Grizzlies Breakdown: Patience Won't Save Moribund Memphis

The Memphis Grizzlies may have only lost by eight points, 87-79, at the hands of the Detroit Pistons, but the chasm between the two teams can stretch a continent. Let’s take a look at Memphis’ roster to see what the Grizzlies, have, lack, and need in order to contend for future postseasons.

Rudy Gay is Memphis’ ace wing who gets most (all?) of the Grizzlies' publicity. He has long strides, terrific athleticism, and can block a shot or two, but he has no toughness and little explosion to his game. 

The two numbers that stood out when watching Gay were his field goal and free throw tallies: 16 field goal attempts (making seven), to zero free throw attempts. 

If Gay couldn’t use his antelope legs to finish on the break, he’d try to take one dribble (usually left) before pulling up for a mid-range jump shot. His first step failed to generate separation, and his too-high dribble was the reason why he committed so many turnovers (four). 

Defensively, Gay approached that end of the court the same way his apprentice teammates did—like youngsters. He botched several rotations, was confused with screens, and was generally tentative and reactionary. And the majority of his eight rebounds came under little Pistons pressure.

While Gay may someday evolve into a useful player, he’s strictly a sixth-man type and nowhere close to being a franchise cornerstone.

O.J. Mayo is a talented if selfish scorer who hasn’t differentiated between good shots and bad shots. He forced at least a half dozen shots and penetrations in the fourth quarter alone causing the team’s offense to fizzle out.

Also, all his shot attempts are self-made, though that’s understandable considering how rudimentary Memphis’ drive-and-kick offense has to be with so many kids. Still, Mayo can score from anywhere, and should naturally learn shot-selection as he sucks in NBA experience. He’s a much better prospect than Kevin Love is.

Marc Gasol is a paradox. He’s excruciatingly slow, yet undeniably active. He’s big and strong, yet sets flimsy screens, always slipping them instead of initiating contact. He’s only an NBA rookie, yet he cuts, passes, and sees the floor like a veteran. 

Gasol can easily develop into a less-skilled, more rugged facsimile of his brother.

Darell Arthur is active, tough, reckless, and has touch out to 16 feet. He can definitely evolve into a reliable NBA garbage man.

Mike Conley uses his wing span and the fact that’s he’s left handed to become a competent finisher in the lane, but too many of his attempts at penetrating into the lane end harmlessly. Plus his jumper and defense need a lot of work. 

Hakim Warrick can come from the weak side to block shots, and run endlessly in transition, but he struggles at power forward in the half-court game. His attempts at setting screens—already compromised by his spaghetti-shaped frame—are exacerbated by his aversion to physical contact.

On the glass, he’s not wide enough to effectively box out, and on offense, he always takes the first open 20-foot jump shot he gets, no matter how early in the shot clock.

Warrick is little more than a spark-plug backup forced into heavy-duty minutes with his team’s lack of depth.

Marko Jaric, though a seven-year veteran, came around a Warrick screen, and though Warrick was covered rolling to the basket, Jaric forced a pass that was intercepted by Rasheed Wallace. Has the Grizzlies’ youth caused Jaric to make decisions like a rookie, too?

Kyle Lowry is tough, quick, and perpetually a step behind on defense.

Darius Miles touched the ball five times in seven minutes and shot it four of those times. He also failed to box out Antonio McDyess on a missed free throw, never went up strong (always looking to make a fancy reverse layup), and played poor defense.

While it does appear that Miles generally appreciates being back in the league—clapping for his teammates, being more active, sprinting down on transition defense—he’s still too soft and too concerned about his own shots to be an NBA player. And the only wisdom he can impart on his impressionable teammates, is to not become a self-absorbed miscreant like he was.

What do the Grizzlies need? 

Time. Experience. Talent. A reliable low post player. More toughness in their frontcourt, a better point guard. Defenders everywhere.

In short, a whole lot of praying.

This article also appeared on OTRbasketball.com