There has been one player that has Memphis Grizzlies’ fans stirring. The same player all season. The same player that played more minutes than Deyonta Davis and Wade Baldwin combined. Chandler Parsons.
This can go one of two ways. Either I decide to rip Chandler Parsons, take the flak, and continue to speculate about his injury hindering his future. Or, I decide to give him the benefit of the doubt and analyze the few minutes he played with the Memphis Grizzlies this season spent in Memphis. Regardless, he failed.
If my high school teachers had no problem failing me, EVEN THOUGH I PROMISE I TRIED, then I have no problem failing Parsons, even though he might have tried. With the amount of money Memphis spent on Parsons, what he gave combined with his actual production and playoff controversy leaves little hope. His first seasons was an utter failure, and there’s a good chance that the Chandler Parsons Project will be less favorable as time passes.
The Parsons Grading Scale
The Memphis Grizzlies’ chemistry, attention to defense, and hustle make them dominant. While grading Parsons, “hustle” is near impossible with his lack of structurally sound knees, we’ll resort to his defense and chemistry when it comes to grading him.
I’m not a player on the Grizzlies. I don’t know Chandler Parsons. Who knows if we would be friends, but as a NBA writer, Parsons has given me more and more reasons to view him negatively in a basketball spectrum. His balky legs combined with a shot that needs some fine tuning is not want you want from your stretch four. Realistically, it’s the last thing you want.
Offense: F
Memphis Grizzlies fans wanted one thing to happen with the signing of Chandler Parsons. They wanted him to make his shots. That was the silver lining behind the signing. If Parsons would succumb his athleticism to his injuries, at least he can shoot, right? Well, the problem with knee injuries is that they affect just about every aspect of your game. Running, jumping, defense, especially shooting.
If you haven’t seen videos of Parsons playing in Dallas, go watch a few clips and look how free he looks. Nothing on his knees, looks agile. Unfortunately, now he looks like someone you might send to diffuse a bomb. The hardware on his knees not only keep him from his natural range of motion, it adds weight and discomfort to a shooter that needs his rhythm to be effective.
This offseason will revolve around Parsons strengthening his knees and finding his shot. That’s obvious, but there are still the biggest problems surrounding the near “100-Million Dollar Man.” Just like every other dedicated player in the league, Parsons won’t be the only one working in the offseason.
Defense: F
Defense? What defense?
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Final Grade: F
Chandler Parsons has something to prove. Not to me. Not to Memphis. To himself. He’s fading out of this league quicker than flopping, and only HE can change that. Injuries are injuries, and just because you can’t be on the court, doesn’t mean you aren’t a part of the team. Missing a few playoffs games to rehab in L.A. is very off-putting. Seeing how much he makes, why can’t he rehab in L.A., and then fly back to Memphis. Granted, that’s $1,000 in flights, but you just got paid $94 million, get over it.
If I can speak freely, I truly think Parsons has no desire to really play anymore. Tony Allen showed up to every game he could, regardless if he’s playing. That’s why he’s the beloved Grizzly. The difference between the two players is massive, and it’s based on an unteachable, untrainable aspect of the game.
Love. Some have it and some don’t.
Hopefully, Chandler Parsons can get it together.