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Should Memphis Grizzlies keep JB Bickerstaff as head coach?

By Parker Fleming

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 21: J.B. Bickerstaff of the Memphis Grizzlies during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 21, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 21: J.B. Bickerstaff of the Memphis Grizzlies during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 21, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The season is almost over, and the Memphis Grizzlies have a head coaching decision to make. Should they remove JB Bickerstaff’s interim status?

The Memphis Grizzlies surprisingly fired Dave Fizdale, and this offseason they’ll make yet another head coaching decision. Since Fizdale’s firing, JB Bickerstaff has taken over as the interim head coach. At the moment, it’s tough to evaluate him.

Mike Conley has been hurt for the entire of his tenure. Chandler Parsons has been in and out of the lineup. Half of the roster is fringe NBA talent hoping to make it to their next contract. He dealt with the whole Tyreke Evans “trade-or-no-trade” fiasco.

Not the best hand to be dealt by any means.

However, over the course of his tenure, young players like Dillon Brooks, Jarell Martin and Andrew Harrison have thrived. On the other hand, he’s only won 14 games since taking over as a head coach.

So should the Grizzlies keep him or not? Some of our staff thinks they shouldn’t keep him. Let’s hear their takes:

Parker Fleming (@PAKA_FLOCKA)

JB Bickerstaff was dealt a bad hand upon becoming the interim head coach. His star point guard Mike Conley was out with an injury. Marc Gasol was disgruntled. There’s a lot of fringe NBA talent on the team aside from Gasol, Conley, Parsons, Evans, Green and Brooks. On top of that, the Grizzlies are in the brutal Western Conference.

While I’m sympathizing his situation right now, I also don’t see what he’s done to have his “interim” status removed. Yeah, Andrew Harrison, Dillon Brooks and Jarell Martin look better, but you hope that happens when they’re given that many minutes. On the other hand, Gasol doesn’t look engaged — shooting career-low numbers on the field and not being as dominant as he was under Fizdale. The offense also lacks rhythm and flow 80 percent of the time. The defense has lost its grit and grind.

The record reflects the little talent on this team — so does the loss of Mike Conley — but some of that is on coaching too. Bickerstaff might be a candidate for the head coaching job, and I won’t be mad if he gets it. However, it’d be so foolish to not conduct a legitimate coaching search. He hasn’t done enough to persuade them otherwise.

Chip Crain (@chipc3)

JB Bickerstaff has been the good soldier this season, but the team needs a firmer hand next season. He’s a player’s coach not a tactician and, with the youth movement coming, the Grizzlies need an X’s and O’s man to show the young players how to play.

It’s too bad because Bickerstaff has done the best he could with the cards he was dealt. If the team had committed to him earlier, I would have been fine with him as coach. However, after the Charlotte debacle and the player’s attitude after the game, maintaining the current coaching situation isn’t going to make anyone happy.

The bottom line is the young player’s aren’t getting better. Without visible improvement, Bickerstaff has not built any credibility with the roster or the fans. It is best to start with a clean slate. Ownership issues and front office moves could be on the horizon. I can’t imagine Bickerstaff lasting even if Wallace somehow keeps his position.

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Justin Lewis (@J_Timberfake_)

He should be a candidate, but really there should be a house cleaning effort at 191 Beale St. The front office and the coaching staff should all receive new faces. For years, there has been a lack of development of young players. Letting players like Kyle Lowry and DeMarre Carroll go without giving them a true chance are two prime examples.

Bickerstaff was obviously given the short end of the stick: Conley’s injury, Parsons still not being a factor consistently, the Tyreke Trade Deadline Debacle, and no real depth of talent. He has, at times, gotten the team to fight and not quit, but it is clear that he is not the long term answer. I am not sure how running out a lineup with Parsons at the 2 and Martin at the 3 says to anyone that he should be the next head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies.

There needs to be a head coach that demands a winning culture and gains the respect of the vets and young players immediately. Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy are obviously long shots, but both have the proven track record that I would like to see the next head coach possess.

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