Sounding noticeably frustrated after the team's latest loss, Memphis Grizzlies big man Zach Randolph said the team's offense is, "pick-and-roll now," Geoff Calkins of the Memphis Commercial Appeal writes.
Zach Randolph on Grizzlies’ offense: ‘Our game is pick and rolls now’
Without the likes of Rudy Gay, the Grizzlies’ offense revolves around pick and rolls now, says big man Zach Randolph.
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Despite a strong start on Tuesday night against the Phoenix Suns, Randolph ended up taking just one shot attempt in the fourth quarter of the Grizzlies' 96-90 loss. He still finished the game with 21 points and 13 rebounds, but it's obvious that Memphis is still looking for an identity on offense after trading leading scorer Rudy Gay.
While it’s worth wondering just how good Gay is, it’s become clear that the Grizzlies miss his ability to create shots and attack the rim. He didn’t always do those things as frequently or efficiently as one would like, but Memphis is still adjusting to a roster that had featured Gay for years.
Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins discussed his frustration with the team’s lack of size after the loss to Phoenix, as they’ve traded away Marreese Speights and Hamed Haddadi in recent weeks. SB Nation’s Grizzlies blog, Straight Outta Vancouver, questioned the logic of bringing those issues to light in the public, though.
Randolph struggled badly on offense in the Grizzlies’ first two games without Gay, scoring a combined 16 points on 7-of-27 shooting over 73 minutes of court time, but he looked much more comfortable against Phoenix. The Grizzlies stopped going to Randolph in the fourth quarter, though, and the Suns outscored them, 31-19.
This season, Randolph is averaging 15.6 points and 11.8 rebounds in 35.3 minutes per game. Straight Outta Vancouver wonders whether an injured back might be an issue, but he also appears to be lacking opportunities. He’s taking just 13.6 shots per contest this season, the lowest-figure for the high-scoring big man in a healthy season since 2003.
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