A top-tier defense has been a staple in the Memphis Grizzlies' franchise history, and coach Tuomas Iisalo has the same vision for this year's team. Most of the discussion surrounding Tuomas Iisalo's coaching philosophy has centered on his fast-paced offensive system, which promotes constant movement and pick-and-roll plays.
However, the Grizzlies' summer league team provided a glimpse into what he wants the team's makeup to be defensively. Playing full-court man-to-man defense and applying constant pressure to the opposing team's ball handler was on full display throughout their summer league campaign, and figures to pick up with the plethora of defenders on the main squad.
Adding players like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Cedric Coward to a guard and wing rotation that already included Jaylen Wells and Scotty Pippen Jr. means the team has multiple bodies to rotate the battle of fatigue with that play style. Adding the former Defensive Player of the Year winner in the frontcourt with Jaren Jackson Jr. and the signing of Jock Landale puts the Grizzlies back on par to potentially possess one of the league's best defenses.
What would best describes their defense this season opposed to last year?
In a quote shared by Grizzlies play-by-play announcer Pete Pranica from a recent training camp session, Tuomas Iisalo described how other teams will feel when playing against their defense. "Playing against us should be like going to the dentist. It should be an unpleasant experience."
If anyone knows anything about dentist appointments, it really is an unpleasant experience. So, if the Grizzlies' defensive philosophy will make opposing teams feel like they are going to the dentist, then this team will resemble those from the Grit 'n' Grind era when Mike Conley Jr., Tony Allen, and Marc Gasol reigned terror on the league.
The Grizzlies finished last season ranked in the top 10 in Defensive Efficiency and Defensive Rating, but ranked 18th in the league post All-Star break when they finished with a 12-16 record. Their schedule after the All-Star break included matchups against physical teams that outmatched the Grizzlies.
Their offseason movement was done purposefully to combat that and return the team to the mold of what the fanbase has grown to love over the years as one of the more physical teams in the league. The Grizzlies' offense has gotten the majority of talk this offseason with their changes, but their defense is just as important to get back on track as one of the more feared in the NBA.