In this week’s edition of “Into the Bears’ Den,” our writers cap off the January review by predicting what to expect from the Grizzlies in February.
February may be the wildest regular season month in basketball. There’s the trade deadline, thick playoff races and All-Star weekend. For the Grizzlies, it could prove to be a crucial month.
The Grizzlies play seven games against teams under .500. Those games are must-win contests if they want to move up in the playoff race.
Parker Fleming, Jackson Munyon, Jakob Eliason, Jerrod Smith and Jake Finne give their expectations for February.
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Parker Fleming (@PAKA_FLOCKA): Some sort of trade
There won’t be anything too drastic, but there may be one small move to grab a backup point guard rental. The obvious untouchables are Gasol, Conley, Randolph, Tony and Chandler (@ me, Grizz fans. You see my Twitter handle). From the bench, they shouldn’t trade Daniels, Davis or Baldwin (yet again, @ me). However, anyone else is fair game.
Best-case scenario, Lou Williams or Nick Young would be great acquisitions. If the Knicks get Austin Rivers and keep Rose, the Grizzlies need to make a move at Brandon Jennings. Another great target would be Utah’ Shelvin Mack. If the Grizzlies want to make a significant playoff run without damaging Baldwin or Harrison’s development, they need a short-term solution to give Conley a breather.
Jackson Munyon (@jackson_munyon04): More wins thanks to returning depth
As we roll into February, plenty of role players are back in the rotation. Hopefully, it yields more wins for the Grizzlies.
The return of Brandan Wright helps with the depth situation down low. Although it’s unsure how Wright will perform due to his long absence from the court. Sharpshooter Troy Daniels returning to the hardwood is just the spark-plug Memphis needs on the offensive end. Also, Chandler Parsons is only getting healthier, and it’s
only a matter of time before he gets into a shooting rhythm.
More depth will allow coach Fizdale to have more flexibility with rotations, and this should produce a more energized squad from night to night.
Related Story: Troy Daniels: Playoff X-Factor
Jakob Eliason (@jakobeliason): 8 wins in 12 games
To break this down: Memphis plays the Nuggets twice, the Suns twice, the Nets, Pelicans, Timberwolves and Pacers. Barring an uptick in consistency – this sounds like eight wins to me.
The Grizzlies also host the Spurs and the Warriors. Memphis hasn’t gotten their shot at San Antonio yet, but the Grindhouse atmosphere destroys even the best of teams. Facts.
Another unknown – Grizzlies at Thunder (Feb. 3). This will be the fifth straight road game in eight days. That’s challenging for ANY team. Plus, Russell is still averaging a triple-double.
Buckle up!
Jerrod Smith (@jerrod_smith7): Finally, a healthy roster (*knocks on wood*), but expect a lot of wins in February
One can only hope and pray the roster stays healthy.
The Grizzlies will finish their road trip up this week with winnable games. Next week, they face the Spurs and Warriors in the same week. They have yet to see the Spurs this year, but this is arguably the best Grizzlies’ roster the Spurs have seen in years. The Grindhouse should be electric when the Warriors come back to town.
After the game against Golden State, the schedule weakens as the Grizzlies face off against the Nets and Pelicans. The All-Star break allows guys like Chandler Parsons and Brandan Wright to recover and get to full strength.
If the Grizzlies can find consistency and stay healthy, February could be a great month for the Grizzlies.
Jake Finnen (#Twitterless): Wins.
Looking at the schedule, there are only a few games that are really bothersome. They play in Oklahoma City on the 3rd followed by home games against the Spurs on the 6th and the Warriors on the 10th. With only one back-to-back this month (editor’s note: that means Parsons, if healthy, will only miss one game in February), the Grizzlies should be fresh and ready for a full workload every game.
Opponents aside, the only dilemma is the backup point guard situation. However, the Grizzlies don’t need to look for trades. Memphis needs to invest in Andrew Harrison and keep giving him quality exposure. The more he plays, the more polished he will become. Harrison can shoot but has yet to prove that he’s comfortable doing so. He has the vision to be the backup for Conley, but needs consistent minutes in order to raise his confidence.
I am still riding high on the Grizzlies until they give me a reason not to.
…just please don’t run Tony Allen at the point.
Buckle up, fans. The Grizzlies are bound to make your blood pressure rise yet again.