Memphis Grizzlies Must Play Big To Defeat Chicago Bulls

The Memphis Grizzlies must go back to their post-oriented starting lineup if they hope to defeat the Chicago Bulls.

For years the Memphis Grizzlies have used their size to their overwhelming advantage at times. They’ve bullied teams on the low block with their bruising combination of Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph without much focus on playing up-tempo or shooting the basketball from the perimeter.

In recent games, that’s changed thanks to adjustments made by head coach Dave Joerger who’s said that the team will use their small-ball lineup for a little while longer.

“This isn’t a situational deal,” Joerger told The Commercial Appeal. This isn’t going to be a night-to-night deal. This is what we’re going to do for a while whether there are a thousand different reasons to do it or not to do it, whether it be matchups or how teams are playing.”

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Whether this is going to lead to more success on the court isn’t clear yet, as the team is 1-1 after moving Randolph to the bench in favor of a lineup with Jeff Green at the four spot and Matt Barnes at the three.

The Grizzlies dropped a close game to the Miami Heat 100-97 and blew out the Washington Wizards 112-95. Both are Eastern Conference foes who could head towards the playoffs, only meaning good things for Memphis in terms of building towards a run in the coming weeks.

Memphis’ next game is against the Chicago Bulls, now second in the Eastern Conference standings behind the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Bulls haven’t had superstar play from Derrick Rose this season, but Jimmy Butler has picked up a lot of the slack and has been the perimeter force along with frontcourt teammate Pau Gasol.

Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg has experimented with different lineups this year but has seemed to find a good one pairing Gasol with Taj Gibson at power forward. This isn’t a pace-and-space combination by any means, but Gibson is athletic enough to run the floor and make plays on both ends.

With two more traditional big men in the lineup, it’s wise for Joerger to re-insert Randolph into the starting unit to go up against the trees in Chicago.

I understand Joerger’s thinking behind the smaller lineup. Better ball movement, more space and three-point shooting. But I have news for you coach: it’s important to make adjustments.

There isn’t going to be one magical lineup that can do everything in all situations. It’s important to have a mix of players to play different styles of basketball depending on matchups.

This is one of those situations where changes are welcome to accommodate for Chicago’s size advantage.

Whether Joerger makes the change or not (it’s not likely given his recent comments), his coaching strategies and thinking are important factors given who the team will face. Joakim Noah and Nikola Mirotic are the bigs for Chicago off the bench, and even though Mirotic can serve as an athletic stretch four at times, he’s better suited driving towards the basket and making plays facing up his man.

All four primary bigs are better inside the arc, so we may not see as much of the small-ball lineup for the Grizzlies in this game even if it’s the one to march out for tip-off.

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