Blake Griffin on The Cavs, High School Football and Who He's Got For the NBA Playoffs

TL;DR

Blake Griffin discusses broadcasting on Amazon, praises the Cavs but says they need more physicality, and picks OKC vs. Boston for the Finals.

Key Points

• 1.Blake Griffin is loving his broadcasting role on Amazon. He sits with Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash, and host Taylor Rooks to watch and analyze games, focusing on educating fans about the game's nuances.
• 2.The NBA has evolved into a more spread-out, dynamic game. Every position now shoots threes and handles the ball, leading to longer closeouts and more half-court action — but also more injuries due to increased dynamic movement.
• 3.Griffin's top young NBA players are Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Cade Cunningham. He calls Wembanyama a 'freak of nature,' predicts Shai will win another MVP with OKC being the best team, and praises Cade for his composure.
• 4.Griffin says the Cavs need to adopt a more physical, aggressive defensive style to advance in the playoffs. He points to OKC's model of relentless physical pressure and suggests Cleveland match up well with Orlando in a potential second-round series.
• 5.Griffin played wide receiver and safety in Oklahoma high school football but quit after his sophomore year. He was too skinny to play bigger positions, and his final high school playoff game ended with him getting leveled by a linebacker committed to Tulsa.
• 6.Griffin picks Oklahoma City to win the NBA championship but sees Boston as their Finals opponent. He notes the Celtics overachieved despite injuries and roster turnover, with Brad Stevens winning Executive of the Year and Jaylen Brown stepping up.