As the Grizzlies continue to claw their way to the pinnacle of NBA basketball, the fact that only one player will be representing Memphis in the All-Star game is looking more and more silly.
Marc Gasol has been voted in by the fans to participate in the All-Star festivities, and his team is currently sitting pretty with a record of 39-13. Only the Hawks and Warriors boast a better record than the Grizzlies, and both of these teams will have multiple representatives in New York this Sunday — a fact that has displeased Memphis’ vice president of basketball operations Jon Hollinger:
Maybe an All-Star replacement should come from the team that's 37-13 and had no reserves picked. #Hoopidea
— John Hollinger (@johnhollinger) February 8, 2015
Although Mike Conley and Zach Randolph are both deserving of an All-Star selection, their absence from an exhibition game is merely trivial. Besides, a dominating playoff run from the Grizzlies would spite the coaches and staff who snubbed them when they made their selections. Come playoff time, nobody will want to mess with a style that’s tailored for playoff basketball.
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A common misconception among basketball fans is that the Grizzlies’ cramped offense leads to poor spacing and congested driving lanes, and thus, a poor offense.
While it is true that Memphis doesn’t take many three-pointers — they have the third lowest three point rate in the league — the Grizzlies run more of a traditional brand of basketball where they bludgeon defenders in the post, and it’s proven to be extremely effective.
They are currently in the top 10 in offensive efficiency on the season by consistently generating quality shots from the mid-range, low post, and occasionally, beyond the arc.
Additionally, Memphis does an excellent job of stifling their opponents’ three-point shooting success.
Three-point shooters tend to use a plethora of screens from their big men to get open looks from three-point range; however, the Grizzlies’ front court tandem, consisting of Gasol and Randolph, is astute at putting opposing bigs in foul trouble, which decreases their playing time and willingness to play aggressively out of fear of picking up another foul.
This, in turn, helps to prevent the opposition from generating uncontested shots.
Certainly, Tony Allen‘s defensive prowess also helps, as he forces opponents to shoot 7 percentage points fewer than their season averages from beyond the arc. In the last 15 games, the Grizzlies have been the second-best perimeter-defending team in the NBA, stifling their opponent’s three-point field goal percentages.
With their stingy defense and proficient offense, the Grizzlies don’t necessarily need threes to be effective. They can pound the ball inside and wear out their jump-shooting opponents — just as they did when they defeated the soaring Atlanta Hawks last Sunday.
But the Grizzlies continue to go under the radar as they carve out their place among the league’s elite.
Memphis holds the league’s sixth-best net rating, yet they only have the ninth-best odds to win the title, per Odsshark.com; and although they are winners of 13 of their last 15 games — including wins over the Hawks, Trail Blazers, Mavericks, and Thunder — Memphis just doesn’t draw the kind of casual fan interest that generates big viewership.
If Memphis & Atlanta play in the Finals, will ABC just air Lakers replays from this season in its place?
— Ethan J. Skolnick, 5 Reasons Sports (@EthanJSkolnick) February 9, 2015
The Grizzlies have earned their reputation for winning ugly with their slow, grind-it-out style of play, but the drudgery of their games can still be a form of art.
They’ve found a way to combine their Grit ‘N’ Grind with selflessness on the court. The Grizzlies clamp down on defense before breaking into their charitable offense. Watch as Memphis comes up with a steal, leading to a nifty pass by Conley on the fast break to Marc Gasol who finds Randolph under the basket with a wraparound pass.
Of course, not everything about the Grizzlies is that aesthetically appealing, and national notoriety and respect may forever elude this team that plays below the rim and rarely fires away long-range bombs; even still, the Grizzlies players don’t seem bothered by it, per Chris Herrington of The Memphis Commercial Appeal:
Marc Gasol walks out of showers singing "Hound Dog."
— Chris Herrington (@ChrisHerrington) February 9, 2015
Gasol will travel to New York unaccompanied by any of his teammates, but he’ll return to his team in Memphis for a stretch run that might earn the Grizzlies some much-deserved national recognition.
This team is on pace to win 60 games on the season, and the Grizzlies’ plodding, brutal play in the postseason will force even the most casual fan to respect them.
Next: Tough Tony Allen Attributes Defensive Tenacity To NBA Greats
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