2011 CB Draft Southwest Division Press Conferences

[The Walker Wiggle]

1.  Memphis - This is a superstar league and superstars have always led teams to massive regular season win totals.

While I can't strongly disagree as I certainly believe Memphis is headed for the playoffs and I love 4/5ths of the team's starting line-up, I am disappointed that Blake Griffin and Pau Gasol somehow don't qualify as superstars?

I'm surprised to find out that Griffin is underrated here.

Superstar?  No, Blake was barely an all-star.

Rose led his team to 62 wins.  Griffin's team had 32 wins.  Rose is a superstar, Griffin is a fringe all-star and insane highlight reel.  Pau on the other hand is a second banana, an all-star, but also not a superstar.

I'm not sure what "barely" an All-Star means? Blake wasn't an injury replacement. And Derrick Rose wasn't an All-Star at all his rookie year.

You're going to be surprised next season, Action.

16.8 ppg .475 FG% 3.9 rpg  6.3 apg 0.8 steals 2.5 TO 37 mpg 40 wins - Rose in his rookie season
22.5 ppg .506 FG% 12.1 rpg 3.8 apg 0.8 steals 2.7 TO 38 mpg 32 wins - Griffin in his rookie season

[indeedproceed]

1.  Memphis - This is a superstar league and superstars have always led teams to massive regular season win totals.

While I can't strongly disagree as I certainly believe Memphis is headed for the playoffs and I love 4/5ths of the team's starting line-up, I am disappointed that Blake Griffin and Pau Gasol somehow don't qualify as superstars?

I'm surprised to find out that Griffin is underrated here.

Superstar?  No, Blake was barely an all-star.

Rose led his team to 62 wins.  Griffin's team had 32 wins.  Rose is a superstar, Griffin is a fringe all-star and insane highlight reel.  Pau on the other hand is a second banana, an all-star, but also not a superstar.

I'm not sure what "barely" an All-Star means? Blake wasn't an injury replacement. And Derrick Rose wasn't an All-Star at all his rookie year.

You're going to be surprised next season, Action.

16.8 ppg .475 FG% 3.9 rpg  6.3 apg 0.8 steals 2.5 TO 37 mpg 40 wins - Rose in his rookie season
22.5 ppg .506 FG% 12.1 rpg 3.8 apg 0.8 steals 2.7 TO 38 mpg 32 wins - Griffin in his rookie season

The scary thing about Griffin is the same thing that used to be scary about LeBron; there is still so many places he can improve.

If he improves his jumper to a solid +40% threat, and develops a better back to the basket game, he'll pass Amar'e for best scoring PF in basketball.

If he improves his defense to the point where it catches up with his offense, he's an All-NBA guy.

Right now he mostly just attacks and rebounds..but he could get so much better that I just worry for the league. Plus, he's likable. LeBron should worry.

[StartOrien]

Blakes face up and mid range game developed pretty nicely throughout the season. I expect big things out of him this season.

[action781]

1.  Memphis - This is a superstar league and superstars have always led teams to massive regular season win totals.

While I can't strongly disagree as I certainly believe Memphis is headed for the playoffs and I love 4/5ths of the team's starting line-up, I am disappointed that Blake Griffin and Pau Gasol somehow don't qualify as superstars?

I'm surprised to find out that Griffin is underrated here.

Superstar?  No, Blake was barely an all-star.

Rose led his team to 62 wins.  Griffin's team had 32 wins.  Rose is a superstar, Griffin is a fringe all-star and insane highlight reel.  Pau on the other hand is a second banana, an all-star, but also not a superstar.

I'm not sure what "barely" an All-Star means? Blake wasn't an injury replacement. And Derrick Rose wasn't an All-Star at all his rookie year.

You're going to be surprised next season, Action.

16.8 ppg .475 FG% 3.9 rpg  6.3 apg 0.8 steals 2.5 TO 37 mpg 40 wins - Rose in his rookie season
22.5 ppg .506 FG% 12.1 rpg 3.8 apg 0.8 steals 2.7 TO 38 mpg 32 wins - Griffin in his rookie season

Sorry, maybe that "barely" was a cheap shot.  I believe it was down to him, Love, and Aldridge for the final 2 West spots?  I thought Aldridge should have made it and the next spot was up for grabs in my mind.

You're comparing Blake here to a guy who did NOT make a big jump in his sophomore season.  It took Rose his 3rd season to make that big jump.  Blake put up very good numbers on a 32 win team.  I expect him to make modest improvements to his game (like Rose) in this 1 offseason.  I don't expect a 25-15 guy next season... do you?  Dwight doesn't even put up those kind of numbers.  I expect similar to slightly lower numbers and 40-44 wins for the Clips, but I really think they could be one of the surprise teams out West next year and win even more.  That's at least the type of improvement I hope to see from Blake, who I like very much.

EDIT:  Also, I'll want to read reports about Blake tirelessly working on his game (like Rose did shooting 1,000 shots per day last offseason) in the offseason before I really believe he is going to make that big jump.  It could still happen without the work, but I just won't expect it.

[Roy H.]

Blakes face up and mid range game developed pretty nicely throughout the season. I expect big things out of him this season.

Same here.  I predict he goes top five in next year's draft.

[Roy H.]

Also, I'll want to read reports about Blake tirelessly working on his game (like Rose did shooting 1,000 shots per day last offseason) in the offseason before I really believe he is going to make that big jump.  It could still happen without the work, but I just won't expect it.

I don't think we have to worry about Griffin's work ethic.  He missed an entire season, but rehabbed constantly to come back as a dominant player.

[The Walker Wiggle]

Right now he mostly just attacks and rebounds... But he could get so much better that I just worry for the league. Plus, he's likable. LeBron should worry.

And passes the ball. His 3.8 assists mark is second best among all power forwards and centers, behind only Boris Diaw's 4.1 apg and ahead of Al Horford (3.4), Pau Gasol (3.3), Josh Smith (3.3), David Lee (3.2) and Lamar Odom (3.0).

I point it out, because the "rawness" of his game is sometimes overstated, prolly a case of the dunks eclipsing his wiles. And keep in mind he wasn't scoop passing to Pau Gasol, with the exception of E.G., Blake was setting up some of the league's rawest - DeAndre Jordan, Al Farouq Aminu - and worst shooting - Baron Davis, my guy Gomes - rotation players.