POLL: Is Blake Griffin A True Rookie?
by Mike Prada on Mar 12, 2011 12:57 PM EST
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Blake Griffin comes to Verizon Center for his only visit tonight, and in light of the matchup happening, I figured I'd at least pose this question as a starting point.
Griffin is very clearly going to win the Rookie of the Year over John Wall and others. To argue otherwise is to be in denial. But as several have pointed out at different points throughout the season, Griffin also had the benefit of being in an NBA environment for a season as he recovered from his season-ending knee injury. Sure, it's the Clippers, but it's still the NBA. Wall, meanwhile, is picking up the NBA routine as he plays, like all other rookies.
I'm not going to suggest that Griffin doesn't deserve the inevitable Rookie of the Year he'll win, but I do think that one year has made some sort of difference. Adjusting to the NBA lifestyle before and after games is as big an adjustment, if not bigger, than learning the game itself. Griffin was able to get situated with that before he even had to play, and I think we're seeing the effects of that.
So here's today's question:
How much do you think Griffin's year recovering from his knee injury gave him a leg up compared to a true rookie? Is it enough of an advantage where his Rookie of the Year needs to come with an asterisk?
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He's not a true rookie, but I don't think there should be an asterisk.
It’s sort of unfair though that John Wall isn’t going to win Rookie of the Year because of Griffin, if anything I’d love it if they were co-Rookies of the year.
Dear Passionate fan, I know you are passionate, but please reply with a logical answer or I will ignore you.
While this is a valid point it as well as 26 yr dudes coming over after having played proffesionally for years, it does feel corny to talk about this
Blake Griffin is the best player off the new crop this yr, period.
If Griffin had played last yr he would have won it over tyreke and if he had played next yr instead he would have won it as well. Plus, without Griffin John would not have been the clear cut ROY this yr either. Fields, Cousins and Monroe would be in that discussion too and i would’ve put my money on fields to be honest. John needs a couple of yrs more
"If you don't shoot, you can't score"
Johan Cruijff
" My psychiatrist just doesn't know what I go through. He is a Lakers fan" Hambonejackson
I say no asterisk, just a big advantage
The fact that Griffin was at a majority (if not all) games last year, he got to see the NBA both behind the scenes and up front. He was able to study the game because he had nothing else to distract him. By being able to have that opportunity, I think it definitely gave him an edge. That being said, by rule, he’s a rookie, in my opinion.
There is no such thing as a "true" rookie
A rookie is a player playing the 1st year of whatever sport he is in. Adding the adjective “true” before “rookie” redefines the word “rookie”. Maybe there can be two trophies; 1 for the ROY and the other for the TROY. The fact is, from high school to playing in the NBA, Griffen had 3 years to Walls 1 year, so its expected that Griffen will be more NBA ready than Wall. Who cares about ROYs anyway? I’m sure Wall would gladly trade in the ROY for 35 more wins this season.
Ha! He's got neither....
You’re right, the kid has got a good head on his sholders
"If you don't shoot, you can't score"
Johan Cruijff
" My psychiatrist just doesn't know what I go through. He is a Lakers fan" Hambonejackson
by Dutch Hoopfan on Mar 12, 2011 5:30 PM EST up reply actions
Oh absolutely it needs to come with a asterisk
Think of a NFL QB coming into the league, and sitting out his first year to watch from the sidelines and hold the clipboard. He’s is learning the speed of the game, watching formations and gaining a wealth of information. Same idea here, Blake got to watch great players compete night in and night out, he got to watch big-men and make notes (even if only mental) about their moves and moves he wants to add to his arsenal. He even got to watch the refs and what kind of calls they have a tendency to make. Blake himself admitted that he was working on his jumper, by the midway point of last season. He had a entire year of prep, he saw what worked in the this league and what doesnt work. Not to mention, when we are talking about number 1 overall picks, you dont think that sitting out their first year doesnt give fuel to their determination and fire to be the best. By the time this season started he was rdy to tear heads off and thats what he did. The way he’s playing is his sophomore performance, thats all
So Griffen can win the RWAOY
Rookie with asterisk of the year
by hambonejackson on Mar 12, 2011 3:19 PM EST up reply actions
Oh who cares!
God willing they will both get to the HOF!
Lets be real here, you guys
He got to observe the Clippers for a year. If anything that should have made him worse.
by Alpha_Snail on Mar 12, 2011 3:32 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
He is not a true rookie, at all
Before this season, he had been training full time with an NBA staff, working, listening and watching other NBA players play and practice.
Basically he got a redshirt year, and in college football, redshirt freshman are almost always more ready to play then true freshman.
He should be able to win ROY because it’s his first year playing, but it should be taken with a grain of salt. He definitely has a leg up on Wall and the other true rookies.
by aholla30 on Mar 12, 2011 3:34 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
Yes, I'll say he is a true rookie
Sure, he has had a year to observe a professional team and see how the Clippers system works and how he fits into that scheme. However, watching a professional team, even if he was getting a check and playing meaningful games for a professional team are two different things, and he wasn’t able to do that until this year. Assuming he played the entire season last year, he would have probably been ROY as well, but it is what is.
What impresses me is how Wall is not all that much smaller than Griffen
and given Walls quickness and speed and ability to get to the rim, makes Wall look all that more imposing a player.
I also look at Griffen as a bit WYSWIG
Where as with Wall, he has nothing but upside in every area of his game. Griffen will get the ROY, but Wall may end up being the more dominant player. Lets get another one on this team.
Griffin isn't 22 yet
so his best basketball is ahead of him, and he can learn how to slow down his game some, improve his free throws and continue to develop his perimeter game, which isn’t that bad already. Statistically I think he’s about as good as we’ll see, but who knows?
Pretty sure the Clippers fan base doesn’t think Wall will be much more than a taller version of Rondo but with no good players to pass to.
True rookie? Since when is that even part of the language?
If it came at the cost of a catastrophic knee injury, I’m not about to put an asterisk in front of his name. Is it an advantage? Sure. Could it have ruined his career? Sure. Could it give him an unfair boost such that we need to put on our revisionist history cap? If baseball doesn’t get one for the steroid era, neither does Blake Griffin.
by Bullet Nation in Exile on Mar 12, 2011 4:11 PM EST reply actions
I think when it comes to players like McGee, steroids and HGH should not only be legal, but enforced.
by hambonejackson on Mar 12, 2011 6:12 PM EST up reply actions
I think Blake had a slight advantage this year.
He was out with an injury, but that’s also a full year of being around NBA coaching staff, trainers, players, getting advice from all of these people, and most importantly in my mind, still being able to work out midway into recovery.
Let’s not forget that: Blake Griffin had a lot of time in the gym leading up to this season, something he wouldn’t have had in his “real” rookie season. It’s pretty obvious that paid off, because the guy is a beast and way, way bigger than he was last year.
Who cares if he wins rookie of the year or not.
He will never LEAD a team to the finals, no matter how flashy his dunks are. I want Wall over him, Wall can lead a team to a championship. He can’t do it alone(no one can) and he’s not Kobe, but he can become more than good-enough to lead a team to a championship.
There are very few big men who have lead their teams to the finals, and he is not a Shaq, Duncan, Howard, etc. Unless he leaves the Clippers for a team that has a true leader in the back court, he will be remembered as a flashy Charles Barkley.
Skins rule
Just because he has style
doesn’t mean he is no substance. Griffin is TEARING GUYS UP this year. And he is a rookie(however controversial). You don’t put up rebounding and scoring numbers, your first year playing in the league, with just flashy dunks.
Screw rational basketball analysis. I <3 Jordan Crawford.
by returnofswagger on Mar 13, 2011 9:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Sure it's an advantage
But who cares? It doesn’t make John Wall any different of a player. I think it’s real petty to complain about it.
Wah wah wah
Blake Griffin is rookie of the year because he didn’t play in his rookie season. So what he had time to look at whatever. NY, AB, and Javale should be playing like hall of famers if that was the case(because they have had time, time time to get better better better)…..oh so we say a player needs playing time if he’s sitting on the bench, to get better, but BLake is already that good so we make up rules to downplay that he came out of the gates a beast? Give me a break, JWall isn’t rookie of the year, regardless of his numbers, get over it.
skeeta strikes again!
Screw rational basketball analysis. I <3 Jordan Crawford.
by returnofswagger on Mar 15, 2011 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions
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