Blake Griffin has shaken off the stigma of being known as just a dunker, becoming one of the most versatile big men in NBA. From taking defenders off the dribble with his strong ball handling skills and quickness, to consistently knocking down mid-range shots, Griffin has improved every season he's played. And for this upcoming season, Griffin is hoping to incorporate this new facet to his game: the 3-point shot.
Griffin is a career 27.1 percent 3-point shooter but he shot 40 percent in limited attempts in the 2014-2015 season and was a 33.3 percent shooter last season. Respectable numbers for a big man but remember, the 3-point shot is not a usual part of his repertoire. But Griffin wants to change that this season and is planning on taking more shot from behind the arc.
From the Orange County Register's Dan Woike:
"I want to be someone who shoots from there confidently, for sure," Griffin said after Thursday's practice at UC Irvine's Bren Events Center. "A lot of us power forwards, our strength is inside or our versatility. You look at the best power forwards, Anthony Davis, LaMarcus (Aldridge), Draymond (Green) ... they can all shoot but they can all put the ball on the floor and they can all score inside. I don't necessarily think falling in love with the 3-point shot is a good idea, but shooting it confidently from there is great."
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"The further out I can stretch, the more I can help open up the floor," Griffin said, acknowledging that he'll have more room to put the ball on the floor and make plays that way if he can hit open 3-point attempts.
Adding a 3-point shot would make Griffin that much more deadly of a player. With his sheer athleticism and overall talent, Griffin can be a handful for defenders to deal with. But if he can also spread the floor by making 3-pointers with some consistency, not only does Griffin become a stronger overall player, the Clippers also become a much better team on offense.
Griffin taking his game to another level by adding a 3-point shot, should help the Clippers contend with the Warriors and Spurs in the loaded West. But even if he doesn't become a potent 3-point shooter, the Clippers will need Griffin to play at an All-Star level again if they want to be a top playoff team. Especially with Kevin Durant joining the Warriors, the road to the Finals in the West hasn't gotten any easier this season.
