How Griffin Fits With the Celtics
With Robert Williams III set to miss the opening eight to 12 weeks of the season following knee surgery, and the newly acquired Danilo Gallinari tearing his ACL during FIBA World Cup qualifiers, the Boston Celtics suddenly found themselves thin at the forward position heading into October.
Williams III averaged 10 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks last season while shooting 73.6% from the field. But what will be missed most about the 24 year old, is his defensive presence.
While Boston still has Al Horford and Grant Williams to hold the fort down, Robert Williams III’s numbers will be difficult to replicate. His absence means the Celtics would be without both its leading rebounder and shot blocker for roughly a quarter of the 2022-23 campaign.
Enter Blake Griffin.
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While his best years are certainly behind him, a player of Blake Griffin’s calibre and experience should benefit any team he plays for. His offensive numbers have been steadily declining since his Clippers days, but he could still provide valuable points in a limited role off the bench.
And that’s exactly what Boston needs after the Robert Williams III injury.
Griffin, a six-time NBA All-Star, agreed to a one-year deal with the Celtics to help fill that void. In 724 career games, the 33-year-old has averaged 19.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.
Unfortunately, his recent two-season stint with the Brooklyn Nets saw his numbers drop to new lows as he averaged just 6.4 points and three rebounds last season. His minutes also dropped to 17.1 minutes per game- which is the lowest mark of his career.
The question now becomes how Blake Griffin will fit into the Celtics’ rotation which also features newcomer Malcolm Brogdon who arrived via offseason trade.
There are two possible scenarios.
Without Williams III for the next eight to 12 weeks and possibly beyond that as well, Griffin could get the start at the power forward spot with Al Horford sliding in at the center position. Granted, starting this duo of 30+ year-olds could be disadvantageous for the Celtics, especially against younger, stronger big men as they could slow the team down, especially against teams who like to play at a faster pace.
The most likely scenario for the former Oklahoma Sooner is to come off the bench, score in spurts, defend, and get the rebounds. In other words, do the dirty work while the starters are on the bench. How many minutes he would play largely depends on two things: his health, and how quickly Robert Williams III returns to action.
Blake Griffin may be 33 years old, but if there’s one thing nobody can deny, it’s the fact that when healthy, Blake Griffin can still be productive in the right environment.
-Iggy Gonzales
Photo: Erik Drost. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.