Memphis Grizzlies: Destined For Disappointment?
In the deep and talented Western Conference, making the playoffs, let alone making a deep postseason run is a daunting task. With so many teams improving, the regular season will be an absolute slugfest for teams in the West. You can make the argument that winning the West is almost as big an accomplishment as winning it all this year, but the Cavaliers and Bulls might have something to say about that.
There are about 11 teams that have a legitimate shot to make the playoffs. The general consensus seems to be that the Lakers, Kings, Timberwolves and Jazz will not be among those teams.
Of these 11 teams, about eight teams have championship aspirations this year (the unofficial non-contending playoff teams being the Suns, Pelicans and Nuggets). The Memphis Grizzlies are definitely one team that is chasing a ring this year.
More from Memphis Grizzlies
- NBA Trades: Memphis bolsters their roster in this deal with Toronto
- 3 ways acquiring Marcus Smart will improve the Memphis Grizzlies
- Ranking the 10 championship-less NBA teams by closeness to title
- 4 Memphis Grizzlies who must step up in Ja Morant’s absence
- NBA Rumors: Is a season-long suspension for Ja Morant on the table?
The Grizzlies quietly made some solid draft picks this year and they could really pay off in coming seasons. They drafted a couple 20-year-olds, Jordan Adams and Jarnell Stokes. They could be very good players but won’t make an impact for a couple of seasons and won’t help them much come playoff time.
The players that they lost will negatively impact them much more though. They lost Ed Davis, Mike Miller and James Johnson. They seem replaceable but they were unheralded role players who gave them a combination of playoff experience, 3-point shooting and their signature “Grit and Grind” style of play that helped their second unit.
They did sign Vince Carter and re-sign Beno Udrih, but it’s unrealistic to think that a shooting guard entering his age-38 season and a backup point guard can make much of a difference.
Carter was added to the Grizzlies to be a 3-point specialist but at this point in his career, he does little else well and he might be asked to do more than he is capable of doing. He lacks the championship experience Mike Miller has and the Grizzlies will really miss his presence down the stretch in the playoffs.
Another key piece the Grizzlies are missing is a true franchise player. They have very good players but they lack that perennial all-star that is capable of carrying their team offensively. Mike Conley is a savvy, underrated player but it might not be enough in the era of the scoring point guard who can take over a game, especially in the West.
As you can see in the highlights from the first round of the playoffs below, Reggie Jackson of all players (not Kevin Durant or Russell Westbrook) torched Conley and the Grizzlies and single-handedly tied up the series in a crucial Game 4. With the Grizzlies up five with a minute left in regulation, Jackson forced the game to overtime and helped the Thunder avoid going into a 3-1 hole in the first round.
Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol are pillars of the Grizzlies franchise and frontcourt. Zach Randolph has played at a high level into his 30s and has signed an extension through the 2016-17 season. The Grizzlies showed they really believe in him and his ability to play at a high level into his mid-30s.
Marc Gasol may be the most overrated player on the team. He’s a very good jack of all trades, master of none-type player but can’t carry the Grizzlies. He hasn’t ever averaged 15 points or 10 rebounds in his career but he is a very skilled passer. Marc has been asked to score more this season and he does look as fit as ever but very few players have breakout years in their age-30 season.
He’s also viewed as a defensive juggernaut. Per the player tracking data available at NBA.com, Gasol’s opponent field goal percentage at the rim was 51 percent, which was mediocre and he isn’t a particularly good shot blocker.
To put Gasol into perspective with elite rim protectors, Roy Hibbert, Robin Lopez and Serge Ibaka protected the rim at a 40 to 45 percent clip.
In the FIBA World Cup this past summer, Spain was the heavy favorite to advance to the gold medal game but they somehow lost to France. In this game in Madrid, with the hopes of a country resting on the play of the Gasol brothers, Pau Gasol came through with 17 points and eight rebounds but Marc only had three points and four rebounds. Marc was one of the main reasons Spain lost to a France team that did play very well.
Sky-high expectations and a small chance of meeting them are a recipe for disappointment. Injuries will also make a huge difference in the West but the Grizzlies’ outlook relative to their aspirations seems bleak at this point and they’ll most likely not make it out of the second round of the playoffs.