Memphis Grizzlies 2012-13 NBA Preview
Photo Credit: Mark Runyon, Basketball Schedule
Memphis Grizzlies
2011-12 Vitals:
41-25, 2nd in Southwest Division, 4th in Western Conference
95.0 PPG/93.0 OPP PPG
2012-13 Roster:
Tony Allen – SG
Darrell Arthur – PF
Jerryd Bayless – PG
Mike Conley – PG
Wayne Ellington – G
Marc Gasol – C
Rudy Gay – SF
Hamed Haddadi – C
D.J. Kennedy – G
Quincy Pondexter – SF
Zach Randolph – PF
Josh Selby – PG
Marreese Speights – C
Tony Wroten – PG
Offseason Additions:
Jerryd Bayless, Tony Wroten, Wayne Ellington
Offseason Subtractions:
Projected Starters:
PG – Mike Conley
SG – Tony Allen
SF – Rudy Gay
PF – Zach Randolph
C – Marc Gasol
Season Outlook:
The Memphis Grizzlies have to feel snake bitten. They can’t seem to get into the playoffs with their full core healthy and haven’t been able to make a serious run. Last year was no different, as they were upset by the Los Angeles Clippers in round one.
This year, the Grizzlies looked to improve one of their key weaknesses – three point shooting. They brought in Jerryd Bayless and Wayne Ellington in hopes of stretching the floor to give Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol more room to work in the paint.
O.J. Mayo is gone and it leaves a gaping hole at the sixth man position. None of these Grizzlies have shown that they can excel at the role and they will have to try out different guys to see who fits best. It’s a work in progress, but if they can get to the playoffs healthy, they’ll figure it out.
Best-Case Scenario:
They finally reach the playoffs healthy as the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference and knock off the Los Angeles Clippers in round one. Their meeting with the Los Angeles Lakers in round two doesn’t go so smoothly and they are dispatched from the playoffs, left wondering if their core is good enough to win a championship.
Worst-Case Scenario:
Injuries continue to mount and the loss of O.J. Mayo plays out much larger than anticipated. The bench doesn’t live up to their potential and the Grizzlies fall all the way to the No. 8 seed and are knocked out of the playoffs in the first round, again.