Tuomas Iisalo is entering his first full season as the Memphis Grizzlies head coach. Coming off a very successful run in Europe that saw him win the FIBA Champions League in 2023 and the EuroCup in 2024 with Paris Basketball, Iisalo was a very sought-after coach. Despite interest from the Washington Wizards, Iisalo joined the Grizzlies last summer as an assistant coach.
With multiple changes made to Taylor Jenkins' staff last season, there was added pressure on Jenkins to win. Eventually, Jenkins ended up getting fired just nine games before the playoffs due to a dramatic decline in performance after the trade deadline. Although the Grizzlies finished the regular season 4-5 and eventually got swept by the Thunder, the organization is very confident in Iisalo.
Iisalo's offensive system is drawing significant praise
At media day, one of the key talking points was Tuomas Iisalo's offensive system. The Grizzlies had one of the highest scoring offenses last year in the regular season; however, the team still had some issues scoring in the half-court against high-caliber defensive teams. An important task for Iisalo will be to create a well-balanced offense that succeeds against the best defensive teams in the NBA.
Ty Jerome signed with the Grizzlies on a three-year, $28 million deal using the room exception. According to Zach Kleiman, Jerome had other offers for more money, but Jerome wanted to play in Memphis under Iisalo's system. Jerome is a logical fit because of his shooting and ability to operate out of pick-and-roll. Ty Jerome was not the only one to praise Iisalo's system.
After Iisalo took over as the interim coach, Ja Morant had one of his most productive stretches of the season. Earlier in the year, Ja Morant was struggling offensively, largely due to the absence of pick-and-roll and dealing with multiple injuries. One of the biggest priorities for the Grizzlies is to replicate Ja Morant's strong offensive ending to last season.
When asked, Ja Morant gave his approval of Iisalo's system. Morant is at his best when he can effectively attack downhill, and pick-and-roll is heavily featured. While the Grizzlies must improve offensively in multiple areas, Game 3 against the Thunder gave a glimpse of the Grizzlies' offensive potential when Ja Morant had more offensive freedom.
Iisalo has empowered multiple young players to succeed
Another key storyline will be whether GG Jackson II can bounce back this season. Based on summer league and this offseason, Iisalo seems to have a strong belief in Jackson II's potential. Previously, Jackson II mentioned how Iisalo would coach him harder than any player. Jackson II said at media day that Iisalo has been a wizard to him.
Players such as Scotty Pippen Jr. and Zach Edey were of greater importance after Iisalo took over and ended up playing some of their best basketball of the season. In just a short period of time, multiple players improved under Iisalo. It remains to be seen how much the players will continue improving with Iisalo having full control of the system.
Despite the Grizzlies having plenty of future assets, the team is entering an important season as Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. continue to inch closer to their primes. Regardless of how the season ends, Iisalo has the chance to build winning habits and get the team a step closer to being a contender in the Western Conference.