Would You Rather: Ex-Detroit Pistons Edition
By Curtis Brown
Power Forward: Blake Griffin versus Tobias Harris
Current Pistons power forward: Blake Griffin
On the year Blake Griffin is averaging 21.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game. He is shooting 43 percent from the field (a career low, but tying a career high attempts, 17.2), 32.3 percent from three and playing 34.1 minutes per game.
Ex-Pistons power forward: Tobias Harris
Tobias Harris is averaging a career high 18.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. He is shooting 45.5 percent from the field and 41.1 percent from all while playing 32.9 minutes per game.
In his short time with the Clippers his numbers have gone up, of note is his rebounding up to 6.6 per game, verse 5.1 with the Pistons this year, and assists are up to 3.2 from 2.0.
Honorable mentions: Ersan Ilyasova 10.9 points in 25.3 minutes for Atlanta and now Philadelphia. Jonas Jerebko shooting 40.9 percent on threes for Utah.
Not so honorable mention: Amir Johnson 4.5 points in 15.41 minutes for Philadelphia
So, would you rather have Griffin or Harris?
If you just look at the stat lines, Griffin and Harris stack up pretty similarly. Harris is the better shooter, and Griffin is the better rebounder and facilitator.
We all know how good Harris was in a Pistons uniform, but Griffin is better. He can affect the game in ways that Harris just can’t. The biggest factor in favor of Griffin though is just how much better he makes his teammates.
Stan Van Gundy made the right decision.
I would rather have Blake Griffin.