The Memphis Grizzlies have had a difficult time stopping MVP candidate Kawhi Leonard without their defense stalwart. Is there anything the Grizz can do?
To say that Tony Allen’s presence is missed is an understatement. While the Memphis Grizzlies do have a hard offseason decision looming ahead, they can’t ignore their current situation.
Down 2-0 to the Spurs, they simply have no answer on the perimeter. Tony Parker looks like the 2013 Tony Parker that was arguably the best point guard in basketball. Danny Green found his 3-point stroke in Game 2, connecting on four of his five triples. More importantly, they can’t stop MVP candidate Kawhi Leonard.
The two-time Defensive Player of the Year is showing off his skills on the offensive end. In their two games, he’s shattered the 30-point mark twice, scoring 32 and 37 points respectively. In Game 1, he used a mid-range attack, shooting an efficient 11-for-14 from the field and 9-for-9 from the line. His Game 2 performance ignited a flame in Memphis Grizzlies’ coach Dave Fizdale, as Leonard scored 37 points and shot 19-for-19 from the line. He made more trips to the line than the entire Grizzlies team combined – 15 free throw attempts.
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As the Memphis Grizzlies are two losses away from fishing, is there anything they can do to slow down Kawhi?
Slowing Down Kawhi’s Offense
These past two games, Kawhi Leonard has employed a deadly in-between game, using his craft to get off mid-range shots and draw contact to get some easy two points.
For the Memphis Grizzlies, they just don’t have an answer without Tony Allen:
https://twitter.com/Devin_Walker5/status/854428888738476032
I mean, if having Tony Allen stops Kawhi from going off, I’m willing to give him my calf. I don’t need it that badly.
But in all seriousness, the Memphis Grizzlies need a solution for these next two games. The 40-year old Vince Carter and the undrafted Wayne Selden aren’t getting the job done. The longer, more athletic James Ennis hasn’t proven that he can stop him either.
Who could guard him?
Answer: JaMychal Green.
The power forward from Alabama hasn’t made a difference in this series, but that could change with one defensive assignment. He experienced success earlier in the season guarding wings like Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony. At this point, it’s worth a shot.
Placing a stronger, more physical on a skinnier Kawhi may affect his mid-range and post game. JaMychal Green also has the speed and the agility to stay in front of him. The numbers show that he’s one of the best defenders in basketball. If the Grizzlies have that resource at their disposal, why not go to it?
Slowing Down Kawhi’s Defense
Defense is where Kawhi originally made his money. As his offense game has developed to superstar-level, he absolutely suffocates his opponents on defense.
Right now, none of the guys he’s guarded has been a factor. In turn, he’s free to float around for help defense.
Before the series began, I had the chance to ask Coach Fizdale how they must minimize Kawhi’s defensive impact:
"One, you cannot hold the ball against him. You really got to move him as much as possible. You got to be mindful of his activity with those big hands and those long arms. He steals passes that most people can’t steal. He deflects balls that most people can’t deflect. He’s one of the best weak-side defenders in this league. So, you just got to be mindful of him, and you have to run your offense with some thought of where he’s at and how he’s going to impact the play…"
The key word: mindful.
The Memphis Grizzlies don’t have a Tony Allen that has predicated his offense on cuts to the basket. In addition, they don’t have an outside threat like a healthy Chandler Parsons. Because of that, Kawhi can just roam freely – like a free safety. You can’t force skip passes, and you can’t have a lose handle on the ball. If not, the Spurs will go down and turn that into two easy points.
How could they turn these actions into words?
Well, Fizdale has made a habit of using the championship Miami Heat as examples. So, they need to assign someone to a Ray Allen-type role. Vince Carter, Troy Daniels and James Ennis have the shooting ability to make the Spurs at least think about them. If Kawhi is guarding any of those players, they must move all around the court, looking for off-the-ball screens for open looks. In turn, that shifts Kawhi’s focus away from helping Conley or Gasol’s man.
For the Memphis Grizzlies to slow down Kawhi and come back in this series, they need contributions from their wings.
Closing Remarks
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All of this stuff is easier said than done. Kawhi Leonard is arguably the second best two-way basketball player in the world behind LeBron. As the Grizzlies are down two games to none, in large part due to Kawhi’s MVP-like performance, they must try something different to turn things around.