Welcome A.J. Griffin

[marco102]

Pretty good for the 16th pick!

[marco102]

Way too early for this, but on a redraft...

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10. Washington Wizards: A.J. Griffin

Wizards’ original pick: Johnny Davis
Griffin’s original team: No. 16 to Hawks
Griffin’s predraft ranking: 11th

A few weeks ago, I was home alone on a Saturday night watching NBA League Pass and I decided to tune into Hawks-Raptors. That was the epic overtime game we all saw play out on SportsCenter and social media:

It ended with OG Anunoby hitting two clutch free throws to tie the game with seconds remaining, but then Atlanta inbounded the ball with a football style hook-and-ladder play leading to a lob from Trae Young to Griffin for the victory. Those who tuned in saw Griffin have one of the best all-around games before converting the biggest shot of his career.

Griffin is averaging 17.5 points in the four games he’s logged at least 24 minutes. On the season, he’s making 36.9 percent of his 3s while playing solid defense. He’s already become a rotation piece, an invaluable versatile wing next to Young and Dejounte Murray. Long term, perhaps he’ll grow into a third star.

To think the Wizards could’ve had him spacing the floor and defending multiple positions alongside Bradley Beal, Kristaps Porzingis, and Kyle Kuzma has to hurt a little bit. Instead, they got Davis. Maybe it will work out with Davis in the future, but he’s off to a terrible start and is playing timidly even in the G League. Griffin would’ve helped more in the short term and probably been a better pick in the long term, too.

He'll be top five by the end of the year. 

 

[AHF]

19 minutes ago, marco102 said:

 

He'll be top five by the end of the year. 

 

Agree.  #10 based on how he has played this year is doing him a disservice.

[Final_quest]

Best rookie we’ve had since Trae. 

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

[marco102]

 

[Gray Mule]

AJ Griffin:  As cool as the other side of the pillow!

[MarylandHawk]

AJ is is averaging 24 points a game when he plays around 30 mins and about 10 points when he plays at around 15 mins. He is NOT disappointing. 

[sturt]

1 hour ago, Gray Mule said:

AJ Griffin:  As cool as the other side of the pillow!

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

[marco102]

The league is starting to take notice of what we have! 

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4. AJ Griffin | Atlanta Hawks

Stats: 9.6 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 0.7 APG | ROY odds: +30000

 

play

0:38

Trae Young feeds AJ Griffin down low for OT win at the buzzer

The Hawks win in overtime as Trae Young feeds AJ Griffin all alone under the basket at the buzzer.

Griffin was likely surprised to fall out of the lottery on draft night, but he ended up in a seemingly perfect spot alongside Trae Young in Atlanta. Griffin's dead-eye spot-up shooting, quick release and unlimited confidence pulling up off the dribble or running off screens has eased his transition.

He hasn't had to dribble or think as much in the faster-tempo NBA as he did in college, and he has shown some real peskiness defensively using his length, strong frame and high activity level to make an impact when called upon off the bench. He'll need to improve his ability to create off more than one dribble to take the next step in his development. Considering he's the second-youngest player in the NBA and already seeing quality rotation minutes for a likely playoff team, the Hawks are surely thrilled to have plucked him in the middle of the first round.

 

[Dnice]

"Being bad on the way up the ladder, this beat is dope is the name of this chatter" - Dana Dane

[marco102]

 

[JayBirdHawk]

27 minutes ago, marco102 said:

The league is starting to take notice of what we have! 

 

His defense has been the most surprising since I realized he's more than just a 3pt shooter. Good Stuff!

[marco102]

5 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

His defense has been the most surprising since I realized he's more than just a 3pt shooter. Good Stuff!

Yeah, my initial take on him was his defense wouldn't be as bad as some scouts indicated.  I didn't expect he'd be this good this soon though. 

[marco102]

Man, I look forward to seeing what he ultimately becomes. 

Didn't realize his steal percentage was this high.

Edited December 5, 2022 by marco102

[JayBirdHawk]

1 minute ago, marco102 said:

Man, I look forward to see what he ultimately becomes. 

Didn't realize his steal percentage was this high.

Anticipation and timing.  Good solid footwork and he's doing this without being a gambler.

[Gray Mule]

It doesn't hurt.  His mamma is very athletic.  His daddy played in the NBA for quiet a spell.  Then they got together and we see the results.  He has been trained well by his parents and it shows!

He had a history of injuries, therefore his stock dropped.  Hawks were there and they let him slide no further.  He appears to be 100% healthy and we all hope this continues.

Hawks have 2 starters out for a while.  JJ & AJ filled in and did well.  We hope this continues tonight.

GO ATL HAWKS !!

[Gray Mule]

Too bad he wasn't allowed on the floor to close out the game last night.  That wasn't his fault.  He had done everything right while he was in the game but Nate didn't let him finish.