Thwacked! Born Ready to Get Hacked?

Alas. An exhilarating bout to be sure, capped off with an amazing fourth quarter that ended in misfortune. Memphis opted against resting the starters, backtracking on their previous plans in an effort to shock the basketball world. And they almost pulled it off. Matt Barnes, perhaps the most inconsistent player on the Grizzlies roster, was terrific, scoring an efficient 24 points on 47% shooting from the field and 100% shooting from the free throw line to go along with 4 assists and 15 rebounds; furthermore, this contest cemented as incontestable fact the notion that Lance Stephenson and Xavier Munford two of the most vital fixtures in Memphis’s rotation. Stephenson punched in 13 points on 46% shooting and was a catalyst in the waning stages of the game; Munford did not shoot the ball with the stunning accuracy many have grown to anticipate from him, but he did add 7 rebounds and 4 assists to his 8 points and had an overall +/- rating of +2. In the end, their endeavors were not enough to overcome a providential tip-in and some seriously questionable officiating on Memphis’s final possession. Not even Born Ready was born ready for being assaulted while attempting to land during a jump shot. Oh well. Can’t stop history, especially one in which so many people are so invested…

But the Grizzlies should have learned some invaluable lessons from this defeat. With the exception of Stephenson (who was finally promoted and given his due with a role on the opening lineup and 38 minutes to boot) and Barnes (whose +/- was actually -3), the Grizzlies’ starters labored enormously. Zach Randolph simply could hardly buy a bucket against Draymond Green‘s stout defensive efforts, shooting 31.5% for 12 points; his +/- was -20. The combined +/- rating of every starter was -42. The regular bench crew offered a decidedly more inspired outing; along with stellar outings from Born Ready (he started in place of an injured Tony Allen but can be included with his usual comrades) and Xavier Munford, P.J. Hairston‘s +/- was +15, JaMychal Green‘s was +14, and Chris Anderson‘s was +8. Now, +/- ratings undoubtedly don’t reveal the entire story, but these numbers are indicative of a trend that has spanned many contests. The Grizzlies bench is playing better basketball than the starting lineup is.

This truth is worth reiterating again for the following reason: Joerger has obviously realized the value of Born Ready and Munford, for he played them both over 29 minutes, but the time has come for him to take a hard look at his squadron and recognize its future. Gaol, Conley, Randolph, Allen, and the old guard are out. To be successful going forward, Memphis must embrace its promising young players off the bench, an idea with which this franchise has struggled in the past. To be Promethean, Joerger cannot repeat the mistakes of his former boss Lionel Hollins. He needs to seek to aid young players in maturing, not run them out of town.