Memphis Grizzlies: 2016-17 Season Outlook
Three Key Storylines: 2. Three-Point Shooting
For years now, the Grizzlies’ biggest Achilles heel has been three-point shooting. In a pace-and-space league, Memphis’ hard-nosed defense, bruising mentality and interior strength have all been for naught once the playoffs rolled around.
Time and time again, we’ve seen smarter opponents sag off of Tony Allen in the postseason, daring him to shoot while sending extra help to guard Gasol and Z-Bo in the paint. In each of the last five seasons, the Grizz have been in the bottom third for three-point percentage and bottom five for made three-pointers per game:
- 2015-16: 33.1 3P% (29th); 6.1 3PM (28th)
- 2014-15: 33.9 3P% (23rd); 5.1 3PM (29th)
- 2013-14: 35.3 3P% (21st); 4.9 3PM (30th)
- 2012-13: 34.5 3P% (24th); 4.7 3PM (30th)
- 2011-12: 32.6 3P% (25th); 4.2 3PM (27th)
In 2016-17, the Grizzlies will be hoping they did enough to address their fatal flaw. Parsons, a career 38 percent shooter from long range, is the key addition in this department. Last season, he shot a career-high 41.4 percent from downtown on 4.1 attempts per game.
There’s also Troy Daniels, who earned run over Jeremy Lamb with the Charlotte Hornets last year because of his superior three-point shooting. He converted 48.4 percent of his 2.8 attempts per game in 43 appearances last year.
If the rookie Baldwin sees significant time off the bench, he’s another player who could potentially help. Baldwin shot 40.6 percent and 43.9 percent from deep in his two seasons as Vanderbilt. A healthy Conley should help in this area as well, though his three-point efficiency slipped to 36.3 percent last season.
That’s a lot of responsibility to heap onto three or four players, and none of this changes the fact that Tony Allen is tough to play in a playoff series. Still, the Grizzlies will be hoping to avoid finishing in the bottom third of league for three-point shooting once again in 2016-17.
Next: Storyline 3: Trying To Slay Goliath