Memphis Grizzlies Hot Takes: Is team better without Tony Allen and Zach Randolph

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Zach Randolph and Tony Allen are sentimental favorites. While that’s great for fans, it doesn’t help you win basketball games. Randolph and Allen helped the Grizzlies become one of the consistent winning teams in the NBA and those teams were so much fun, but it was time to move on.

The Grizzlies have exceeded expectations, and part of that is the fluidity they play with on offense. They don’t have to force touches to Randolph anymore, and they don’t play many guys like Tony Allen that don’t contribute offensively — minus the 20 minutes that they give Andrew Harrison.

Marc Gasol gets the post touches, and Brandan Wright is a rim-runner. JaMychal Green and Jarell Martin are athletic 4’s that aren’t going to get buckets like Randolph, but that’s not what the Grizzlies need. They need more shooting and playmaking from the backcourt and wings and touches for Marc Gasol to operate.

Randolph and Allen were very much leaders in the locker room, and it can be difficult to navigate those types of relationships when those players are no longer productive. Gasol and Conley are the heart and soul of the Grizzlies now, and that’s a good thing moving forward. — Dennis Dow (@dennisdownba)