Blake Griffin starts season strong. Then disappears. Each year. Why?

[elementally morale]

Why is this happening every year? Any other players like him in this regard?

[Smoke117]

I've always thought he was overrated, but I don't really get the timing of this thread. He's averaging a career 25.6ppg and is currently averaging 30ppg in January.

[elementally morale]

I've always thought he was overrated, but I don't really get the timing of this thread. He's averaging a career 25.6ppg and is currently averaging 30ppg in January.


He has started the last 3-4 years as a top 5 performer. Several huge games early each season. And then... slow down. Sure, a few better stretches... but basically he starts as a top 5 player and finishes the season not top 20-25.

I don't get it.

[Smoke117]

]He has started the last 3-4 years as a top 5 performer.[/B] Several huge games early each season. And then... slow down. Sure, a few better stretches... but basically he starts as a top 5 player and finishes the season not top 20-25.

I don't get it.

No, he hasn't. lol Unless by started you mean about 5 games.

[elementally morale]

No, he hasn't. lol Unless by started you mean about 5 games.

5 games, 10 games... whatever. A short period of time. At the beginning of each season. So... he can do it. And then he can't. Which part can he not keep up? Or is it everyone else starting slowly?

[coin24]

The pistons are so bad:lol

Ish smith is turrible. Flake has always sucked. It's just a bunch of hogs going ISO all game

[elementally morale]

The pistons are so bad:lol

Ish smith is turrible. Flake has always sucked. It's just a bunch of hogs going ISO all game


Griffin did the same thing on the Clippers, too.

[Smoke117]

5 games, 10 games... whatever. A short period of time. At the beginning of each season. So... he can do it. And then he can't. Which part can he not keep up? Or is it everyone else starting slowly?

Pretty much any all star in the league can look top 5 for 5-10 games. Everyone has their stretches.

[elementally morale]

Pretty much any all star in the league can look top 5 for 5-10 games. Everyone has their stretches.


Fine. Griffin usually goes off to begin each season. Then comes the talk how much his game has improved. Then... not much to write home about.

[tanibanana]

In fairness to Griffin, he is playing well this season. Not a MVP level, but All-Star level.

Lets see if he ends up below top-20 comes end of the season.

[iamgine]

I think it's natural. At the start of the season, one has more energy. As the seasons go on, little injuries accumulate and fatigue sets in.

I wouldn't say he disappear though. He still performs very well.

[elementally morale]

I think it's natural. At the start of the season, one has more energy. As the seasons go on, little injuries accumulate and fatigue sets in.

I wouldn't say he disappear though. He still performs very well.


There are some players who start to really play better after the ASG. What do you think is the difference? Response to fatigue? All mental?

[iamgine]

There are some players who start to really play better after the ASG. What do you think is the difference? Response to fatigue? All mental?
Different people, different combination of reasons. We see this in every sport. Some boxer is a slow starter, some are strong starter.

[ImKobe]

His body can't handle it. He seemingly broke down every Playoffs as a Clipper.

[brownmamba00]

44 points against the clips the other day how is that disappearing. He's still good.

[HoopologyPhD]

Probably because his athleticism advantage is more noticeable when everyone is on fresh legs but when they all get into the grind of the season it drops off a bit.

You will sometimes see this when an injured player or somebody who hasn't played that much is inserted in the middle of a season and does really well the first couple of games because they are playing fresh vs everyone else who is fatigued.

[Milbuck]

He isn't disappearing at all, his team is just dogshit around him. Individually he has pretty consistently been great.

[PeroAntic]

The times he dropped off, he got injured mostly. He's having an MVP level season so far.

[Doranku]

Paul George is another player who does this.