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Memphis Grizzlies: Beno Udrih Injury Poses Early Test to Point Guard Depth

By Tom Firme

Apr 13, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Beno Udrih (19) drives in against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 13, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Beno Udrih (19) drives in against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Memphis Grizzlies could find themselves in a precarious position at point guard when the season starts if Beno Udrih‘s condition doesn’t improve significantly through the next few weeks. With Udrih missing significant time, expectations could be even higher for Mike Conley and Russ Smith.

Udrih revealed during media day on Monday that he wasn’t in great shape almost four months after having surgery in early June to remove a chipped bone from his ankle. According to The Commercial Appeal’s Ron Tillery, Udrih is still recovering, quoting him as saying, “They basically had to open (the ankle) up and take it out. I still have a lot of work to do to get in playing shape. Otherwise, it’s more mental. This is pretty much my first surgery in my career.”

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If Udrih misses time, Conley would likely log a significantly higher minute load. This comes a year after Conley received 31.8 minutes per game, his fewest since 2008-09, due to the terrific support Udrih gave off the bench. Also, Conley endured an array of injuries, from a right ankle sprain to a throbbing foot sprain to a facial fracture, forcing him to miss 12 regular-season games and three playoff contests.

Before last season, Conley played between 33.5 and 35.5 minutes per game because he didn’t have a solid backup for most of that time. This isn’t the time in Conley’s career when he should endure such minutes.

The Grizzlies should hope Smith turns the corner in his second year after a solid summer league in which he scored 14 points per game and made the winning shot during the championship game. Smith, who scored just 25 games in six games after being acquired from the New Orleans Pelicans in the same trade that brought Jeff Green from the Boston Celtics, looked quick and aggressive in summer league.

Now, the Louisville product must be quick and productive in short bursts while spelling Conley. He will need to discover the flow and chemistry that Udrih had with the Grizzlies’ second unit.

After all, Udrih might not be the same once he’s healthy. In 2014-15, he had his most productive season in five years, averaging 14.6 points per 36 minutes, while explosively cutting and hitting pull-up jumpers and splashing quick passes.

The 33-year-old will take time regaining quickness—if he ever gets it back, considering he’s in a late stage of his career. Not many players at that age flash like Udrih did, and one can hardly tell if he can do it again.

Hence, Smith faces a challenge of growing rapidly. He had a chance to work with Vince Carter during summer league as the 38-year-old worked with the young guys, but he has plenty of work building an understanding with other backcourt players like Jeff Green and Matt Barnes. Green has a desire to make plays and Barnes possesses corner three-point-shooting skills. Smith must learn how to set them up.

Grizzlies head coach Dave Joerger has spoken highly of Smith, but that was as a periodic substitution during the season’s stretch run. Joerger didn’t take much time developing young players, as seen with Jamaal Franklin and last year’s rookies, Jarnell Stokes and Jordan Adams, but his commitment to development seems as important with the point guard position as any other.

Preserving Conley’s health means using Smith for 15 minutes per game, since Udrih may not reach the level at which he played last season. Also, the Grizzlies won’t use rookie Andrew Harrison, considering that he didn’t make the training camp roster. Harrison is heading to the D-League’s Iowa Energy, as The Commercial Appeal’s Chris Herrington tweeted.

If Smith gets his chances and flourishes, he could both ensure second-unit scoring and support the Grizzlies’ depth as the team confronts Udrih’s inevitable regression.

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