When new coaches with no head coaching experience take over, they normally take over rebuilding projects. But new Memphis Grizzlies head coach David Fizdale didn’t want a rebuild, he wanted Memphis.
It’s uncommon for a new coach to take over a ready-made team that’s a borderline contender. Most notable examples in the past few years being Fred Hoiberg for the Chicago Bulls and Steve Kerr for the Golden State Warriors. Two polar opposites of success. But new head coach David Fizdale wanted a ready made team that he could make take the leap into serious contention, he told the Boston Globe:
"“That was the only way I wanted it, to be honest with you,” Fizdale said. “I didn’t want to take over a restart. I’m not afraid to coach guys. But I am going to coach them to win and I am going to hold them to a high standard. I was OK with that. If I don’t have any other strength, I’m pretty good at building relationships. I don’t know if people were looking at that Memphis job the way it should have been looked at. A lot of guys in my situation very rarely get a situation with this many proven players.“I saw an opportunity to take a team from being good to great. If I could have any situation, that was the one I wanted.” More from Beale Street BearsDillon Brooks speaks out after beating former Grizzlies teammate in World CupJaren Jackson Jr. puts ex-Grizzlies teammate on notice3 players Grizzlies would consider trading Ja Morant forGrizzlies star Jaren Jackson Jr. put on blast following FIBA eliminationEx-Grizzlies guard signs with title favorite, joins forces with 6-time All-Star"
New Trend
First of all, this idea of bringing coaches in with no experience to borderline contenders is slowly gaining tension. Most notably, Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors, David Blatt, the ex-coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Tyronn Lue of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
However, coach Fizdale isn’t new to basketball after being a well-known assistant coach for the past 13 years with the Warriors, Atlanta Hawks and the Miami Heat. And promoting long-time assistants hasn’t always been bad in the NBA. Shown most notably with Tom Thibbodeau and Mike Budenholzer, two long-time assistants who were successful with their teams.
Can he do it?
Can coach Fizdale make this team take the leap into being a contender?
The previous two head coaches (Dave Joerger and Lionel Hollins) were very good coaches and weren’t able to take this team further than the Western Conference Finals. The Grizzlies’ front office will be hoping Fizdale can be that missing piece and replicate the success that the Warriors had with replacing a veteran coach with a new head coach (Kerr for Mark Jackson).
If Fizdale wants success in Memphis he will have to reinvigorate this offense and also make one of these four stars (Chandler Parsons, Mike Conley, Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol) into the main option, something he’s been successful with in the past with the Heat and the Hawks.
Finally, Can he do it? Only time will tell but surely getting congratulated by Lebron James might help a bit.