Ben McLemore has shown enough to warrant more minutes for a Memphis Grizzlies team that needs offense right now.
The 2013 NBA Draft was a strange one. The number one pick from that draft, Anthony Bennett, is no longer in the league. Victor Oladipo and Otto Porter, the number two and three picks, are having breakout seasons. Ben McLemore fell to seventh in that draft to the Sacramento Kings, and he struggled to meet expectations in his first four seasons.
It’s difficult to gauge a player’s ability if they’re in a bad situation. Some players shine brightly on bad teams, but the moment they find themselves on a good team, they struggle. Ben McLemore made his way to the Grizzlies this offseason, expecting a fresh start with a team that many thought would compete for the playoffs.
Unfortunately for McLemore, he’s once again on a struggling team. To go along with those struggles, he’s not getting consistent minutes off the bench. While McLemore won’t solve the troubles currently plaguing the team, he’s showing signs of good play that deserves a long look from the coaching staff.
Why play him
McLemore is averaging seven points per game in just over 18 minutes of playing time. During his time on the court, he has been able to score in bunches for the team. In his last 10 games, he’s shooting 43 percent from three and over 45 percent from the field. In the game against Golden State, McLemore was able to score eight points rather quickly in the 1st quarter. It’s time that coach Bickerstaff gives McLemore a serious look for more consistent minutes.
A problem that has surfaced for the Memphis Grizzlies is that they dn’t have enough guys that can make plays for others, so a great deal of their offense devolves into isolation plays. Without gifted individual scorers — with the exception of Tyreke Evans and Marc Gasol — the Grizzlies’ offense has struggled to put points on the board. McLemore isn’t an amazing playmaker, but he can do enough to keep defenses honest with his ability to shoot and to run a pick-and-roll.
In 20 games, McLemore has ran 0.8 pick-and-roll’s per game, scoring 1.07 points per possession — which is good enough for the 91st percentile. Raising the number of pick-and-roll’s for McLemore would hurt his efficiency, but it could unlock his potential.
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Closing Remarks
The Memphis Grizzlies are likely playing in a lost season. This is the chance to experiment with the players they have. In three of the Grizzlies’ last seven games, McLemore has played less than 15 minutes. He’s a good offensive player signed to a great contract, and this is their chance to maximize their investment in him.