Don’t Sleep On The Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are notorious for intense defense, which makes their prospects in the postseason that much better. Their offense is what’s been highly impressive this season
Having a strong defense still holds true for the Memphis Grizzlies, as they rank third in opponent points per game and field goal percentage.
Despite their Defensive Ratings being 104 and 108 respectively, Tony Allen and Mike Conley are largely important to acknowledge with regard to the defensive culture in Memphis. In a conference that relies heavily on the backcourt, these two have much more responsibility than others on the roster.
Guys like Stephen Curry and James Harden are tough to guard as is, but Allen and Conley’s interchangeability offers so much benefit for stopping the ball. On the opposite end, Conley has averaged 20 points per game this season, a career high, along with near career-highs in field goal and three-point percentage.
Conley’s two-way style of play will pay instant dividends in the postseason, considering most teams ramp up their defense while taking smarter shots. He’s been widely renowned as the underrated point guard in the Western Conference but has always managed to make strong appearances in the playoffs.
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If he continues to channel his best basketball, Conley is one of the key players to keep an eye on this year.
When it comes to the frontcourt, the Grizzlies are just as loaded with the talent it takes to combat the elite teams in their conference. Consider the Golden State Warriors for one moment. They lack a talented center who offers a serious threat on both ends of the ball.
Aside from LaMarcus Aldridge, the Spurs don’t boast much of a threat either. Marc Gasol, Brandan Wright, and Zach Randolph are all dangerous to opposing rosters.
Wright and Gasol have been lethal rim protectors, averaging 1.9 and 2 blocks per game respectively. They have also contributed some steals – 1.5 and 1.3 per game, respectively. The statistics are important, but their size, too, is something that makes them scary. Gasol is 7-foot-1 while Wright is 6-foot-10. These big bodies are something to fear, especially for guards looking to bring the ball down low.
Of course, their interior presence is counteracted by perimeter defense, something teams will likely try to take advantage of. Randolph is not really a defensive threat on the perimeter himself, but guys like James Ennis, Vince Carter, Conley and Allen pick up the slack in that department.
Gasol and Randolph are both very intense, offensive players, which increases the appeal of the frontcourt. They rarely have issues with scoring in the paint, and with an impressive 19.9 points per game, a career-high, Gasol offers so much for the Grizzlies. He’s expanded his game tenfold, as he’s now taking 3.7 three-pointers per game while averaging 38.1 percent.
Randolph is averaging 13.9 points per game while coming off the bench, and many power forwards in the league have difficulty guarding him near the basket. Again, his defense is less than desirable against the changing role of the power forward, but he is strong enough to beat down most players at the position.
The key factor we should pay attention to is Gasol’s passing ability. He’s averaged a career-high 4.6 assists this year, which doesn’t seem like much at first glance. But Gasol has still been responsible for more than his own 19.9 points in many of the Grizzlies’ games.
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Regular season statistics and analysis are hard to apply to the postseason, but we are still able to gauge certain player qualities to look out for. The aforementioned players are key components without a doubt, and the depth of the Memphis Grizzlies roster is just as crucial for the team.