Storyline: They’re close, yet far. Memphis has have some pieces, but not all. What will it take for the Grizzlies to win the NBA Championship?
Those familiar with the NBA know that the Grizzlies play the Dark Horse role–nothing more, nothing less. While the Grizzlies’ grit-and-grind style makes them a team worthy of the Playoffs, they’ve never earned the distinction of being a legitimate title contender.
That label is reserved for flashier teams in the West–the Spurs, Warriors, Thunder, Clippers, and even the Rockets. Those teams have superstars and fast-paced, three-point oriented lineups. The Grizzlies? They persist with an old-school trademark–a slow-pace offense with a lockdown defense. According to Basketball Reference, Memphis ranked 26th in Pace and 3rd in Defensive-rating last year. They’re the epitome of what basketball used to be in the 80s and 90s.
Similar to the “Bad Boy Pistons,” with Isaiah Thomas and Joe Dumars, the Grizzlies are methodical in offensive approach and have a physical defense that’s capable of pestering the greatest of players. But it remains to be seen whether this style can translate into a championship.
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Why? First and foremost the Grizzlies lack the star-studded talent of other Western Conference contenders. It didn’t help that its lone–and significant—off-season acquisition was Brandan Wright. In a conference where “the rich keep getting richer,” the Grizzlies neglected to address three-point shooting. Last season they made an abysmal 5.2 three-pointers per game with 33.9% shooting. That translated into league-ranks of 29th and 22nd, respectively (ESPN).
Not being able to knock down the 3s consistently is detrimental to the Grizzlies’ title hopes. The NBA is a league where even Big Men are expected to have three-point range. And let’s face it: in the ’15 Playoffs Tony Allen’s inability to shoot from the perimeter helped turn a 2-1 Warriors’ series deficit into a 4-2 series win. The Warriors capitalized on that weakness by putting Andrew Bogut on Allen—daring him to shoot. He missed time and time again, forcing the Grizzlies to bench Allen, even though that move hurt the team’s aggressive defense—a defense that had been pestering sharpshooters Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry.
Despite shortcomings beyond the three-point line the Grizzlies’ roster is good enough to compete with the best teams in the league. With All-NBA First Team center Marc Gasol, bulldozing power forward Zach Randolph, underrated point guard Mike Conley, and defensive wiz, Tony Allen, the Grizzlies have a formidable lineup. Let’s see how.
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Marc Gasol: Marc Gasol offers a rare skill-set as a center with passing vision. Last year he averaged the second most assists of any center. He’s a respectable scoring threat, too, averaging 17.4 points on 50% shooting from the field and 80% shooting from the free throw line. His versatility on the offensive end is incomparable to his significance on the defensive end. As former Defensive Player of the Year he consistently boasts impressive statistics in both Defensive Rating and Defensive Box Plus/Minus. He’s a resourceful defender, too, who can go out on the perimeter to guard opponents. Marc Gasol’s aptitude on both ends of the floor makes him an incredibly valuable asset for the Grizzlies.
Zach Randolph: He’s a reliable power forward, one of the most consistent double-double threats in the league. His mid-range game is exceptional. Last year he shot 46.4% between 10-16 feet. And his prominence as a rebounder elevates the Grizzlies to another level. Despite lackluster athleticism and modest height (for a Big) Randolph garnered Top 10 rebounding numbers in Total Rebounds, Rebounding Percentage, and Offensive Rebounds. His physical play really complements the Grizzlies’ basketball approach.
Mike Conley: Symbolic of the Grizzlies franchise, Conley goes unnoticed as one of the NBA’s premier point guards. His best attribute may be his ability to control game tempo: he makes opponents adjust to the Grizzlies’ pace. His scoring and assist numbers, while not gaudy, are serviceable—comparable to other point guards. He nearly single-handedly turned the momentum in the Grizzlies’ favor during the Warriors’ series–despite just returning from injury. .
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Tony Allen: Allen may be an offensive liability, but his defensive tenacity epitomizes the Grizzlies’ grit-and-grind. According to Basketball Reference he ranked 6th in Defensive Rating, 6th in Defensive Box Plus/Minus, 3rd in Steals, and 1st in Steal Percentage. Statistically he was the Grizzlies’ most valuable defender. A constant fixture on the All-Defensive squads, Tony Allen is one of the best perimeter defenders in the league—plain and simple. In Games 2 and 3 of the Warriors’ series he held Stephen Curry to an unfathomable 4-21 shooting from the three-point line. That gave the Grizzlies legitimate hope of beating Golden State.
So, when you add it all up, the Grizzlies are capable of beating any team. Were it not for Steve Kerr’s keen coaching decision regarding Tony Allen, Memphis could very well be the reigning NBA champions. And they have a history of “being close.” They’ve upset the Spurs in the postseason before—and they did it with Duncan, Ginobili, and Parker, all being five years younger. And, in 2013, they vanquished the Thunder in 5 games, albeit without Russell Westbrook. That same season they overcame a 2-0 series deficit to beat the Clippers in 6.
Even though more three-point shooting would help, The Grizzlies are capable of winning without it. The downside is that Memphis doesn’t have flashy names or the glamour of a Big Market team. They’ll continue being overlooked, continued to be labeled a “Dark Horse” team. But while they don’t deserve to be favorites—at least not quite yet—they’re still a legitimate title contender.
Make no mistake about this: No team wants to face the Grizzlies!
