Draymond Green’s Impact Outmatches Blake Griffin’s
A fellow NBA player would take Draymond Green over Blake Griffin. After looking at the stats, do they justify the claim that Draymond is the better player?
As they prepare for their matchup today with the Detroit Pistons, guard Brandon Jennings had an interesting comment this past week about Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green on Twitter.
“Aye people really think Blake griffin better draymond green? Y’all crazy.”
An opinion like this undoubtedly stirred some conversation about whether or not such an argument is valid. Blake Griffin is a five-time NBA all-star while Green has not received an all-star nod in comparison, although that is surely to change this season. In order to reach a conclusion, let’s take a look at what the statistics tell us and ultimately evaluate whose impact is greater for their team.
Scoring
Blake Griffin is averaging 23.2 ppg for the Clippers, leading all power forwards in scoring at the same time. Draymond Green ranks number ten in scoring for power forwards, averaging 15.0 ppg for Golden State respectively. One can argue that Griffin is the superior player in the amount of points he contributes for his team. Yet it’s much more sensible to take into account the larger picture at play. For the Clippers, Blake Griffin is the number one scoring option. Chris Paul plays the role of the facilitator, while Deandre Jordan‘s signature talent is playing as the defensive anchor.
For the NBA champs, Draymond can be viewed as the third scoring option. The two spots ahead are taken by the Splash Brothers, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. For this reason, Green’s scoring average might not be as high as Griffin’s, but it’s still significant to be providing double-digit scoring every night on the league’s best offense and best team. Much more importantly, with less of a scoring load placed on Green’s shoulders, it allows him to contribute in more ways than one.
Rebounding/Assists
Blake averages 8.7 rpg and 5.0 apg, and Draymond has the upper hand with 9.7 rpg and 7.3 apg. The amount of assists Draymond averages is worthwhile in illustrating how vital he is for the Warriors’ offense. Golden State prides itself on its ball movement which creates efficient scoring opportunities. Rebounding is essential for fast break opportunities, and offensive rebounds specifically provide second chance points.
Thankfully Draymond does both, but its even more incredible that as a power forward he can average as many assists per game as he does. Where typically we categorize a power forward who simply plays down in the paint and remains in that area, Green chooses to lead the fast breaks and even sometimes facilitate the offense as a point guard. I believe its part of the evolution at his position, where in today’s league teams are asking more and more of their power forwards, possibly attempting to emulate what Draymond does.
Defense
Draymond’s 1.4 steals per game and 1.3 blocks per game outrank Blake’s 0.7 per game and 0.6 per game respectively. Without a doubt, it’s a fact that Draymond Green makes defense much more of a priority rather than Blake Griffin. Stats aren’t necessary to tell the story; one can easily reach this conclusion by watching what Draymond does on the court. It doesn’t matter who the opposing player is, Draymond Green will take the challenge and attempt to deny them inside the paint or interrupt the passing lanes for a steal.
The value of playing defense in the NBA cannot be overlooked. That extra possession or quick second chance scoring opportunity can quickly switch the momentum in your favor, and we’ve seen the Golden State Warriors illustrate that many times in the regular season and the playoffs. Draymond Green is perhaps the prototypical example. His presence on the court can motivate the team and ignite the home fans, and the catalyst for this impact is his defense.
Overall Impact
By looking at the overall picture, it’s safe to say that Draymond Green has elevated his game to become the superior player in comparison to Blake Griffin. The league has changed, and players today are continuously being asked to bring an all-around skillset to their respective teams. The ability to score is no longer the sole criteria for evaluating success in the NBA, the ability to adapt and aid your team in more ways than one has become vital. It’s the reason why the Warriors are more than ten games ahead of their division rival Clippers, and it’s the justification for Draymond Green now outmatching Blake Griffin.