Memphis Grizzlies: Mike Conley Acknowledges ‘Comfort Zone’ of Team’s Past

Nearly two months since the Memphis Grizzlies’ active NBA Trade Deadline, Mike Conley shared a quick thought on himself and the team via Twitter.

The Memphis Grizzlies‘ Mike Conley has a pregame tradition of making a routine tweet that reads “#gamedayfocus” each time. This has been going on for years now, not just in the current 2018-19 NBA season. This trend has been as consistent as Mike’s on-court game.

On Sunday, prior to the Grizzlies’ road matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers, Conley had an additional pregame message for his followers. It read as follows:

Mike Conley has been tweeting more openly and freely ever since he became the last man standing of the Memphis Grizzlies’ original Core Four, which once included Zach Randolph, Tony Allen, and Marc Gasol. It only makes sense because he is the sole leader of the team, and will continue this role until his days with the Grizzlies come to an end.

Honestly, this one-liner by Conley could not be any more true. It really is not cryptic. It applies 100% to his situation in the tail-end portion of his 12th NBA season. Great things have definitely taken place since he became the sole leader of his Grizzly squad in mid-February.

Following the infamous trade which enabled the Memphis Grizzlies to part ways with Marc Gasol after 10.5 seasons, Mike Conley has taken his game to the next level. Since Gasol’s departure, “Captain Clutch” has averaged 23.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.1 steals per game over the duration of 17 games. Plus, he led Memphis to seven victories in the month of March, which is the second-most of any month this season by the Grizzlies.

Conley absolutely deserved the Western Conference Player of the Week honors he received mid-March. This award arrived after his first 40-point performance of his NBA career. Mike is focusing more on himself all while playing for the team. When he thinks he is being selfish, he is actually playing better for the Grizzlies’ entire group. His game enables the ones around him to become better.

It has been clutch shots. Plus, you cannot leave out Mike Conley’s points-assists double-doubles as of late. The mentorship. Furthermore, the togetherness. This is “Captain Clutch” in a nutshell, especially since he took sole control over the reigns in Memphis.

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During those Core Four days, Conley was absolutely sitting in his comfort zone. Zach Randolph was the team’s MVP. Tony Allen assisted with the vocal leadership on and off the court. Once Z-Bo and Grindfather left town, Marc Gasol was a guy that stirred drama with former head coach David Fizdale. But Conley? He has been the quiet guy in the back corner.

Things are much different today. Mike Conley has been forced into the leadership role. However, it is something that he has welcomed with open arms as he assists in preparing the Memphis Grizzlies franchise for their next era.

Though this season will not transition into a playoff berth for the Grizzlies, it has been an opportunity for Mike Conley to expand his game and be more selfish, but in a good way. Perhaps he should have taken charge sooner than his 12th season.

Just like Conley stated, “great things happen when you get out your comfort zone.” That is exactly what has happened to No. 11 over the past several weeks and the hoops world is finally taking notice of Mike. He has gone underrated for far too long.