Clash of the Titans: Griffin vs Howard

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By Chris Palmer

ESPN Insider

 

Athletic big men have been at a premium since the letters N, B and A were strung together 62 years ago. Giants with the ability to run and jump have long been the pursuit of general managers. Dwight Howard and Blake Griffin are two of the NBA's most athletic big men in recent memory. Their remarkable athleticism is the staple of their games and the success of their respective teams is bound to it. Both were drafted No. 1 overall. Both have slam dunk titles on their resumes. Both will be All-Star fixtures for years to come.

 

 

 

But which one is the better athlete? Rated on a scale from 1-10, with 10 being the best, here's how I rated this clash of two titans.

 

Leaping Ability

Big men often have the reputation of not being great leapers. No such problem for either Howard or Griffin, as both possess some of the most usable hops in the game. Like most bigs, both players jump almost exclusively off two legs.

 

Howard is an exceptionally quick leaper who explodes off the ground effortlessly. His third and fourth leaps toward the rim are as effective as most players' first leap. Despite his long limbs Howard's body needs very little recoil to project upward, which often means he's in the air before most defenders can react.

 

During his rookie season, Griffin took the NBA by storm with his uncanny jumping ability, powering home one poster dunk after another. Griffin illustrated that power with a 39-inch vertical that sent his 250 pounds of bulk sailing through the air and for once, finally created unforgettable highlights for a team that had historically lacked them.

 

However, Howard gets more out of his leaping ability than Griffin. The second-year Clippers forward lacks the length and timing to become a first-rate shot-blocker (0.5 blocks per game) while Howard's defensive prowess regularly deters guards from entering the lane. The combination of Howard's wingspan and leaping ability forces most to significantly alter their shots when challenging him, making the Orlando center the most respected defensive player in the game.

 

 

Howard 10, Griffin 9.5

 

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Strength

Two of the NBA's best bodies are also two of its strongest. Howard lives in the weight room, spending countless hours sculpting his upper body, as his bulbous shoulders and defined biceps are clear evidence. Much like Shaquille O'Neal, his brute strength often makes him difficult to officiate as well as the target of frequent hard fouls, which has led to numerous displays of frustration. When Howard gathers himself underneath the hoop and powers upward, it's virtually impossible to prevent him from getting off a high-percentage shot. Defenders tire quickly against him and teams often resort to rotating reserves to use as many fouls as possible on Howard.

 

 

Griffin, on the other hand, is among the strongest power forwards in the league, evoking memories of Karl Malone. When driving to the rim, defenders crash off him like tide breaking on rocks. But the true measure of his strength lies below the belt and in the sturdiness of his lower body. Griffin's lower-body strength makes him terribly difficult to move once he has gained position underneath the boards. Getting a body on him to hinder his ability to jump has shown to be the most effective strategy so far. But opponents cannot push too hard, as Griffin loves the physical aspect of the game and overcoming his strength is largely a losing proposition.

 

 

Howard 10, Griffin 10

 

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Quickness

Griffin has a deceptively good first step and can explode by opposing big men using two hard right-handed dribbles to get to the rim. He likes to set this up from a triple-threat position on the elbow, or more frequently, several steps away from the low block in isolation situations. He usually prefers to go right but has developed a nice low right-to-left crossover to throw defenders off balance. In that situation, though, Griffin doesn't display his best quickness until picking up his dribble and taking his two steps toward the rim.

 

Howard has a great first step but his true quickness lies in his ever-improving footwork, which normally begins with his back to the basket. While posting his man, usually on the right block, Howard turns toward the baseline with a brisk spin move. The same move from the opposite block is fast improving. His combo of quick feet and upper-body strength often leaves a defender flat-footed with his only recourse to foul from behind.

 

 

 

Howard particularly shines when operating from a rocker jab step. Not only is it unusual for a man of his size to initiate this way, but Howard has turned this into a nearly unstoppable tool with the ability to go in either direction. Once his face-up jumper improves, he'll be able to sell the move even more convincingly.

 

 

What's more, Howard's zippy spin move after his first step is one of the best counter moves in the game regardless of position.

 

 

Howard 9.5, Griffin 9

 

Speed

 

For big men, speed is generally employed when running the floor without the ball. Howard can move regardless of his size. It's not just his stride -- he can cover nearly 10 feet with each step at full speed -- but that Howard can get up to a full sprint in a matter of steps.

 

Howard uses his speed up the floor to beat his man to the block and get post position as deep as possible, which more often than not leads to a bucket or a trip to the line. He takes a fairly direct path up the floor -- from one block to another. Make him veer off a straight line and it greatly reduces the effectiveness of his speed.

 

Griffin's not far behind Howard in end-to-end speed and really hustles after tossing the outlet pass to a guard. Unlike Howard, Griffin uses the entire floor and especially loves the outside lanes, which are usually less crowded and allow him to pick up more speed to get from one end to the other. It also puts him in excellent position to get behind the defense and catch the alley-oop from either side.

 

 

Howard 9.5, Griffin 9

 

 

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Agility

 

Few things combine more pillars of athletic ability than the somewhat rare and often unnecessary 360 layup. From time to time Griffin, who isn't afraid to toss a little mustard on a point blank, conventional opportunity, will whip off a midair spin, combining hang time, balance, coordination and dexterity, which helps him get off a variety of shots. But on the ground, Griffin's agility is a little less refined as he still prefers to bully his way to the rim for what can sometimes end up as clumsy, circus-like shot attempts.

 

Noah Graham/NBAE/Getty Images

Blake Griffin explodes to the rim better than anyone, except Dwight Howard.Howard saves the 360s for All-Star Saturday but is equally adept at moving around the rim and sailing through the air. His agility redefines athletic grace and adds a certain poetic flair to his forays to the rim. Howard's body control is near flawless and is actually easier to appreciate when he's letting a delicate finger roll glide off his fingertips as opposed to a jackhammer slam. He can tiptoe along the baseline or pick his dribble up at the foul line with equal effect. The Magic center also is a master of misdirection with his keen ability to stop on a dime under the hoop, spin on his pivot and scoop in a reverse layup.

 

 

 

At times Howard can evoke images of Hakeem Olajuwon, arguably the most agile big man ever. Despite being tutored by The Dream, Howard's footwork and dexterity aren't quite on the level of the Rockets legend. But in this case, they are better than Griffin's.

 

 

Howard 10, Griffin 8.5

 

Final Score: Howard 49, Griffin 46

 

 

Howard and Griffin's games are very different but both are based on a freakish athleticism that allows each to score and rebound with spectacular results. They are the two most athletic big men in the game, but in this comparison Howard beats Griffin in nearly every category. In fact, Howard may possess the best blend of power, finesse and agility since Wilt Chamberlain.

 

Griffin can control games with his athleticism, but Howard gets more out of his skill set. While they have similarities in abundance and style of athleticism Howard has used his to become the best defensive player in the game. Though Griffin has only a year of NBA experience under his belt, it's still doubtful that his athleticism will ever translate defensively the way Howard's does.

 

 

 

Another huge advantage Howard has is his length, which helps him tip rebounds to himself, get off his jump hook in the lane and lead the league in blocked shots two of the last three years. Griffin doesn't possess Howard's length or timing, which is why he's one of the least effective shot-blockers from the power forward position.

 

 

 

Griffin will improve in all areas of his game over time but he won't get longer. But he should develop a better sense of how to use his immense athletic tools, which will greatly increase his effectiveness and keep him an All-Star for the next dozen years.

 

 

 

If he does he could one day be a better player than Howard, but Howard will always be the better athlete.