Memphis Grizzlies: Projections are Fun, Time to Face Reality

I’ve written a lot about the Memphis Grizzlies this offseason and how this team is an underdog. Memphis could be a darkhorse or a dead horse this season.

The Memphis Grizzlies are coming to one of their more crucial seasons in franchise history after exciting their most crucial offseason with a lot of success.

A lot of success in part thanks to their owner Robert Pera finally being hands-on with a fragile front office. A lot of moves of names and rankings have happened this offseason and have — for the most part — gone unnoticed.

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Pera being around more has “rattled” a fragile front office, one that is usually quiet during most offseasons. For a front office that has been mostly quiet for the past decade was loud this offseason. See, being “loud” in the offseason is one thing, but being loud and productive towards a franchise’s future is another. Memphis added to their future and put some veteran voices to their roster to help guide one of the youngest rosters in franchise history.

Getting rid of Memphis Grizzlies players that lacked IQ and who played critical minutes for the team last season in exchange for a veteran wing in Garrett Temple was definitely a success. Though the Grizzlies were not on the receiving end of a major asset, moving off of a contract like we saw Memphis do with Jarell Martin was an overall good decision.

A productive offseason is something that we have not seen from Memphis in a very long time. It is something we needed to see this offseason. A productive offseason is why I believe in Memphis’ chances in 2018-19, as long as they do not get in their own way.

Several things can happen for the Memphis Grizzlies to get in their own way, and the franchise put the team in the hands of Mike Conley and Marc Gasol. How will they rally this team if the engine starts slow?

If the engine starts slow, and we are heading into game number 15 while sub-0.500, and Memphis heads into Minnesota for an afternoon matchup versus the young and talented Timberwolves. What makes the team take off? How do Mike and Marc push the team forward instead of backwards? These are the questions experts should ask when making win projections for each team.

Mike and Marc probably would not say much, they would probably lead by example, and let guys like Dillon Brooks follow them in leading. Chemistry will take time with this team, but having a great coaching staff that J.B. Bickerstaff assembled should also be assessed in these projection processes.

The process for Memphis would be two captains who made seven straight playoff appearances, one (if not) the best picks in this latest NBA Draft in Jaren Jackson Jr., and a coaching staff that breads winning. Jerry Stackhouse, who won a G-League championship with Toronto in 2017, has had great success in a short amount of time with young professional ballers. Gregg Buckner, who can read players better than anyone I have seen in my young career, can be tough on a player, but can also see when a player needs to be talked to. He played a vital role in coaching the Memphis Grizzlies’ Summer League squad this offseason.

Nick ‘the quick’ Van Exel is the only remaining assistant from David Fizdale’s staff. He has been the “Conley whisperer” the last two seasons. Chad Forcier, who played a huge role in the San Antanio Spurs organization with their player development, is now in charge of the Grizzlies’ youth development movement. Add in Adam Mazarei, who will also help develop these guys on the floor, and Memphis has a dream coaching staff.

Coaching staffs make the engine run, and for the Grizzlies, they have arguably the best battery in the game to get the engine running.

Dead Horse:

The flip side is that injuries do happen, and can happen to anyone on this roster, because in basketball those things happen. Injuries happen everyday, but if this were to happen, it is all a guess, and projection for the experts. After all, the Grizzlies have a track record with injuries to key players.

Again, this is another season that Memphis is an underdog, and it is beating a dead horse at this point for Grizzlies fans. If it is not the Grizzlies’ common theme of the “style of play is too slow,” this season is “injuries could happen.”

I give the Memphis Grizzlies franchise credit this offseason for improving the roster. Unfortunately, it has went vastly unnoticed in a deep Western Conference.