Season in Review: Adrian Griffin Source: Rockets.com 03-04 Notes Averaged 0.6 points and 1.0 rebounds in 19 games ... started one game, playing 13 minutes on Mar. 24 vs. Toronto in his final appearance of the season ... set season highs with three points and four rebounds vs. Phoenix on Mar. 15 ... registered a season-high three steals vs. Milwaukee on Feb. 4 ... on the injured list from Oct. 27-Feb. 4 following right knee surgery and from Mar. 26-Apr. 14 with right knee chrondomalacia. 03-04 Season Wrap Rockets fans never got to see the Adrian Griffin that management envisioned when the 6-5 swingman was signed as a free agent last offseason. Serving as the perfect complementary role player for the Dallas Mavericks in 2002-03, Rockets management saw the opportunity for Griffin to play a similar role off the bench or as a spot starter for the 2003-04 Rockets - play solid defense, grab a few rebounds and knock down the shot when left open. But Griffin suffered a minor injury to his right knee during offseason workouts in Dallas, forcing surgery that would hamper him for the remainder of the 2003-04 season. Griffin was placed on the injured list on Oct. 27 and remained there until Feb. 4, when he was finally activated. The Rockets guard/forward saw action in 19 games - averaging 0.6 points and 1.0 rebounds - before returning to the injured list for good on Mar. 26. Season Highlight <u>Feb. 4, 2004</u> - After spending the entire season to that point on the injured list, Griffin is activated and contributes two points, three rebounds and three steals in 17 minutes to help the Rockets defeat the Milwaukee Bucks at Toyota Center. Giving the Rockets a much-needed spark off the bench that was missing in his absence, Griffin's performance was a welcome sight for his coach. "That was exactly what I'm looking for," Head Coach Jeff Van Gundy said of Griffin's play following the game. "Tough, defense-oriented, three steals, deflections, tough rebounding, good stuff." 04-05 Outlook With a full offseason of rehab and strength conditioning on his surgically repaired knee, Griffin is expected to be fully healthy when training camp opens in October. With a logjam at the small forward spot with Jim Jackson, Bostjan Nachbar and Eric Piatkowski, Griffin's best opportunity for minutes in 2004-05 might be as the backup to Cuttino Mobley at the 2-guard position. Griffin could certainly carve out a niche providing quality bench minutes in relief of Mobley, who averaged more than 40 minutes per game for the third straight season while playing without a true backup in 2003-04. If fully healthy, there is every reason to believe that Griffin will return to the productive role he enjoyed with the Mavericks the two previous seasons.
I was going to post it, but you got to it before me. Griffin is one of the mysteries of this team. His defensive skills make him a certain JVG favorite, but injuries slowed his performance. I'd like to see what he could do with 80 games and 15mpg.
Yeah I hope Griffin gets healthy...we could use a defensive specialist like him off the bench...someone who creates energy and havoc on that end of tha floor...This Rockets team, scary as it may sound, can only get better as a defensive unit, despite being among the best already...
