The NBA may be a star’s league, but it takes the right culture and mindset for a team to go the distance. Top talent must be anchored by poise, tenacity, and an understanding of the moment. All season long, veteran Blake Griffin has offered that stability for the Boston Celtics.
Griffin is far from the high-flying superstar he was a decade ago, but he has instead found new ways to contribute to winning basketball. In his first season with the Celtics, Griffin has proven an important voice in the locker room, a versatile role player, and, increasingly, a crucial spark of physicality and energy.
With Robert Williams III and Al Horford on the bench Friday night, Griffin earned the start in Boston’s win against the visiting Jazz. The Oklahoma native logged 6 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, but after the game both head coach Joe Mazzulla and Jayson Tatum were quick to point out how Griffin’s impact was, per usual, so much greater than what showed up on the stat sheet.
“Blake’s one of the best,” Tatum said after the game. “He’s a true professional, accepting this role. He doesn’t play at all some games, and then some guys are out and he’s starting and playing 25 minutes.”
Griffin has played in 36 games thus far this season, earning 14 starts in that time. He may have lost a step or two on defense, but he’s involved in other ways. Griffin provides the kind of physical play and extra effort contending teams need from their role players. That he is also shooting a respectable 35.6% from 3 doesn’t hurt either.
That knack for hustle was key for the Celtics against a feisty Jazz team. After a long day of unexpected travel hiccups, coach Mazzulla explained that Griffin provided the right emotional tenor when Boston needed it most.
“We were creating just enough chaos,” Mazzulla explained after the game. “And I thought it was important, we needed something to enhance our focus and our energy. I thought Blake provided that.”
Griffin has had a number of games where he’s provided an extra bit of wind in Boston’s sails. On either side of the ball, his combination of poise, patience, and determination is key for the Celtics.
“Blake’s that kind of player that, whenever you call his name, he brings that physicality, that joy, and that energy that feeds our team.” Mazzulla said.
So much of Griffin’s true impact on the Celtics has come away from the court itself. He’s been a vocal and jovial role model for Boston’s bench, and a standard-bearer for the team’s star players. Tatum has certainly taken notice.
“It’s great to see somebody who was essentially at the top of this league, and now in a different role, doesn’t have an ego at all.” Tatum said Friday night. “He does whatever he needs to do to help us be a better team each and every night.”
Assuming good health, Griffin’s minutes when the postseason comes around may shrink considerably. But if or when the Celtics need his services, it sounds like he’ll be ready.
Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi
YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ
