Memphis Grizzlies: What in the World is Wrong With Mike Conley?

Mike Conley has struggled immensely since the start of the season. The question is simple: What is wrong with Mike Conley?

Like many kids from my generation, I grew up with the glory that is the movie Space Jam. For the uninitiated (and honestly, it’s quite sad if you have not seen this movie), Space Jam is a movie where tiny aliens from the Looney Tunes’ universe steal the talent of many of the famous NBA greats of the time. One moment, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, and Larry Johnson were playing like future Hall of Famers. In the next moment, they were playing like shells of their former selves.

Maybe you can see where I am going with this.

For Mike Conley, the difference between this year and last year is night and day. While last year’s Mike Conley looked like a legitimate All-Star, this year’s version looks more like a replacement-level player.

At least according to his own standards, Mike Conley has been terrible. That might seem harsh, but sometimes, the truth hurts. He’s shooting 39 percent from the field, 31 percent from three (both career-lows), and has the second-lowest eFG% of his entire career. As an alleged “All-Star” point guard, he’s only averaging 4.3 APG — which is the second lowest mark of his entire career. To put all of these stats in perspective, it would be wise to remember that this is the same Mike Conley that some considered to be the worst starting point guard in the league early in his career.

Recently, Conley hasn’t been himself, and has been also actively hurting the team when he’s on the court. In the Memphis Grizzlies’ last two games against the Bucks and Rockets, their opponents have outscored them by 27 points when Conley is on the court. In the Rockets game, Conley reentered the game with the deficit at only five near the end of the first half. He would proceed to miss three shots, and the Rockets would end the half with a 12-point lead. Another trend has also presented itself that has hurt the team: Conley has been held scoreless in three of the last six halves in which he has played.

What could be wrong?

A Few Theories

A personal favorite of mine is that it is Conley’s hair. Yes, the reason that Conley has played so poorly is because of his hair. Desperate times call for desperate theories.

I mean, I wouldn’t be able to look at myself in the mirror — much less be any good at basketball — if that was what my hair looked like.

But I digress.

Whenever a star player inexplicably begins to play poorly, injuries are often the reason for it. In the case of Mike Conley, it would certainly seem likely. He has been dealing with a sore left achilles, and it has obviously affected him. His movement isn’t as quick and fluid as it usually is, and his ball-handling and playmaking don’t look as crisp.

However, injury doesn’t fully excuse the way that he has been played.

Over the last three seasons, he has missed an average of 17 games each season due to injury. He has also played through a multitude of lower body injuries as well as a broken back last year. No matter how much pain he has endured, Conley has never performed at such a poor level.

The weakness of the starting lineup has also likely affected Conley. Andrew Harrison and Jarell Martin are marginal NBA players for whom teams don’t have to game plan. Teams are able to put longer, more physical defenders on Conley, because they don’t respect the starting shooting guard. Regardless, great players find ways to elevate the weaker players around them. They don’t allow the weaknesses of others stop them from excelling at their game. In addition, Andrew Harrison hasn’t been in the starting lineup in five games, and Conley has still struggled.

Teams are also game-planning for Conley in ways that they never have before. When he comes off pick-and-rolls, he’s often being met by a second defender. Other teams are scheming their defenses around the idea of “anyone but Conley”. Life as a bonafide number one option can be difficult, which is something that Conley is discovering this year.

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

A Return to Form?

Repeat after me: Mike Conley is going to be just fine.

He has been one of the most excellent point guards in the league for the last few years, and that hasn’t changed overnight. His numbers will start to slowly become closer to what they’re supposed to be. Even great players have rough patches in their careers, though this patch is especially rough.

Mike Conley will look like Mike Conley once again.

The right thing to do would be to sit Conley for at least a few games, and let him get his body and mind right. He has said that his problems are more mental than physical. Though injury doesn’t fully excuse the way he has played, sitting him will allow him to get closer to fully healthy.

Perhaps the most painful part of watching Conley recently has been his body language rather than his actual play. His frustration and fatigue are obvious, and he appears to look lost at times. Once “Captain Clutch” (sighs) truly returns, it’ll be fun to watch his joy and swagger return as well.