Memphis Grizzlies: Biggest strengths and weaknesses for 2017-18

Strength No. 2: Coaching

Head coach David Fizdale won most NBA fans’ hearts with his “take that for data” moment in last year’s playoffs. It was one of the more endearing and enduring memories of a somewhat lackluster postseason, and while the love he got for speaking his mind so honestly was warranted, Fizdale deserved appreciation well before his outburst.

He’s been a highly regarded figure throughout the league for years now, and the Grizzlies’ shift toward a more modern offensive approach is primarily his doing. His ability to usher in a new perspective, while also maintaining the most positive aspects of the team’s previous identity, was a major victory in his first year on the job.

Obviously, some of the credit deserves to go to the players. Culture doesn’t shift without a team’s leaders in the locker room facilitating the transition. But Fizdale played a key role in generating their buy-in, and he did well with the X’s and O’s of the game as well, constructing a style of play for his team that withstood considerable injuries to a number of key players.

This year will be a chance for Fizdale to further cement his burgeoning reputation as one of the league’s better leading men. Getting to the playoffs will likely mean beating out several teams with more talent on their roster. That means the Grizzlies will need to function as more than the sum of their parts. A top coach isn’t a prerequisite to making such synergy happen, but it certainly doesn’t hurt. Fizdale has the goods to get it done.