3 Reasons why extending Steven Adams was smart move for Grizzlies
By Noah Hancock
2. Steven Adams is Different Than Other Memphis Bigs
When you dive into Memphis Grizzlies’ history and look at their previous centers, you see big men that needed to touch the ball in order to perform well.
Bryant Reeves (11 FGA per game with Memphis), Pau Gasol (13.5 FGA per game with Memphis), Marc Gasol (12 FGA per game with Memphis), and Jonas Valančiūnas (12 FGA per game with Memphis) were all vital to the Memphis offense.
The league started shifting to a guard-heavy, outside-scoring offensive tendency, and Memphis did not shift with it, that is until the arrival of Steven Adams (5 FGA per game with Memphis). Steven Adams knows he is not an offensive big man and that’s exactly what Memphis has needed.
With the firepower the Grizzlies have in the other starting positions, there is less pressure to feed a post-scoring big man in order for him to feel valued. Adams can strong-arm defenders, obliterate guards with screens, and rebound the ball back to open perimeter shooters.
He’s become an incredibly important part of the team’s success. This front office is banking on that trend continuing for the next couple of seasons, too.