National Basketball Association

Clippers' Blake Griffin has confidence in improved jumper

Published Oct. 8, 2014 3:20 a.m. ET

foxsports

If you have any video of Blake Griffin dunking keep it in a safe place. It could be considered classic video.

Griffin's game is becoming grounded.

"I'm done (dunking). Done," Griffin joked after the Clippers 112-94 loss to Golden State on Tuesday. "Last year. I'm hanging 'em up. You got to find the clip and just play it on a loop."

All kidding aside, before there becomes panic around Lob City, Griffin will continue to wow the NBA with his scintillating acrobatics but there's more to his game than just that.

Last season, Griffin showed improvement in his midrange jump shot. Over the offseason, he took it a step further.

The Clippers all-star forward watched film of the shots he took last season but shouldn't have. He wasn't pleased with a lot of the shot selection he exhibited.

"It's extremely frustrating watching the tape and you'll be like 'Oh, why'd you shoot that?' knowing that the better shot was coming here, or if I step over this far, a better shot's coming or I have more time," Griffin said.

Tuesday he unveiled the new findings and found himself in a flow quite early. Griffin had 14 points in the first quarter before finishing with a game-high 24 points on 9-of-17 shooting. He also grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.

He made the only three pointer he attempted and also knocked down a deep two with his toe on the line.

"We ran our offense well especially in the first quarter," Griffin said. "I was getting open shots. My teammates got me those open shots so (I'm) just trying to be confident, take the shot and miss or make try to keep that aggressive mentality."

Clippers have just one spot in question with starting five

If this new found success with the jumper can carry over through the regular season and beyond, it could pay huge dividends for the Clippers.

"He brings a great dimension to the team," head coach Doc Rivers said. "If he can post-up and make jump shots like he is doing, he can create spacing for us. That is really good for us."

Despite his early success, Griffin knows he can't become dependent on the jumper.

"I have to find that fine line of mixing it up and keeping pressure on the defense and not just floating around and taking jump shots all game long," he said. "Early on (Tuesday night), it was going and that's fine, but I think I need to continue to find that area where I'm both outside and inside, using a good ratio."