Why The Memphis Grizzlies Shouldn’t Blow It Up

You Can’t Fake It

Even the 21-year-old Kristaps Porzingis knows that a strong locker room guy who’s a shell of himself on the court won’t help matters much off it. Similarly, a guy who is part of the problem on one team can be part of the solution on another. Again using New York as an example, of the 16 playoff teams this season, half have former Knicks on their roster. Most of these players have substantial roles for their new teams. This is not an accident. 

Pouring gasoline on the tire fire that is the Knicks isn’t necessary to underscore the simple truth that in the NBA, culture matters, and does so perhaps more than in any other sport. This is partially because it is the only one where the concept of sharing is essential to success, partially because the whole can actually exceed the sum of its parts, and partially because there is no separation of powers.

There is no offense, defense, and special teams or pitchers and catchers or first, second, third and fourth lines. There is the team, and only the team.