For a while, it looked like the Memphis Grizzlies were as much of a title contender as anyone in the league. They lagged just behind the Golden State Warriors, but had a head-to-head win, more playoff experience with their core and a style of play many felt would be more successful in the postseason.
Memphis Grizzlies playoff preview: Grit ‘N Grind is battered, but dangerous
The Grizzlies limped to the finish line of the regular season, but if they can get healthy, they’re as much a threat as anyone in the West.
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That could still be true in the end, but it'd require a form of play that Memphis hasn't displayed in a while. The Grizzlies were 41-14 on Feb. 23, just three games behind the Warriors and 3½ games ahead of the Houston Rockets for second place. Marc Gasol was having an MVP year, Zach Randolph had adjusted to a secondary role and newcomer Jeff Green appeared to be fitting in.
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The last two months, though, have been confusing. Instead of charging to the finish line, Memphis went into a weird malaise. The offense, a longtime bugaboo that was finally catching up to the stifling defense, fell apart again. Randolph tired, Mike Conley dealt with nagging injuries, Courtney Lee stopped hitting shots and Green kept getting confused by his role. A 14-13 finish dropped Memphis out of the 2 spot and pushed it to the No. 5 seed. Teams like the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers and Houston are now seen as the top threats to the Warriors.
But dismissing Memphis’ chances would be foolish. The Grizzlies are battle-tested when it matters and just need a clean bill of health and some of their perimeter players to rediscover their shooting touch. It was only four years ago that a longtime West power without a title raced toward the top of the league, only to be forgotten because of a second-half drop. If Dallas can win the title in 2010-11, so too can Memphis in 2014-15.
How they beat you
The Grizzlies still win with stifling defense, though they're a little weaker on the wing because Tony Allen is battling injuries and several offensive-minded players (Vince Carter, Nick Calathes, Green) take up minutes. The Grizzlies suck up your space and force you to navigate through tiny gaps. Gasol remains the lynchpin because he is big and plays even bigger. He'll plant himself in the lane when his man isn't an offensive threat, but he'll also surprise teams by occasionally stepping out on the pick-and-roll.
Broadcasters like to say the Grizzlies are physical, but that's an effect of their style and not necessarily a goal. Opponents have no choice but to bump into Grizzlies players, and that's a battle they'll lose because guys like Gasol, Randolph and Kosta Koufos are so big. Combine that with the ball pressure of Mike Conley and a locked-in Allen, and you have a deadly combination even still.
How you beat them
It’s been several years and multiple coaches, but Memphis is still not that great offensively. There were signs that was changing, but they evaporated once Lee stopped hitting shots, Conley got banged up and Randolph stopped rebounding. The Grizzlies were 23rd in offensive efficiency in the second half of the season after ranking 11th before the All-Star break.
Memphis has more perimeter shooters than in the past, but its spacing is still choppy because Gasol and Randolph stretch to just 18 feet and Conley is the team’s only pick-and-roll creator. The Grizzlies try to mask this with constant motion on the opposite side of the floor, but teams started picking up on it.
Lee’s shooting slump really hurts because he’s the man who gets so many open looks from sliding into passing lanes on the opposite side. These are the kinds of shots he was hitting earlier this year.
Green ideally should benefit in the same way, but getting him to move without the ball has been tricky. Allen does provide the cutting Memphis needs, but is such a non-threat from the perimeter that he can be easily contained.
Most important player
The Grizzlies’ long transformation into Gasol’s team finally reached its conclusion in the first half of the year. A slimmed-down Gasol accepted the primary role offensively, taking mid-range jumpers he once passed up and aggressively scoring when he had the ball in the post. His new mindset in turn made him more of a threat in two-man action with Conley, lessened the load on Randolph and made Lee better.
But Gasol too has been off his game in the second half of the year. His scoring efficiency is down, as is his usage rate and post-up proficiency. The difference has been slight, but it’s been enough to upset the Grizzlies’ delicate hierarchy. Randolph’s rebounding drop and Lee’s shooting issues can be evaluated in isolation, but they all relate to Big Spain being only 80 percent of the player he was in December and January. Gasol will need to get back to that level if the Grizzlies want to advance.
Tony Allen: Fashion icon
Most NBA players are fully dressed when doing postgame interviews. A select few keep their uniform on, then change. Tony Allen does something different.
TONY ALLEN ADDRESSES THE MEDIA IN HIS GRIZZLIES BATH ROBE. pic.twitter.com/uSSwc6Zusa
— John Martin (@JohnMartin929) November 14, 2014 This is a smart strategy. It doesn’t take long to slip on a bathrobe, so Allen can get his media duties out of the way before changing later in either the locker or training room.
Or, maybe he just enjoys wearing bathrobes.
Rick Carlisle on what he did during the evacuation: "Went and sat on the bus with Tony Allen in his bathrobe."
— Earl K. Sneed (@EarlKSneed) January 19, 2015 See More:
