As a healthy Grizzlies team is rising through the Western Conference ranks, they may have found a winning ingredient in veteran Toney Douglas.
After dealing with health issues all season, the Memphis Grizzlies look to have it all together. Mike Conley is playing like he didn’t break his back two months ago. Brandan Wright hasn’t missed a beat since his plethora of injuries. Though his shot may not be falling, Chandler Parsons’ minutes are rising without knee complications. While all these players are the key ingredients to the Grizzlies’ championship recipe, Toney Douglas may be that little spice that makes this team sweeter.
Grizzlies are 9-1 over two 10-day stints in games Douglas has played as Conley's backup. First stint was as medical roster exemption in Dec.
— Michael Wallace (@MyMikeCheck) February 8, 2017
But weren’t their better options?
When Mike Conley went down, the Grizzlies were doomed. Unpolished rookies Wade Baldwin and Andrew Harrison waited in the wings, but refer to the first word: “unpolished.”
Related Story: Wade Baldwin needs to come back...eventually
The Grizzlies signed Toney Douglas, which was quite the head-scratcher with guards Norris Cole, Jarrett Jack and Mario Chalmers on the market. However, Douglas may be the backup point guard for this year’s squad.
Nope
Since taking over as the Grizzlies back-up point guard, they are 9-1, reeling wins against the Warriors and the Spurs.
In those 10 games, he’s averaged 4.7 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists (against 0.8 turnovers) in 15.6 minutes. His shooting numbers aren’t the best, 38.3/25.0/77.8. Heck, his advanced stats (10.6 PER and Box Plus/Minus of -1.5) are below-average. But guess what? That’s the magic of a veteran.
Despite below-average production across the board, he finds ways to help the team win ball games.
He makes winning basketball plays and doesn’t turn the ball over. He’s proven that against Minnesota, where he had a +/- of +24, and against Portland, when he essentially won the game for Memphis.
In turn, the second unit feels more comfortable with him leading the team than a rookie.
Because of Douglas, guys like Zach Randolph, Vince Carter and James Ennis have easier opportunities to score.
Should the Grizz give him another shot?
Yes, indeed.
Right now, he’s on the end of his first 10-day contract. More than likely, the Grizz will give him another 10-day deal. Unless they strike gold in the trade deadline, they may have found their prized backup point guard in Toney Douglas.
While it cost them Troy Williams, a young player with major upside, Toney Douglas could be a reliable option in the postseason.
Related Story: Williams out; Douglas in
Because of his ability to find whatever it takes to win, Douglas embodies the “grit ‘n’ grind” mantra and gives this team another dimension as they claw up the Western Conference playoff picture.