Memphis Grizzlies: Breaking Down The Bench For 2013-14

Ed Davis could play a bigger role off the Memphis Grizzlies bench this season. Photo Credit: Mark Runyon, Basketball Schedule, Flickr.com

The Memphis Grizzlies are known for having the top-rated defense in the NBA last season. Their starting center, Marc Gasol, took home the Defensive Player of the Year award last season and was joined by point guard Mike Conley on the NBA All-Defensive second team. Along with defensive stud Tony Allen and rolling ball of physicality Zach Randolph, the Grizzlies are set on defense, especially in their starting five.

Now the question comes up for Memphis: Who do they have on their bench?

Last season the bench did not have astounding numbers. Four of the five starters for the Grizzlies (Conley, Prince, Randolph and Gasol) averaged between 30  and 35 minutes of playing time per game with Allen averaging 26 minutes per game. There’s playing time to spare for the rest for the rest of the roster, but who is there to step up?

Examining the Bench:

Throughout the 2012-13 season, the Grizzlies bench was headlined by Marreese Speights, Wayne Ellington and Jerryd Bayless as the leading minutes gainers. Speights and Ellington are no longer with the team, leaving Bayless, a 6-foot-3 point guard, as the leading man off the bench. Unlike Ellington and Speights, Bayless doesn’t have the versatility to fill in to more than one position, unless of course the Grizzlies decide to go small and have Conley play shooting guard on some occasions.

Aside from those three, Ed Davis and Quincy Pondexter are the next leading minute men off the bench. Davis can fill in for either Randolph or Gasol, but the defensive intensity isn’t on the same level. However, the offensive threat is still present. In 20 minutes of playing time per game last season, Davis averaged just less than eight points per game and almost six rebounds. Not great numbers, but he’s a key factor for the Grizzlies frontcourt bench depth.

Memphis was also able to bring in Mike Miller. While Miller’s back issues bring uncertainty to his role with the Grizzlies this season, the pure threat of him camping outside the arc and nailing 3s should open up the floor for his teammates. The same can be said about Pondexter, although his athleticism is more of a pure threat. Together, Miller and Pondexter bring a much needed perimeter threat to the Grizzlies. If there is one thing the Grizzlies severely lack on offense it’s a consistent 3-point game.

Darrell Arthur was a key contributor off the bench last season, but Memphis swapped with Denver, sending Arthur to the Nuggets and bringing in Kosta Koufos in return. Koufos started 81 games for the Nuggets last season and averaged eight points and nearly seven rebounds per game in only 22 minutes per game. Koufos’ minutes should remain about the same without the starting center position. Gasol is a big man. Big men get gassed easily and Koufos will surely get playing time and produce when he is on the floor this season.

Aside from these men, look for rookie Jamaal Franklin to be a surprising presence for the Grizzlies. Franklin comes into the season with a chip already on his shoulder, dropping lower in the draft than many had anticipated, including himself. He’s also being compared to teammate Tony Allen for his physical build and defensive skills. Franklin could be a key glue guy off the bench for Memphis this season and could become the steal of the draft by season’s end.

Overall, the Grizzlies bench isn’t necessarily deep, but the players that sub in for the starters are quality players in their own right. What most people forget when examining a bench is that you don’t need to have superstars subbing in every game. All you need is players that can contribute quality minutes when necessary.

That’s exactly what the Memphis Grizzlies have for the 2013-14 season. The bench may not be deep, but it’s full of underrated, quality talent. They are sure to make the starter’s jobs a lot easier.

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