Memphis Grizzlies: How Good Will They Be With Jeff Green?

The Memphis Grizzlies have already established themselves as a top contender in the Western Conference, now they add Jeff Green

After a trade that will send Jeff Green to the Memphis Grizzlies (in exchange for Tayshaun Prince and a protected future 1st round pick), the landscape of the NBA has been shaken up yet again. As if Rajon Rondo moving to the Mavericks and Cleveland’s blockbuster trades this week weren’t enough.

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We’ll move those bandwagons to the side for a minute, though. Because it’s far more interesting to ask what the future holds for Green and the Memphis Grizzlies.

It appeared like Memphis (26-11) were already strong contenders this year, particularly due to the MVP-caliber play of Marc Gasol early on, Mike Conley’s career year (18 points and 6 assists per game), and even the posterizing dunks of the 37-going-on-27, Vince Carter.

You wouldn’t have been wrong to think this team was a top contender in the Western Conference, either. They normally are, and mainly it comes down to their defensive prowess all year long and how tough they play during the playoffs. Just remember how badly they bullied the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2012-13 Conference Semifinals to win 4-1, and how Tony Allen looked twice his size when he guarded Kevin Durant.

So long as they keep their aggressive mindset (which head coach David Joerger has done an excellent job of maintaining after Lionel Hollins left), this team will be a force to be reckoned with, in both the regular season and the postseason.

So what impact does the arrival of Jeff Green make to an already elite team?

Dec 27, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jeff Green (8) shoots over Washington Wizards forward Nene Hilario (42) during the first half at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Next to Rondo, Green has clearly been one of the top few players on a Boston Celtics team that has struggled over the last couple of years. After losing Doc Rivers to the Clippers, the entire big four of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and now even Rondo, Green should count his lucky stars he’s got a ticket out of Boston.

Now he provides a significant upgrade over the forward Memphis lost to bring him in (Prince) and adds a combination of skill and athleticism to help add some variety to their offense, alongside their big three (as in the post play of Gasol and Zach Randolph and the perimeter shooting of Conley).

Green may not be having hist best year from behind the arc (shooting only 30% from three point range) but he’s still managing to average a career best 17.7 points per game, on a reasonable mark of 43 percent from the floor. Not incredible, but with a real lack of talent in Boston these days you can’t really blame Green for trying to shoot away their miseries every once in a while.

Dec 17, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) shoots the ball as San Antonio Spurs power forward Tim Duncan (21) and guard Manu Ginobili (20) defend during the second half at AT&T Center. The Grizzlies won 117-116 in triple overtime Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

In terms of their offensive presence down-low, the Grizzlies duo of Gasol (19.7 points per game) and Randolph (15.9) is quite possibly the best in the league. They’ll power through anyone as they attack the basket and Z-bo is as good as anyone at hustling for offensive rebounds (averaging 3.9 per game this year).

Add in Gasol’s repertoire of moves in the post and his excellent mid range jumper (shooting 45% from 10-16 feet out) and these two alone provide Memphis with a force in the paint that’s hard for anyone to stop.

It’s hard to fault the Grizzlies in terms of their accurate perimeter shooting, either. They may only be ranked 15th in the league in team three-point percentage, but when Conley is making 43 percent of his tries from behind the arc to hit 1.7 three’s a game, and guys like Courtney Lee are making 49 percent (yes, 49%) of their three-point attempts, then Memphis definitely have a couple of shooters to turn to in crunch time.

Jeff Green arriving gives them yet another person to look to for when they need a basket, though. He’s no Durant, but Green has been known to make the occasional buzzer beater. See for yourself.

What makes Green such a good fit in Memphis is that he gives the Grizzlies something they really don’t have already: a 6’6″ or 6’8″ scorer with athleticism, who can create a shot on their own.

He may have dunked on Rudy Gobert as if he was only 3 foot tall, but unfortunately Vinsanity is no longer the high flying scorer we loved watching in Toronto. This is still a talented team of course, although players like Lee, Conley and Allen aren’t exactly guys you can give the ball to and see if they can create a shot off the dribble or take flight for a quick alley-oop.

It doesn’t matter Green isn’t one of the league’s best at this, because he doesn’t have to be. What matters is that he fits the description and he brings something totally different to the table. The Grizzlies aren’t just pounding big men, shooting guards and wily veterans any more. Green gives them an athletic boost that can only help as they look to escape the first round of the playoffs this year.

Green’s current season-high came in November, when he dropped 35 points on a loaded Dallas Mavericks team, and by himself made the game a competitive one as his struggling Celtics only lost 118-113. He showed off a bit of everything in his offensive arsenal, and this footage shows exactly the kind of diversity he can bring to the Grizzlies.

In terms of defense, Green has been known for inconsistency in recent years, although this season he seems to be upping his effort and impact as a competitive perimeter defender. He has the quickness and length to guard some of the NBA’s tougher scorers (the LeBrons, Durants, and Melos of the world) but just needs to put it all together with some aggression on a consistent basis.

This season has looked like an improvement for Green so far, though. His defensive rating of 108 (points allowed per 100 possessions) is hardly impressive, although that might just have something to do with the fact that the Celtics are 12-22 this year and only rank 17th in team scoring differential (-1.1).

Green’s old head coach in Boston, Brad Stevens, had praise for the improvements he’s been making so far this season when interviewed last month:

"He’s played well, defensively, this year… I think it’s been a good area of growth for him. [Friday] night, he took it and really stepped it up a notch, to the point where he got tired and came out of the game twice. And that’s good. That’s a really good thing. Any time you’re guarding a guy like Kobe, you’re going to be absolutely locked in. Hopefully he can continue to grow in that area because he has played a good defensive season so far."

Joining one of the leagues grittiest defenses should do nothing other than inspire Green to elevate his game at the defensive end. With Tony Allen, a two-time NBA All-Defensive 1st team member and one of the most relentless and pesky defenders in the league (also averaging 3.1 steals per 36 minutes) to teach him the tricks of the trade, I wouldn’t be surprised if Green’s defense improves within the next few months.

With Gasol, Randolph and Kosta Koufos cutting off lanes to the basket and protecting the rim it’s no surprise the Grizzlies are ranked sixth in opponent’s shooting percentage from within five feet of the basket. With the paint secured behind him, and elite wing players in Conley and Allen to learn from, Green has plenty of guys surrounding him to help elevate his defensive impact.

Jan 5, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley (11) drives against New York Knicks guard Jose Calderon (3) at FedExForum. Memphis defeated New York 105-83. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

With the defensive influences to help spark his drive to lock down his man, and the athleticism and scoring ability he brings to diversify the offense, there’s no doubt the Memphis Grizzlies have improved with Green.

Now I don’t like to be a pessimist, but if they make it as far as the Conference Finals it’s going to be incredibly tough to beat the Warriors (let’s face it, they’re most likely going to be making an appearance). However, if they shut down the Splash Brothers for at least a few games, and guys like Conley, Green and Gasol step up on offense, then their defense could wear Golden State down a lot in a six or seven game series.

No matter who they face in the playoffs, the Memphis Grizzlies now have the scorers and tough defense to wear down any of their potential opponents. They may not have become favourites to win the title, but, with the addition of Green, there’s a good chance that an already tough playoff team like the Grizzlies can make the Conference Finals.

Let’s wait and see what happens.

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