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LA Clippers: What Blake Griffin can do against the Utah Jazz

By Leonard Saldana

Mar 13, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; LA Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) shoots the ball over Utah Jazz center Boris Diaw (33) during the first quarter at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; LA Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) shoots the ball over Utah Jazz center Boris Diaw (33) during the first quarter at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports /
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As the LA Clippers prepare for their first round match-up with the Utah Jazz, here is how Blake Griffin needs to contribute for a series victory.

The LA Clippers came into the season with all eyes on them because of their failure to get out of the second round of the Western Conference. The Clippers are clearly top-heavy with Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, J.J. Redick, and DeAndre Jordan, but three of those four are able to either opt out or free agents. What a time to be alive in Clipper-land.

Griffin has continued to work on his game to become an all around complete player. He added the 3-pointer to his game really in the last 27 games, but he has worked on it for years. His shot chart for the year looks greener in deeper shots, so he is not settling for a mid range jumper anymore. He is attempting a career high 1.6 three pointers per game, while he is shooting 35% for the season, this is the first stretch where he is searching for that 3 shot.

RELATED STORY: The Importance of Blake Griffin’s 3 Point Shot

Then came December, Blake was playing well, but just something did not look right. He would move but could not elevate the way he needed to for his shot to be effective. His explosive leaping looked to be not as prevalent as beginning in the year. They decided to “remove the bodies” from his knee and take care of it while it was still early in the season. Blake sidelined for an 18 game stretch, and would come back after Chris Paul would go down with a torn tendon in his thumb. The Clippers went through a very shaky couple of months but now after all the injuries the core is playing together again.

The team is now moving in the right direction and look to be hitting their stride with a recent stretch of 6 straight wins. Down the stretch the Clippers schedule eased up and gave the time they needed to click and get on the same page.

The Clippers are set to play a favorable match up against the Utah Jazz but it does not mean it is going to be a walk in the park. The Clippers face a team hungry to show they are ready to take the next step with their Stars: Rudy Gobert and Gordon Hayward.

Blake Griffin has always been a great player but he will need to take the next step if the Clippers want to make some noise.

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