Over the next few days, we’ll be asking a series of big questions for the Memphis Grizzlies. Can they adapt to the modern NBA well enough to compete?
“Grit ‘n’ Grind” is officially dead. This means a new identity for the Memphis Grizzlies; one rooted in the recent NBA mandate of fast play and ball movement leading to lots and lots of threes. The Grizzlies are attempting to adapt on the fly, reinventing without rebuilding. But how well-equipped are they?
Last season’s team took baby steps in this new direction under Coach Fizdale’s watch. The Grizzlies finished 14th in 3’s attempted, a category they hadn’t cracked the Top 20 of since 2008. With that said, they still played at the league’s third-slowest pace, while finishing 20th in adjusted assists. Shedding Zach Randolph and Tony Allen — neither spacing threats nor reliable playmakers — should ostensibly ease the transition.
This year’s discussion obviously has to start with Mike Conley and Marc Gasol, a decent framework. Gasol transitioned seamlessly into a stretch-5 last year, while Conley is a dangerous spacing threat, nailing 40.8 percent of his treys on over five attempts per game, many of them off the dribble.
Around their franchise guys, the Grizzlies are certainly younger and more athletic. They’ve also gone smaller with more wings and a less-earthbound power forward in JaMychal Green (*injury pending). There will likely be more room for Gasol and Conley to dissect defenses on pick-and-pops, but this doesn’t necessarily solve Memphis’ issues with pace and ball movement.
The Grizzlies still aren’t entirely built to run. Conley is adept in transition but definitely more of a halfcourt killer. Mario Chalmers may prove a capable backup, but is hardly a speed demon. Gasol is an unathletic 7-footer with a history of foot problems. Chandler Parsons’ knees run the risk of crumbling to dust during every fast break. Rangy athletes like James Ennis, Wayne Selden and Dillon Brooks are dangerous outlets, but they themselves don’t dictate an offense.
Assist percentage data would suggest the Grizzlies broke around even in ball movement over the offseason; keeping their best and worst performers while losing a balanced array in between. Adding notorious ball-stopper Tyreke Evans isn’t likely to tilt things in the right direction.
Some of the pieces are in place, but Memphis will need the alignment of several variables and a little bit of luck to pull off their transformation into a modern NBA team. How well it works will likely determine this team’s immediate future as they eye a potential rebuild.
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Tune into Beale Street Bears for more hard-hitting questions.