Memphis Grizzlies: Jeff Green Not To Blame For Slump

Throughout his time in Memphis, Jeff Green has been a polarizing figure among Grizzlies fans. When the Grizzlies traded for the 6’9″ forward out of Georgetown, the fans were divided into two subgroups: snide critics and hopeful supporters.

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There were those who thought Green could vastly improve the Grizzlies’ wing rotation and perimeter shooting, and those who thought that Green provided nothing that the Grizzlies needed. Though the Grizzlies have been in a sludgy slump recently, coach Dave Joerger said the following to Ron Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal:

“Jeff Green is the least of our problems. Most people on the inside know what it is. And it’s not Jeff Green.”

Still, Green’s detractors persist in blaming him for the team’s recent rough patch (they’re just 8-8 since the All-Star break).

Seemingly disinterested, the starters have recently fallen into an abyss of turnovers and contested pull-up jumpers, and the onus has been put on Green by a plethora of fans; however, the malaise that Memphis has endured doesn’t completely coincide with Green’s acquisition. Memphis is an impressive 18-8 since Green officially became a starter.

It wasn’t until the start of February that the Grizzlies’ struggles had commenced, as they’ve just been 12-8.

Though as a Grizzly Green’s play has been underwhelming, basketball is a complex sport that isn’t dictated by a single aspect. NBA seasons have ebbs and flows. Injuries, trades, and the monotony of playing a long 82-game season can surely knock a prosperous team off its rhythm. Last season, the Grizzlies started off sluggish prior to Marc Gasol‘s injury at 7-5.

Similar to this season, the 2012-13 Grizzlies started off strong at 12-2 before the perilous winter storm shipwrecked Memphis to a mediocre 7-6 stretch in December. In the 2011-12 lockout season, Memphis started slow, 14-14 through 28 games, but then finished the season on a 27-11 run.

The first year of the “Grit and Grind” era, 2010-11, saw a Grizzlies team that stayed below .500 between Nov. 10 and Jan. 29 eventually go on a 22-12 end of the season stretch.

Green wasn’t on any of those teams and had nothing to do with the cold streaks they’ve endured, which is something that has historically plagued Memphis during the “Grit and Grind” era. After the disintegrated Detroit Pistons upended the Grizzlies on Tuesday night, Zach Randolph called the team “soft” and attributed the loss to a multitude of factors.

“We’ve got to get tough,” Randolph told the Memphis Commercial Appeal after the game (via Pro Basketball Talk). “It’s not just one thing. It’s a lot. We were soft, and we didn’t stick to what we were doing. It’s a disappointing loss, especially with what we’re talking about doing. We’ve got to do something to fix this.”

Nonetheless, some of the frustration with Green is warranted. He’s failed to rectify the Grizzlies’ poor outside shooting (though Memphis knew this would be the case when they acquired him) and he lacks discipline as a defender.

He frequently leaves his hand down on defense and launches into the air for even the most subtle pump-fake allowing dribble penetration, which diminishes the help defense.

Green’s Defensive Real Plus Minus is an abominable minus-2.23, which ranks 76th among small forwards. Per NBA.com/Stats, the Grizzlies are more than 13 points per 100 possessions better on defense without Green. Yikes.

Consequently, critics of Green point to the fact that the current starting lineup of Mike Conley, Courtney Lee, Green, Zach Randolph, and Marc Gasol post a net rating of minus-2.4, which is less than ideal; however, playing Tony Allen instead of Green isn’t much more profitable, as they yield a minus-1.3 net rating.

While Green hasn’t had a seamless transition to Memphis, Joerger is still figuring out the best way to use the athletic forward. Perhaps the solution lies in playing both Allen and Green together, as Allen’s defensive intensity helps mitigate Green’s miscues on that end.

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In the 56 minutes that Conley, Allen, Green, Randolph, and Gasol have played together, they’ve boasted an offensive rating of 117.6 (which would rank first in the NBA by a landslide) and a defensive rating of 92.6 (which would also rank first by a considerable amount. Thus, this group has yielded an incredible net rating of 25.

Clearly, Jeff Green could be of great value to this team if utilized correctly. Neither athleticism nor size can be taught, and Green is gifted with both of these attributes. His physicality adds a different element to a team that’s severely lacking in athleticism.

A plethora of issues factor in to the struggles of this Grizzlies team: Mike Conley’s injuries, Marc Gasol’s fall from grace after playing at an MVP level earlier in the season, Zach Randolph’s regression back to the norm, and Courtney Lee’s recent shooting woes.

Rendering Green as the main culprit for the team’s misfortunes would be ignorantly ignoring the numerous issues that have engulfed the Grizzlies.

As an incredibly gifted athlete, Green is capable of producing and contributing to a championship-caliber team like Memphis. It’s up to the fans to give Green time to assimilate to his new surroundings, and Joerger to decipher the most conducive situation for the newcomer to thrive.

Next: 4 Reasons Why The Grizzlies Are Struggling

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Jeff Green Isn’t To Blame For Memphis Grizzlies’ Slump

By jasaad | Mar 19, 2015

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