Memphis Grizzlies: How Chandler Parsons could resurrect the ‘Grit ‘N Grind’
The Memphis Grizzlies have been stuck in neutral for the past two seasons, but a healthy Chandler Parsons could change that in 2017-18
The Memphis Grizzlies have been stuck on the same plateau for 700-plus days now.
The 2015-16 season was a “meh” year, winning 42 games and clinching the 7th seed in the Western Conference. Fast forward to last season, and you get nearly identical twin outcomes – 43 wins, a 7th seed, and a first round playoff exit via the San Antonio Spurs.
If you talk to anyone around the Grizzlies organization, that is not what they signed up for. The difference maker to allow Memphis to plow right through that pesky plateau is a healthy Chandler Parsons.
Let’s jump into the time machine and travel back to 2013. Chandler Parsons is in his second and third year as a member of the Houston Rockets. He averaged 16 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game on two playoff teams. He was healthy and started in all 150 games he played in during those two years, shooting just under 38 percent from the three-point line, making two a game.
Take that for data.
Speaking of that 2013-14 Houston team, Parsons played the wing in an offense consisting of James Harden as the primary playmaker, and Dwight Howard as the go to big man. The 2018 Memphis Grizzlies have a similar one-two punch in Mike Conley as the primary playmaker and Marc Gasol as the go-to big man. Parsons is already familiar with being a successful role-playing wing with an underrated ball handler and a scoring big man down low.
The Memphis Grizzlies were just your average middle of the pack team from beyond the arch last season, shooting 35 percent which was good for 17th in the league. A lot of this was due to the fact that they started Tony Allen at shooting guard who shot a White Walker cold 27 percent from 3. After Parsons went down with injury 34 games in, Memphis was forced to start either James Ennis (shot 25 percent from three in 2016) or Vince Carter at small forward.
Getting a healthy Parsons back in 2018 for Memphis will be massive for their offensive spacing. As you can see in the clip above, Chan has a Hall of Fame microwave badge. When he’s hot, he is surface of the sun scorching. Teams have to know where he is at all times as soon as one three falls. Memphis knows this better than anyone (see who HOU played above).
More from Sir Charles In Charge
- LeBron James working to assemble super team for USA Basketball in 2024
- Dillon Brooks proved his value to Houston Rockets in the 2023 FIBA World Cup
- NBA Trade Rumors: 1 Player from each team most likely to be traded in-season
- Golden State Warriors: Buy or sell Chris Paul being a day 1 starter
- Does Christian Wood make the Los Angeles Lakers a legit contender?
In 2016, Parsons was sniping at a 41 percent clip from deep. This is something Memphis hasn’t had since Mike Miller in 2013 (46 percent from 3). Having defenders dragged out to deny Parsons the ball parts the Red Sea for Conley to operate. Not only will Mike Conley’s assist numbers benefit from passing to Parsons, but they will also climb due to the fact that more players will have wide open jumper opportunities due to spacing.
Having a healthy Chandler makes everyone on the floor with him a better player. He doesn’t need the ball to be effective. His presence not only allows life for Conley to be less chaotic, but it’s also beneficial to the big Spaniard Marc Gasol. In the first 34 games of the season when Parsons was active, Gasol averaged 20 points per game and shot 43 percent from 3.
Why is this relevant you ask?
In those 34 games, Parsons was used in many different offensive sets, including being the pick and roll ballhandler. His underrated ball control and playmaking ability is often overlooked because of his size and slow footedness. To give the defense a different look besides 6-foot-1 Mike Conley coming off of ball screens looking to make a play, they allowed 6-foot-10 Parsons to be the ball handler in pick and roll sets with Gasol setting the high screen.
This created mismatches all over the floor. The center now had to guard a quicker wing, while a small forward had to switch onto a versatile 7-foot-1 giant. Gasol shot so well from three in those first 34 games with a healthy Parsons partly due to pick and pop schemes and once again, spacing.
While Parson’s game is heavily reliant on his stroke form deep, he’s far from one dimensional. Chandler has made a living on bad close-outs and slashing through the paint, using his height and length to dwarf wing defenders and finish over the top of mere mortals. He has perfected one simple move to allow heavy footed defenders to second guess how they approach him on the perimeter. The old-fashioned pump fake.
The reason defenders jump at all of his ball fakes is partly because it truly is a sexy pump fake, but secondly because he is such a deadly shooter you need to contest his shot. In the clip above, it’s almost comical how identical his real shot is, and his pump fake. He comes set with both feet, and slowly rises up, showing the ball high and even taking one foot off the ground in many instances.
This move is quick and easy money for Chan, and with Gasol shooting 39 percent from 3 alongside Conley’s 40 percent, the lane will have so much room for activities.
Must Read: NBA: A deep dive into the 5 most interesting teams of 2017-18
Despite what you see off the court on instagram and twitter of Chandler Parsons being a Hollywood cocksman, dating a new supermodel every other week, or cracking jokes about his teammates, on the court it’s business. ‘Grit N Grind’ doesn’t necessarily define Parsons when he’s off the clock, but the 2018 NBA season is Chandler’s time to prove he’s back. When healthy, CP25 is the missing puzzle piece to resurrect the Memphis Grizzlies.