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5 Reasons Why Blake Griffin Shouldn’t Be An NBA All-Star Starter

5 Reasons Why Blake Griffin Shouldn't Be An NBA All-Star Starter

Blake Griffin Dunks
Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

Being an NBA All-Star Starter is an honor reserved for the very best players in the league. It requires not only prowess, but an ability to entertain. While no one questions Blake Griffin's ability to entertain, his basketball credentials fall short of being worthy of a starting nod this season. Here are five reasons why.

5. Defense

Blake Griffin Guards Derrick Favors
Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

5. Defense

Blake Griffin Guards Derrick Favors
Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Griffin struggles guarding his position on defense due to his relative lack of size and short arms. His DRPM, or a player's estimated on-court impact on team defensive performance, measured in points allowed per 100 defensive possessions, is -0.38 this season. This indicates a below average defensive player. In simpler terms, Griffin's 0.5 blocks per game and 0.8 steals per game aren't fitting of a 25 year old with his physical ability.

4. Rebounding

Blake Griffin Kris Humphries Rebound
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

4. Rebounding

Blake Griffin Kris Humphries Rebound
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Griffins' short arms hurt him in rebounding as well. Averaging a pitiful 7.8 rebounds a game this year, Griffin is 51st in rebound rate, or the percentage of missed shots he rebounds while on the floor, in the Western Conference alone. This puts him behind the likes of luminaries Anthony Bennett, Festus Ezeli, and fellow T-Rex Carlos Boozer.

3. Player Efficiency Rating

Blake Griffin Pensive
Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

3. Player Efficiency Rating

Blake Griffin Pensive
Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Even when his offensive abilities are taken into consideration, Griffin still falls short. His Player Efficiency Rating, or PER, is 22nd in the NBA, 16th in the Western Conference, and 11th among forwards and centers in the Western Conference. These ranks aren't fitting of an All-Star starter.

2. Tim Duncan

Tim Duncan Shoots
Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

2. Tim Duncan

Tim Duncan Shoots
Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

NBA All-Star starters are determined via fan vote, and this is the primary reason Tim Duncan won't start this year's game. Despite his team's struggles, Duncan bests Griffin in PER, rebound rate, DRPM, blocks per game, steals per game, commits 0.6 fewer fouls per game, and has an identical field goal percentage of 48 percent, as well as an identical free throw percentage, at 71 percent. To top it all off, Duncan is averaging a double-double.

1. Chris Paul and the Los Angeles Clippers

Blake Griffin Chris Paul
Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

1. Chris Paul and the Los Angeles Clippers

Blake Griffin Chris Paul
Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

While it looks unlikely that Chris Paul will start this year's game because of fan voting, he is the more worthy candidate to start and represent the Los Angeles Clippers. No team that is sixth in their conference, even in the West, deserves two starters. Paul deserves the start over Griffin.

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