Should the Memphis Grizzlies use Chandler Parsons off the bench?
The Memphis Grizzlies recently performed an experiment where they had Chandler Parsons come off the bench. Is it the right call?
Dave Fizdale likes to experiment with lineups. Remember last year when the Memphis Grizzlies epically fell to Brooklyn while starting Brandan Wright and Andrew Harrison instead of JaMychal Green and Tony Allen? Or when they tried the 2-big man tandem of Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol in the playoffs? Or the numerous times where they went “smaller” in the backcourt with Tony Allen and Troy Daniels?
Try this one on for size.
In the last preseason game, the Memphis Grizzlies started Conley, Harrison, James Ennis, Green and Gasol. Notice the name not in there? That’s right. I’m talking about the $94M man, Chandler Parsons.
The swingman out of Florida played with the second unit alongside Mario Chalmers, Tyreke Evans, Dillon Brooks and Brandan Wright. It’s not a bad lineup, but the decision left fans in a blender.
Parsons could care less probably about being a starter because MAX CONTRACT 7TH MAN CHANDLER PARSONS MAY BE THE BEST USE OF CHANDLER PARSONS
— Joe Mullinax (@JoeMullinax) October 9, 2017
I'm guessing there are going to have to be some serious talks about what to do with Chandler Parsons soon.
— Peter Edmiston (@peteredmiston) October 10, 2017
Chandler Parsons as a backup stretch-4 is something discussed not only locally. It’s also been talked about nationally. ESPN’s Zach Lowe described Parsons as a “backup power forward.” Then, the Commercial Appeal’s Chris Herrington talked about Parsons running the backup power forward spot against “bench-heavy” lineups. Commercial Appeal’s Ron Tillery talked about how it may lower the pressure of his contract. Then, Grizzly Bear Blues’ Joe Mullinax discussed the numerous pros and cons of the whole situation.
The Memphis Grizzlies have a choice at hand. Do they move Chandler Parsons to the bench? Or force him into the starting lineup? Is this all just a preseason overreaction?
Depending on who you are, you might have a different answer, but he needs to start.
Point blank. Period.
More help around Gasol and Conley
Granted, it might seem like a great idea. Have a starter who’s playing average find his rhythm and destroy bench-heavy lineups. Awesome, it’s a confidence boost. However, wouldn’t Parsons benefit from playing with Conley and Gasol — the team’s two primary playmakers? Wouldn’t Conley and Gasol benefit with more scoring threats around him?
Say what you want about Wayne Selden, James Ennis and JaMychal Green. They’re solid players who’ll play huge roles on this team, but they’re limited in how they generate points. Selden is still unproven. He had a great Summer League, but pump the brakes just a tiny bit. He still needs to prove himself as a capable scorer and playmaker at an NBA level. Ennis can really only spot-up for 3’s or slash to the basket. JaMychal Green doesn’t have the ball-handling and creativity to get his own shot.
The only possible solution is to insert Chandler Parsons and Tyreke Evans. With Evans’ microwave scoring abilities being better suited for the bench, Parsons seems like the likely option. He’s a big wing — or a stretch-4 now — who could attack the basket and shoot from distance. Not to mention, he’s a lot better setting his teammates up than Ennis and Selden. If they really want to play Conley off the ball more, then they need to start Parsons.
If the “stretch-4” thing is an issue, they could just slide JaMychal Green over to the 3 defensively. The team and analysts all over rave about Green’s ability to switch on defense. Why don’t they just have Green guard the small forwards and have Parsons on the power forwards?
They need to maximize the talent around Conley and Gasol without sacrificing bench depth. They can’t have Wright, Evans, Chalmers and Parsons on the bench and leave their stars with zero secondary playmakers.
Pressure talk is irrelevant
In Tillery’s article, there’s a snippet in there where Fizdale talks about lifting Parsons’ pressure to be the “Grizzlies’ undisputed third-best player.”
Guess what? It’s still going to be there. That’s what happens when you have a max contract.
Wouldn’t moving a max contract player — who has spent most of his career as a starter — to the bench just derail his confidence? Does it really remove the pressure?
No. It won’t remove any sort of pressure. He’s still making $94,000,000. Wherever he plays, he has the pressure to succeed.
Fizdale is right when he said that “getting back to enjoying the game” is key for Parsons. Enjoying the game is definitely a major key, but it doesn’t erase more pressure if he isn’t starting. The casual fan will see the Grizzlies having a max contract player off the bench as a bad thing.
Pressure is there for everyone. Now that Randolph and Tony Allen are gone, Mike Conley and Marc Gasol will experience more pressure to lead this team to the playoffs. Whoever wins the starting shooting guard position has the pressure to be a secondary playmaker and the Grindfather’s replacement. There’s pressure on JaMychal Green to live up to his payday. Whoever comes off the bench has the pressure to replenish the losses of Vince Carter and Zach Randolph.
Chandler Parsons will have pressure to stop talking and to hoop — and live up to his monster contract. Coming off the bench won’t change that. Just start him if that’s the only reason.
That money
The Memphis Grizzlies paid Chandler Parsons to be the third fiddle around Marc Gasol and Mike Conley. He wasn’t paid an obscene amount of money to be paired in the second unit with Mario Chalmers, Tyreke Evans and Brandan Wright. No disrespect to those guys, but this isn’t where Parsons should be.
Why would you want to pay a player $94 million dollars over four years to be nothing more than a glorified, skinnier Boris Diaw?
More from Grizzlies News
- Dillon Brooks speaks out after beating former Grizzlies teammate in World Cup
- Jaren Jackson Jr. puts ex-Grizzlies teammate on notice
- 3 players Grizzlies would consider trading Ja Morant for
- Grizzlies star Jaren Jackson Jr. put on blast following FIBA elimination
- Ex-Grizzlies guard signs with title favorite, joins forces with 6-time All-Star
If he’s healthy and playing, pay him to do what he’s supposed to do: start next to Conley and Gasol. If he’s the fourth best player on the court with them and is 60 percent of his best, start him.
Preseason overreaction
How about take a deep breathe and realize there’s truth behind the “it’s just preseason” narrative. Chandler Parsons came off the bench for ONE PRESEASON game. We shouldn’t be overreacting over a preseason exhibition, yet alone the whole five-game stretch.
Let’s just take this move to the bench to what it was: a Dave Fizdale experiment. If he didn’t move him out of the starting five in the Grizzlies’ lineup scramble, he won’t move him out before opening night.
Let’s give it some time.
It’s just preseason.
Closing Remarks
Chandler Parsons needs to start. Whether he’s the power forward and JaMychal is off the bench or they’re both manning the forward positions, Parsons needs to be in the starting five on opening night.
He was paid to start, and it’d be silly to have him exclusively come off the bench before year two of his contract even began.
Related Story: 3 reasons Parsons is NBA's biggest x-factor
I never thought I’d write over 1,000 words on why Chandler Parsons should start for the Memphis Grizzlies after one preseason game of coming off the bench. However, the unthinkable happens with Grizz Nation.