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Can Blake Griffin have the best season of his career with the Detroit Pistons?

By Travis Gibbs

DETROIT, MI - FEBRUARY 1: Blake Griffin #23 and Luke Kennard #5 of the Detroit Pistons high five during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on February 1, 2018 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - FEBRUARY 1: Blake Griffin #23 and Luke Kennard #5 of the Detroit Pistons high five during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on February 1, 2018 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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After a big transition last January, Blake Griffin will have a clean slate starting this season with the Detroit Pistons. Could he have a break-out season?

Less than two weeks before last season’s trade deadline, the Detroit Pistons gave up a lot to bring along star forward Blake Griffin. After coming to Detroit, the transition had it’s ups and downs.

In the long run, the Pistons did acquire one the game’s premiere players. New head coach Dwane Casey has had nothing but great things to say about Griffin’s style and the way he carries himself on the court.

It might seem like his best days are behind him. That’s the truth for a lot of NBA players approaching the age of 30. For Griffin, it could be much different. He could have his best season yet as a professional basketball player.

Expansion of Griffin’s game

Griffin throughout his career has always been known for being a wrecking ball. He’s got plenty of highlight reels of alley oops and dunks. It was fun to watch when he was younger.

Those days should be behind him. Over the past few seasons, there’s been a trend in Griffin’s game on the offensive end of the floor.

He’s taking a lot more three-point attempts and playing away from the basket. The league average is around 36 percent and Griffin shoots close to 35 percent from deep.

It’s an area of his game he’s improved. Going from respectable to above average shooting the ball from the outside will make his game that much better. It’s an area of Griffin’s game to keep an eye on.

He’s also become a fantastic passer for a guy his size. At the beginning of his career, Griffin was averaging just three assists per game. He’s now up above six per game. It’s another element that makes him more dangerous on the court.

New game will lead to better health

Griffin was a reckless basketball player when he was younger. That has led to a lot of injuries later in his career. Over the past three seasons, he’s missed a total of 92 games for a number of different injuries.

As he continues to redefine his game, that should help him stay upright and be able to be the dominant force that he is.

This doesn’t mean he can’t go to the rim and play with his back to the basket ever again. However, lessening the amount of contact he faces on a nightly basis should help Griffin stay healthy for the Detroit Pistons.

Griffin should be given the keys

The way that Casey has talked about Griffin says a couple things. He wants him to have the ball in his hands more as a ‘point forward’ type and shooting more from the outside.

This ideology would lead one to believe that Griffin will be given a much bigger leash than he’s ever had in his career.

This Pistons team isn’t as talented as a couple of the teams he played on with the Clippers. Having Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan around helped him produce at a high level and be apart of some great basketball teams.

Did he ever fully reach his potential? Paul plays with the ball in his hands and having Jordan at center with limited ability meant a crowded front court.

It never felt like Griffin was ‘the guy’ in Los Angeles because of some of the pieces around him.

Related Story: Pistons retain Reggie Bullock

This Pistons team might not be the most talented group that Griffin has been on but it is being tooled around him. He’ll have excellent shooters on the floor with him like Reggie Bullock and Luke Kennard.

He’ll be paired up with Andre Drummond in the front court who continues to expand his game as well. There’s been a lot of footage of him working on his outside shot and trying to play further from the basket.

Reggie Jackson has proven that he can be a great facilitator at times for the Pistons. If Griffin is given the keys so to speak, that will be something to watch.

Jackson likes to play with the ball in his hands a majority of the time. Will he take a lesser role for Griffin to expand?

All we know is that Blake Griffin is the most talented player on this team. With the way his game is evolving and the pieces that are being placed around him, he could be in for the best year of his career in the NBA.

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