is Griffin's injury really a big factor?

[angelbelow]

The thing about Blake is that he is still very young and very capable of adapting and evolving his game. Adding a mid range jumper and developing a more consistent back to the basket game would catapult him into the "best offensive PF" conversation.

As of right now, he simply doesn't have the skill set needed to make an impact offensively against playoff caliber teams.

So no, I don't believe Griffin's injury is a big factor.

[jestersmash]

Of course it's a factor, but nobody other than Clipper fans will care once everything is all said and done.

Non-spurs fans don't care that Manu was playing with a broken elbow against Memphis or that Memphis barely won games 1 and 3 (with Manu sitting out of game 1 all-together) on timely, arguably fluke-ish shots. Spurs-Memphis last year could have so easily been 3-0 spurs to start. It's funny, if you go to the Clipper boards before the series started, a lot of them using flawed "basketball" math of the following -

"Well Memphis destroyed the Spurs last year and we beat Memphis, so we should have a great shot! Spurs were 'destroyed' by their bigs and we have great atheltic bigs too!"

In this regard, I have great respect for Chris Paul. Yeah he's not playing up to his usual level, but he refuses to use it as an excuse.

Just like Clipper fans and other non-spurs fans don't give a damn about Duncan playing on one leg and Manu playing literally with a broken elbow last year, non-Clipper fans won't care or won't remember the Clippers being hobbled this year. It's just a fact of basketball homerism.

[Knoxxx]

Griffin is 6' 8.5" barefoot.

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Blake-Griffin-1268/

Wingspan is 6' 11.25", nothing special.

Vertical 36" is special, but stay in front of him is the key.

[Clippers808]

Shawn Kemp is >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> over Blake, its not even close at this point. Kemp could post, hit 3's, played stellar D, led his team to the finals and 2 other WCFs in the 90's. Too bad drugs derailed his career.

What's your point? That at some point in Shawn Kemp's 14 seasons in the league, he was better than Blake Griffin now who is just in his second second, with no offseason and barely any practice this year?

I'll excuse your premature speculation and just point out that Blake is as hard a worker as you'll find, and there's little doubt around the league that he will improve his shot/ft%/post moves/positional defense. His athleticism is a gift that will only help him develop all of these aspects of his game.

For as harsh as everyone is on him, I dare you to argue for any other player from the last 3 drafts you'd take over him.