In the second installment of our matchup preview, Los Angeles Clippers superstar Blake Griffin may go against a hall of famer if things fall into place
Los Angeles Clippers fans and pundits alike have noticed the evolving game of Blake Griffin and what it has done for the Clippers as a team.
Griffin this year is having a banner season, averaging nearly a double-double with 24.1 PPG and 9.6 RPG. His midrange game has improved greatly and has now become a more complete basketball player instead of being simply a high-flyer who had highlight reel dunks each night (still does it on occasion).
But what would it be like for Griffin in the playoffs facing a man who has played in 128 postseason games and been in two NBA Finals?
Last time in this series it was Chris Paul matched up with a near-elite point guard in Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors. For Griffin, he would be up against a man who is arguably the greatest international player the NBA has ever known.
Blake Griffin vs. Dirk Nowitzki
The Dallas Mavericks (48-31) are one game behind the Warriors (48-29) for sixth place in the West (the seed that will likely play the Clippers in the first round). If the Mavs do get by Golden State and slide into the six spot, it could put Griffin and Nowitzki together in a clash between the past and the future.
Griffin isn’t exactly playing tiddlywinks here. He would be going up against a straight-up top-15 player of all-time, who is likely the greatest shooting seven-footer that ever played in the NBA.
Nowitzki can hit from anywhere at anytime. He is one of only five guys in the history of the league to be a member of the 50-40-90 club (50% FG, 40% 3PT and 90% FT in one season).
Griffin might be improving his midrange game and has bumped up his FT% to .710%, but the experienced German has no equal when it comes to offensive production from a power forward in the game (recently passed Oscar Robertson for 10th on the all-time scoring list).
Both men in this matchup play a vastly different style. Griffin utilizes his athleticism, raw power and proficient ball-handling skills to do the job. Nowitzki is a spot shooter by trade, but also uses his long limbs to angle his way underneath for a difficult layup while using his body as a shield from the arms of defenders.
What makes Nowitzki dangerous in the paint is that he doesn’t need to overpower Griffin, his ability to finish with either hand makes him so difficult to judge whether he turns right or left when posting up.
Nowitzki also come playoff time is a player on another level. We all saw what he did when he carried the Mavs to their first-ever NBA Championship against Lebron James and the Miami Heat in 2011.
Griffin is currently averaging 22.8 PPG and 11.3 RPG in his four meetings against Dallas this year. Good numbers indeed, but Nowitzki has been right with him averaging 24.5 PPG against Los Angeles (his fourth highest average against an opponent in the league).
One of the game’s budding elite superstars in Griffin and a certain first-ballot Hall of Famer in Nowitzki would make for one epic clash in the playoffs.
Will Nowitzki pass the torch to Griffin, or will the old veteran look for one more spirited ride to the promise land?
Copyright 2014 SportSpeak LLC, all rights reserved. For more coverage, follow @SportSpeakLA and @SportSpeakOC on Twitter.