more,” DeAndre Jordan said to Kavner. “If he’s a threat (from three), we’ve really got everything.”

Jordan’s right.

Not only can Griffin knock down the odd three for the LA Clippers’ offense, but he can diversify his attack by reacting to the pressure and angles defenders use against him. Opportunities to pass into additional space inside or drive past closely contested defenders at the arc open up so much for his game and others, thanks to his stellar passing ability.

Next: What did we learn from the Clippers against Toronto?

Griffin was already motivated enough to come back with force this season, and now he’s added another weapon in the form of smoother mechanics and three-point range to help him even more.