Memphis Grizzlies: Storylines To Watch In 2013-14

Memphis is known for blues music, classic barbeque and don’t forget Justin Timberlake! Also, they have this professional basketball team called the Grizzlies who have made quite the name for themselves, albeit in unconventional fashion. Their shooting guard doesn’t shoot, they traded away a young, franchise player last season (while holding a great record) and they have a couple of the most underappreciated guys in the league. Last season they boasted 56 wins, which proved to be good enough for fifth in the Western Conference, and they rode that momentum all the way to the Western Conference Finals before being overmatched by a veteran San Antonio Spurs squad — they were swept. What does this season hold? Here are some of the intriguing storylines.

Will Randolph be wearing this uniform after the trade deadline this season?? Photo Credit: Mark Runyon, Basketball Schedule, Flickr.com

What Will Happen With Zach Randolph??

Affectionately known as “Z-Bo” around the league, Randolph is by far the highest paid player on the Grizzlies this season and has a player option for 2014-15 set at $16.5 million, plus incentives. At age 32, do the Grizzlies want to commit another eight-figure salary to an aging, undersized power forward who doesn’t provide much on the defensive end of the floor? Not so sure Randolph sticks around past the trade deadline this season. There will be buyers out there who will give up valuable assets for a guy like Randolph who pretty much guarantees you 15 points and 10 rebounds nightly. Why might Z-Bo be on his way out? The Grizz have a defensive stalwart at the center position in Marc Gasol and a young 24-year-old power forward named Ed Davis who they really believe in for the future. Davis is definitely raw on the offensive end of the floor, but what he provides in defense surely makes up for it — Davis averaged 1.3 blocks per game in only 15 minutes per game last season. Randolph has been a huge part of the turnaround in Memphis but I think his days are numbered in the “Grit ‘n’ Grind” city.

Can First-Time NBA Head Coach David Joerger Get it Done??

David Joerger has been part of the Grizzlies organization for six years now as an assistant — the last two seasons he was Lionel Hollins‘ lead assistant. Many (including myself) were surprised when the Grizzlies failed to extend an offer to Hollins after his historic run with this squad, however the Grizzlies felt very strongly about Joerger and his ability to keep the momentum swinging in the right direction. Joerger had massive success at lower levels of professional basketball before being added to the Grizzlies staff — Joerger has won three championships in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA), one in the International Basketball Association (IBA) and most recently a championship in the NBA D-League in 2007 with the Dakota Wizards. His track record is quite strong and the players all like him, but can he keep it going? The Grizzlies finished fifth in the West last year and we have them slated to finish fourth in the West this year — check it here.

Is Mike Conley Ready for the Next Step??

This Grizzlies team will only go as far as Conley can lead them. Photo Credit: Mark Runyon, Basketball Schedule

Mike Conley is one of the most underrated players in this league. He is a guy whose stats do not tell the full story of the impact he has on the game. Conley averaged a career-high 14.6 points per game last season along with a respectable 6.1 assists. Not crazy impressive, right? Now factor in that the Grizzlies were 27th in scoring last year in the NBA with only 93.4 points per game as a team. Compare that to the Denver Nuggets, who ranked first in scoring last year at 106.1 points per game. Massive difference in the amount of possessions and shots Conley has to work with. In the playoffs, where you make your name, Conley certainly stepped up and averaged 17.0 points and 7.1 assists per night while continuing to be a thief in the night with 1.7 steals as well — during the regular season Conley finished third overall in steals per game at 2.2 nightly. Is he Kyrie Irving, Damian Lillard or John Wall? Certainly not, however what he lacks in scoring he provides his team in leadership; a trait some of these young point guards have yet to ascertain.

Regardless of the answers to these questions, I don’t see the Grizzlies getting back to the Western Conference Finals in 2013-14. The competition has improved too much with the Clippers, Warriors and Rockets all having a vast amount of talent at their disposal — and I think by now we know to never count out Pop and the Spurs. I’m excited to see how the narrative plays out this year and I “can’t wait”! (Bart Scott voice)

**All stats from www.basketball-reference.com unless otherwise noted.

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