Bleacher Report - Memphis Grizzlies

NBA Playoffs 2013: Tayshaun Prince Is Familiar with Memphis Grizzlies New Stage

Vinny Hardy — Sat, 18 May 2013 00:16:08 -0400

Tayshaun Prince's basketball journey is like that of most big time players—it's full of successes and achievements en route to the NBA.

For him, it all started at national powerhouse Dominguez High School. The Compton, CA native experienced the joy of winning a state championship there.

He was also named Mr. Basketball of the state of California in 1998.

He transitioned smoothly from there right to the winningest basketball program of all time and had a great career at Kentucky.

As a rookie with the Detroit Pistons during the 2002-03 season, Prince began his pro career on a team used to making extended playoff runs.

The Pistons made it to the Eastern Conference Finals in his first season.

It all came together for Detroit the following year, as they won the Eastern Conference and then took down the star-studded favored Los Angeles Lakers (Shaq, Kobe, The Glove, The Mailman) in five games to win the title.

Prince played an integral part in the series, averaging 10 points and 6.8 rebounds per game in the series. Even more impressive than that was the job he did frustrating and harassing Kobe Bryant on the defensive end.

Over the next four seasons, Prince and the Pistons would make another trip to the finals and three more appearances in the conference finals.

For the last four years time, Prince's title winning teammates moved on. He had the misfortune of seeing how the other half live.

The half that toil away haplessly on losing teams. Detroit averaged just 27 wins a season the last four years Tayshaun was there.

On Jan. 20, 2013, he got his reprieve. He was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies, which assured he would once again be playing meaningful basketball games.

The Grizzlies are an experienced team. They have gradually gotten better each year, and now, they finally have a trip to the conference finals to show for it.

Zach Randolph has been in the league a long time, a year longer than Prince for that matter. Yet, he must defer to Prince in the playoff experience department.

Prince still has plenty left in the tank, just ask Serge Ibaka. His experience may be just what Memphis needs, as they battle San Antonio and in all likelihood Miami if they make it to the finals.

There is no doubt he's happy to be playing again in May and helping out a title contending team any way he can.

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NBA Picks: Memphis Grizzlies vs. San Antonio Spurs, Game 1

Jeff Grant — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:21:54 -0400

The Memphis Grizzlies are 10-1 against the spread during the 2013 NBA playoffs, which is important to consider when making your picks on Sunday as they take on the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center.

Sports bettors will find that the Grizzlies are five-point road underdogs in the pro basketball odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total sits at 183.5 in the market.

Let's take a closer look at Game 1 of the 2013 Western Conference Finals from a betting perspective, while offering up an against-the-spread pick along the way.

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Blueprint for Memphis Grizzlies to Stun the NBA and Win 2013 Championship

Matthew Schmidt — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:45:16 -0400

After the Memphis Grizzlies closed out the Oklahoma City Thunder, 88-84, on Wednesday night to clinch a five-game series win and advance to their first Western Conference finals in franchise history, I went to bed thinking, "I bet this Grizzlies team finally gets some respect tomorrow morning."

Well, I was wrong.

Instead of everyone praising Memphis and wondering whether or not they are a threat to the Miami Heat, everything was about Kevin Durant's lackluster performance. All I heard were things like, "Durant came up small in the clutch" and "Durant disappointed me."

There was hardly any mention of the Grizzlies, hardly any credit given to their No. 2 ranked defense for holding Durant to 5-of-21 shooting in Game 5 and to 15-of-48 shooting over the final two contests of the series combined.

I don't get it. Why are we killing Durant when we should be lauding Memphis? After all, they only allowed 96.8 points per 100 possessions this season and house the Defensive Player of the Year in Marc Gasol, an All-Defense first-teamer in Tony Allen and two All-Defense second-teamers in Gasol and Mike Conley. Oh, and Tayshaun Prince is no scrub on that end of the floor, either.

Well, I will be the one to give the Grizzlies their due: they are good. Very good. In fact, they are so good that they are the absolute last team the Heat want to see in the finals. Russell Westbrook going down with a meniscus may have been the worst thing that ever happened to Miami. You see, the Heat match up well with the Thunder.

They don't match up well with Memphis. At all.

You think the Indiana Pacers are solid up front? Well, the Grizzlies are the Pacers times two. Gasol is better than Roy Hibbert. Zach Randolph is superior to David West. This is a two-headed monster that will absolutely eat you alive if you don't have the means to stop it, and guess what? The Heat do not have those means. Not in their frontcourt.

Let's examine the things Memphis must do to capture its first NBA title this June.

Keep Gasol and Randolph out of foul trouble

This may seem pretty obvious, but the Grizzlies' two bigs are doing a heck of a job in this regard thus far in the postseason.

Throughout the series against Oklahoma City, never once did Randolph accumulate more than three fouls. Gasol? He picked up five personals in Game 3, but in the other for contests? One, three, three and two.

Z-Bo has always been rather excellent in avoiding foul trouble. Over the course of his career, he hacks only 2.4 times a game. Gasol is a little more aggressive, racking up 3.3. However, Gasol has been able to defend without slapping guys around during these playoffs, and Memphis needs that to continue.

When Randolph and Gasol are on the floor together, the Grizzlies are near impossible to guard down low. Both of them are great in the post, both can hit jumpers and both can make plays with the basketball. We all know how good of a passer Gasol is, but don't underestimate Randolph in that capacity, either. He is no slouch in that area.

Obviously, keeping from fouling may be a bit tougher in a potential battle with Miami, a team with guys that love to get to the rim and draw contact. The San Antonio Spurs, who will be Memphis' conference finals opponent, will be somewhat difficult to handle in that area, as well, as they have someone in Tim Duncan who likes to go to work in the post, and Tony Parker, who can get into the lane at will.

That's where the next point comes in, and it's...

They must rotate their perimeter defenders in and out to keep them fresh

The Grizzlies' defense doesn't just begin and end on the interior. They have what is the best trio of perimeter defenders in the league on their ballclub in Allen, Prince and Quincy Pondexter.

All three of those players have accumulated solid chunks of floor time throughout this postseason, and if Lionel Hollins can manage their minutes accordingly to make sure they have enough energy to defend the likes of Manu Ginobili, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, they will represent an absolutely lethal combination.

You saw how Memphis handled Durant. Both Allen and Prince saw time on arguably the best scorer in the league, and what they did was wear him down. That 31 percent clip he shot over Games 4 and 5 was not just due to KD simply missing shots; it was a direct result of the fact that Allen and Prince were basically up in his jersey.

A squad like the Heat has two perimeter scorers who can light you up: James and Wade. Well, the Grizzlies have three outstanding wing defenders to deal with them, not to mention a great defensive point guard in Conley to harass potential opposing floor generals like Parker, Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole.

This Memphis team has it all defensively.

They must get some outside shooting

It's fairly obvious that the way a team like Miami would defend the Grizzlies is by sending double-teams into the post, forcing Gasol and Randolph to kick the ball out the perimeter. This is where Memphis' wings come into play.

The Grizzlies ranked last in the NBA in three-point makes this season, but they also ranked last in attempts.

No, Memphis doesn't exactly have great outside shooters, but the primary reason as to why they don't launch many triples is because Gasol and Z-Bo are so dominant in the post. Why jack up threes when you can pound the ball inside and get easy buckets, right?

Still, the Grizzlies do have guys who can make the three-ball. People forget that Prince is a threat from long range. He is a career 37 percent shooter from beyond the arc, and this season he hit on 40.4 percent of his three-point tries. People seem to forget Prince can play in general. It took this vicious slam to refresh everyone's memory.

Also, Pondexter shot treys at a 39.5 percent clip, and Jerryd Bayless converted on a respectable 35.3 percent of his attempts from distance. Plus, Bayless connected on 43.9 percent of the trifectas he took from the corners, making him a very reliable threat from those spots on the floor.

This notion that Memphis "can't" make threes is a bit too extravagant. They aren't the Golden State Warriors, but they are fully capable of making you pay if you leave someone open.

Win the turnover battle

The Grizzlies were very prudent with the rock this season, ranking fourth in the NBA by turning the ball over only 13.2 times a game. They have been even better in the playoffs, registering only 10.4 turnovers a contest, No. 1 amongst postseason teams. This will be absolutely crucial the rest of the way, as the Heat and Spurs both possess the ability to score in transition, especially Miami.

On the flip side, Memphis was tied for sixth in the league in forcing turnovers.

The Grizzlies are well-known for being a team that can win "ugly," and turnovers play a big part in that. If you can create turnovers on the defensive end and limit your miscues on offense, you are going to have a good shot to win the game no matter what. In Memphis' case, a club that not only forces opponents into mistakes, but shuts them down as well, this makes the Grizzlies an extremely dangerous foe.

The last thing you want to do against the best teams in the league is be careless. Memphis fans don't have to worry about that, as the Grizzlies have shown the ability to maintain possession of the ball.

The final word

I understand that I may be jumping to conclusions here, but I already have the Grizzlies and Heat penciled in for the NBA Finals.

Beating San Antonio will be no easy feat for Memphis and Miami will get a fight from whomever they face in the Eastern Conference finals (and it will more than likely be Indiana), but I think these are the two best teams remaining.

The Spurs endured a much tougher series with the Warriors than the Grizzlies had with Oklahoma City, having played a couple of overtimes. Given that San Antonio's legs are a bit older, fatigue may definitely end up playing a factor.

As far as how I think that potential finals matchup will go, I think the Grizzlies are certainly capable of beating the Heat.

It would not be nearly as colossal of an upset as you think. It would only seem that way because of Miami's starpower and Memphis' small market.

Remember the 2004 Detroit Pistons? No one gave them a puncher's chance against what looked like an invincible Los Angeles Lakers squad, but they posed such a matchup problem for the Lakers that they dominated Phil Jackson's club en route to a 4-1 series victory.

Now I'm not saying that the Grizzlies would do to the Heat what the Pistons did to Los Angeles that year. What I am saying is that you should never underestimate the effect of matchups, and Memphis matches up incredibly well with Miami.

Think about this: who in the world on the Heat can defend either Gasol or Randolph one-on-one? The answer is nobody. The two best options would probably be Udonis Haslem and Joel Anthony, but Haslem is a guy who has played 15 to 18 minutes a game all season, and Anthony hardly plays at all. If either of those two sees extended minutes, it would mean that the opponent is imposing their will on Miami and forcing them to play their game.

The Heat don't like to play big. They like to roll with Chris Bosh, Shane Battier and LeBron up front to maximize their effectiveness offensively.

That isn't going to work against Memphis, and please don't tell me that James can guard one of Gasol or Randolph. He can't. He would get into foul trouble in a matter of minutes, and with Wade ailing with that shaky knee, LeBron needs to be on the floor.

As stated earlier, you would have to assume that Miami's method of attack defensively would be sending constant double-teams into the post, but there is only so many times you can do that before it burns you.

The Grizzlies absolutely love contact. They even love flagrant fouls.

This is something that the Heat are not too fond of. They have complained about how physical the Chicago Bulls are, and Memphis is bigger, stronger and more physical than the Bulls. The Grizzlies beat you up. Just ask Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka.

A Memphis-Miami finals matchup has "classic series" written all over it. Is it a shoo-in to occur? Of course not, as the Spurs are an outstanding team in their own right and the Heat still have one more battle in the East to take care of.

I just hope we see it.

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Memphis Grizzlies Looking Brilliant for Trading Rudy Gay

Sean Hojnacki — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:58:49 -0400

The Memphis Grizzlies have won eight of their last nine playoff games and romped into the conference finals with a distinct swagger.

While their stifling defense has carried them this far, they don't miss their leading scorer at all since trading him just over three months ago.

On January 30, the Grizzlies shipped Rudy Gay to the Toronto Raptors as part of a three-team deal that netted them Tayshaun Prince and Austin Daye from the Detroit Pistons, with Detroit receiving Jose Calderon from the Raptors.

Essentially, the Grizz exchanged Gay for Prince and saved about $12 million in the process, according to Ed Arnold of the Memphis Business Journal. And based on the results, their front office must be staffed by geniuses.

Princely Play

Many commentators were vexed by the trade, as the Grizzlies had been stagnant on offense even with Rudy Gay. He was their most dynamic offensive player and had led the team in points per game, field-goal attempts and minutes in 2011-12.

They were a very respectable 29-16 when Prince joined the team. Then the Grizz went 27-10 to close out the regular season.

And once the playoffs started, they ran full steam ahead through a pair of talented teams.

This postseason, they have stormed into the Western Conference Finals by losing only three games to the high-flying Los Angeles Clippers and reigning conference champions Okahoma City Thunder.

Conventional wisdom held that the Grizzlies would struggle to score without Gay's skills as a swingman. But in fact, their defense got even better while their offense stayed consistent.

With Prince starting at the 3 instead of Gay, Memphis posted a slightly higher effective field-goal percentage while limiting opponents to an effective field-goal percentage of 2.2 percent less (per 82 games.com). Of their top-five five-man floor units, the two best included Prince in the lineup.

With Mike Conley, Tony Allen, Prince, Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol, the Grizz outscored their opponents by 12 points per 100 possessions. When Jerryd Bayless played in Allen's stead, they outscored opponents by 21 points per 100 possessions.

Gay allowed opposing small forwards to post a player efficiency rating of 18.4 against him, similar to the PER of a player like Kenneth Faried, while Prince limited opposing 3s to a PER of just 10.3, comparable to the likes of John Salmons (via 82games.com).

Clearly, the addition of Prince had a ripple effect across the team, serving to make them more efficient and more dominant.

Filling the Void

Copious credit goes to coach Lionel Hollins, who has his team playing better than any other squad in the West.

The subtraction of Gay from the rotation opened up space and opportunities for all of the Grizzlies, especially Conley and Gasol.

Gasol took some time to find his footing after Gay's departure, averaging his worst shooting percentage of the season in February (43.9 percent). But he went nuclear in March, tallying 17.2 points per game on 57 percent from the field, plus 7.1 boards, 4.5 dimes and 1.9 blocks.

Conley trudged through a dreadful month of December, as he averaged 11.4 points on 34 percent shooting. He began to raise his play in January, but once Gay departed, Conley became much more offensively potent and efficient.

The former Buckeye put up 14 points per game in February and then averaged more than 17 a night in March and April; he also shot 45 percent in March and 51 percent in April. Not to mention the fact that he's an absolute kleptomaniac, averaging 2.2 steals per game for the season.

And Zach Randolph has continued beasting just as he was at the beginning of the season. After racking up 15.4 points and 11.2 rebounds a night during the season, he's averaging 19.7 points on 51 percent shooting through 11 playoff games.

Pairing his toughness in the paint and on the glass with the silky smooth flat-footed jumpers of Gasol has produced one of the finest combos on the interior in recent memory.

Presently, the predominant sentiment across the Twitterverse takes the guise of sarcastic laments about how much the soaring Grizzlies miss Rudy Gay.

Verily, they don't miss him at all. After a torturous first-round exit last year, they're now competing for a conference title and a surprising run to the NBA Finals.

As noted by Rob Mahoney of SI.com, jettisoning Rudy Gay has actually sped up Memphis' offense. Gay is what some refer to as a volume scorer, so he needs to see a high usage rate to be effective. Without him, gone are the iso sets, idle dribbling, slow entry passes and players being spectators.

Instead, the Grizz have attacked with their duo of talented bigs and relied heavily on the post game while also unleashing their promising young point guard as a dynamic offensive threat.

Grit and Grind

Essentially, the Grizz improved on both offense and defense since trading Rudy Gay, and they still saved $12 million, giving them crucial room to maneuver in the offseason.

Moreover, they acquired more than just a lanky, disciplined defender and a stat-sheet stuffing veteran in Tayshaun Prince. They also added an NBA champion who won his ring as part of the ragtag 2004 Detroit Pistons.

That squad bears some striking similarities to this year's Memphis team. Those Pistons were led by another pair of ferocious bigs in Rasheed Wallace and Ben Wallace.

They were similarly driven by their punishing defense and consistently found ways to outscore their opponents, despite lacking an elite scorer.

The Grizzlies have the league's best defensive starting lineup, highlighted by Defensive Player of the Year Marc Gasol. Wasn't it Shakespeare who wrote that defense wins championships? Or maybe it was Bear Bryant, but the adage bodes well for Memphis.

With Conley making strides by the day and Prince showing few signs of age, the only person regretting the Rudy Gay trade may be Gay. And, of course, all of the Thunder and Clippers players who'll be watching the Grizz in the conference finals from their living rooms.

Follow @TheRealHojnacki

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Memphis Grizzlies Enter Elite Club of Ugly NBA Powerhouses

Grant Hughes — Thu, 16 May 2013 03:07:12 -0400

The Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder by a final score of 88-84 in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals. And in typical "grit 'n grind" fashion, the Grizz notched their win with a style that was far from aesthetically appealing, but still damned effective.

Memphis made only 37 percent of its shots and knocked down a grand total of three triples, but thanks to its defense, those numbers were enough.

The results are in: Ugly wins.

By adopting and embracing a brutally physical, defense-first style, Memphis has turned itself into one of those rare title contenders that gets the job done without a whole lot of flair. Thinking back on champions past, the vast majority had some kind of conventional superstar whose dazzling offensive skills pushed his team over the top.

Guys like Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James are supposed to lead their teams to titles. Since when does someone like Marc Gasol belong in that group?

Well, he doesn't. Not really, anyway.

It's important to note here that Gasol might very well be a superstar—just not in the conventional sense. He was rightfully acknowledged this year as the league's best defensive player, and his skills as a facilitator make him one of the 10 most impactful two-way threats in the league.

But he's not a highlight generator, and very little of what he does well is readily apparent to casual viewers. He's great, but not in a way that syncs up with what we've grown used to seeing from the best players on championship-caliber teams.

And in a broader sense, the Grizzlies don't really measure up to other championship clubs we've seen recently, either.

There are some elements of the 1999 San Antonio Spurs, in that Gasol and Zach Randolph give them a hulking tandem up front that compares reasonably well to Tim Duncan and David Robinson.

At the same time, they've got elements of the 2004 Detroit Pistons, who got by with defense and a total team approach that eschewed the notion that superstars were necessary to get rings.

What's interesting is that the Grizzlies do share something with both of those past champions: They've found a way to generate offense to complement what they do on the defensive end of the floor. Appropriately, though, Memphis has been using its bulk and physicality to get the job done.

Of the teams that advanced to the conference semifinals, the Grizzlies rank first in points in the paint (41.7 per game), second in second-chance points (14.7 per game) and fourth in points off turnovers (16.2 per game). When you don't have a stable of reliable outside shooters or a dominant wing scorer, these are the ways you have to generate points.

Coupled with the Grizzlies' incredibly low turnover rate (only 11 percent of their possessions have ended in giveaways, which is the best figure of any postseason team), the subtle ways they use their size and strength to maximize scoring opportunities has actually resulted in an offense (104.4 points per 100 possession in 11 playoff games) that would have ranked among the league's top 10 in the regular season.

But I think we're all in agreement that Memphis' excellent play has had little to do with its offense.

The Grizzlies defend at a level that was exceeded (by the slimmest of margins) during the regular season by only the Indiana Pacers. To a man, the Grizzlies take pride in dominating individual matchups by being more physical than their opponents.

Gasol and Randolph beat up Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan in the first round, and they followed it up by wearing out Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins (a physical player in his own right) in the second.

In addition, Tony Allen, Quincy Pondexter and Tayshaun Prince conspired to make Kevin Durant's semifinal series a black-and-blue nightmare. Mission accomplished.

There might be a couple of caveats to lumping the Grizzlies in with the league's best "ugly" teams in recent years. After all, they've feasted on the two worst-coached clubs of the 2013 postseason crop. Vinny Del Negro trotted out a lineup in the fourth quarter of an elimination game that had played only a handful of minutes together during the year.

And we all know how poorly Scott Brooks' offense adjusted to the loss of Russell Westbrook.

Let's not take anything away from the Grizzlies, though. They beat teams into submission during the regular season, and they're doing the same thing now.

We don't yet know whether the Grizzlies will face the Golden State Warriors or the Spurs in the Western Conference finals. But one thing's for sure: Memphis' ugly effectiveness makes it a threat to beat absolutely anyone.

*All stats via NBA.com and ESPN.com unless otherwise indicated.

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Marc Gasol Proving in 2013 NBA Playoffs He's Memphis Grizzlies' Real Star

Dan Favale — Wed, 15 May 2013 18:53:14 -0400

Rudy Gay who?

That's the rhetorical question Marc Gasol and his Memphis Grizzlies have earned the right to ask.

When they traded Gay to the Toronto Raptors, there were plenty of mixed emotions. Depending on who was speaking, Memphis was either better off or absolutely screwed.

Now on the verge of a Western Conference Finals appearance, the latter is no longer a narrative. The former is hardly discussed, either. It's all "What can't this team do?" talk.

Since dealing Gay, the Grizzlies are 34-14 (playoffs included), exacted revenge on the Los Angeles Clippers, handing them a first-round exit and have garnered an ample amount of championship-caliber conversation.

With the Western Conference more wide open (and confusing) than it's ever been, the Grizzlies have never been in a better position to advance right on through to the NBA Finals.

Spearheading Memphis' surge is Gasol.

Zach Randolph was the Grizzlies' All-Star this year, Mike Conley is playing like a top-tier point guard and Tony Allen and Tayshaun Prince are doing their thing, but it's Gasol who has emerged as Memphis' primary star.

Before, Gasol may have generated some attention. It was Gay, however, who was considered the Grizzlies' biggest name, mostly because he was paid to be.

Masked by both Gay's success and shortcomings, though, was Gasol. He wasn't a menial piece of Memphis' puzzle, but he wasn't "the piece" either.

Then Gay was traded, and at first Gasol wasn't handed the keys to the Grizzlies. They became one of those success-by-committee stories. The Denver Nuggets of defensive competence, if you will. Housing two All-Stars—one of whom was Gasol (2012)—didn't change that. Neither did Gasol's ensuing performance.

Prior to Gay's departure, Gasol was averaging 13.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.9 blocks per game on 47.9 percent shooting from the floor. Life without Gay saw his numbers increase ever so slightly, but not exponentially. Following the trade, he put up 14.5 points, eight rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.6 blocks on 50.4 percent shooting.

It was more, but not superstar more. Not this-is-my-team more.

Once the playoffs rolled around and Gasol's minutes were increased, though, he went off.

Through his first 10 contests, he put up averages of 19.1 points, eight rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.1 blocks a night on 48.5 percent shooting. His usage rate has climbed above 20 percent and the Grizzlies are a plus-21.8 points per 100 possessions with him on the floor compared to without.

Memphis has become his team. And he's taken ownership of it.

The new reality that Gasol and the Grizzlies are thriving in was never more evident than it was in Game 4 against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Down by as many as 17 points, the Grizzlies clawed their way back to force overtime. It was there that Gasol drilled a jumper with 22 seconds remaining to ice Memphis' victory and ensured his team a 3-1 series lead.

In that moment, the debate was officially over. No more gimmicks, no more illusions, no more confusion—the Grizzlies are Gasol's team.

"I'm lucky it went in," Gasol said afterward to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com.

Lucky. Right. Fortunate that he finds himself in a position of influence, almost as if it was by accident. Like he didn't deserve it.

Only he does deserve it.

Gasol has worked hard to get to this point. He's now the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, a former (and inevitably recurring) All-Star and leading a championship contender. He's paid his dues, spent years behind Gay and much of this season behind Randolph.

He's earned this.

Once considered a throw-in in the Pau Gasol trade—which no longer seems like a disaster—Gasol has made a name for himself. He's not Pau's taller, stronger and hairier brother. Nor is he Gay, Randolph or anyone's sidekick. He is the Grizzlies. Memphis' championship dreams live on through him.

"I just try to win. I take ownership of the team," Gasol explained. "Everybody has to do the same thing. You have to earn respect, show people what you're all about, and the team will follow you."

Five years and one Rudy Gay trade later, the Grizzlies are following Gasol.

To where, exactly? The Western Conference Finals? NBA Finals? A championship?

We don't know just yet. Wherever it is, it's someplace special.

Somewhere only he can lead them.

Follow @danfavale

*All stats in this article were compiled from Basketball-Reference, NBA.com and 82games.com unless otherwise attributed.

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Playoff Grades for Every Memphis Grizzlies Player so Far

Tom Firme — Wed, 15 May 2013 07:25:49 -0400

Memphis Grizzlies players are roaring through the first two rounds of the playoffs with impassioned play. Key players have wowed those unfamiliar with their prowess and a couple reserves have caught onlookers' attention.

The proudest performances are coming from the Grizzlies' core players, as Lionel Hollins has leaned hard on them. Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph are causing problems, as they're combining for 39 points per game. Mike Conley had a big first round and is continuing to punch it in the hoop like few knew he could before the Rudy Gay trade.

The Grizzlies' bench has been mostly quiet. Only Jerryd Bayless and Quincy Pondexter have jumped off their seats to score in double figures. Darrell Arthur is the only other Memphis reserve putting in double-digit minutes per game.

Follow along to see grades on every Grizzlies player who has put in significant minutes.

Stats are current through May 14 games.

Advanced metrics come from basketball-reference.com.

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NBA Picks: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Memphis Grizzlies, Game 4

Jeff Grant — Mon, 13 May 2013 16:49:56 -0400

The Memphis Grizzlies have won 18 of their past 19 home games dating back to the regular season, which is important to consider when making your NBA picks Monday, as they meet up with the Oklahoma City Thunder at FedExForum.

Sports bettors will find that the Grizzlies are 4.5-point favorites in the pro basketball odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total sits at 184.5 in the market.

Let's take a closer look at Game 4 of this Western Conference semifinal series from a betting perspective, while offering up an against-the-spread pick along the way.

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The 2013 NBA Playoffs' Elephant in the Closet

Tom Firme — Mon, 13 May 2013 04:53:46 -0400

Now that the Memphis Grizzlies have taken hold of the series with the Oklahoma City Thunder, this one-time doormat can no longer be ignored. Memphis' contender status is beginning to become audible.

National commentators are starting to notice the team that scares all others.

ESPN Forecast gave the Grizzlies a 60 percent chance of making the NBA Finals, after granting them a 33 percent shot at the beginning of the conference semifinals.

In an SI.com roundtable discussion, Ian Thomsen declared the Grizz to be the likely finals team from the Western Conference. However, he shaded it with the injury factor, saying, "...injuries to [Russell] Westbrook and the [Los Angeles] Clippers' Blake Griffin have surely helped."

Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles raised the possibility that Memphis could be the biggest threat from the West to the Miami Heat while calling the men in the three shades of blue "overachievers."

That people don't factor the Grizzlies into the group of contenders is completely understandable. They don't have a player recognized by national media members to be a star. ESPN play-by-play analyst Mike Tirico remarked during Game 1 that the Grizz don't have a star, which triggered this tweet from Grantland's Zach Lowe.

Marc Gasol may not strike many as star material since his core stats don't jump off the page. He only averages 14.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and four assists per game. But his great play is expressed by what basic numbers can't say.

While some would call his 49.4 percent field-goal clip subpar for a center, it's just fine since he takes numerous jumpers, hitting 44.1 percent from 10 to 16 feet and 48.8 percent from between 16 feet and the three-point line.

Mike Conley is also largely overlooked because of his assist numbers. Conley averaged 6.1 assists per game, including 7.1 per game after the Rudy Gay trade. Two things complicate those numbers. First, he shares facilitation responsibilities with Marc Gasol.

Second, the Grizzlies are not a spectacular shooting team. Before the Gay trade, they shot 43.8 percent from the field. Afterwards, that number improved to 45.9 percent.

Additionally, the 25-year-old runs the slowest offense in the league, with a pace of 88.4 possessions per 48 minutes.

While it weighs down his numbers, that's part of the genius of Conley. He wears down opponents on defense, and then breaks them down once he gets his team in the half court.

Heavyweight hoopers and their teams are judged to a greater extent by their scoring abilities. The Grizzlies' leading active scorer is Zach Randolph with 15.4 per game. If Memphis makes the finals, they'd be the first team since the 2001-02 New Jersey Nets to do so without a 16-points-per-game scorer.

Just scoring 20 points in a game is praiseworthy for a Grizzlies player since they only had two 30-point performances in the regular season.

But that's not the point for these grinders. Memphis defends rapaciously at every position. Every Grizz starter allows 102 or fewer points per 100 possessions; four finished the regular season in the top 15 in that category.

Gasol and Randolph have shut down Serge Ibaka, Kendrick Perkins and Nick Collison, holding them to 30.8, 14.3 and 28.6 percent shooting, respectively. Ibaka's miserable shooting caused CBSSports.com's Royce Young to tweet this during Game 3:

The Grizz have also limited Reggie Jackson, who the Thunder expected to pick up some of the slack with Westbrook out. Jackson averaged 12.7 points per game in the first three contests with Memphis after averaging 17.3 over the last four against the Houston Rockets.

Kevin Durant isn't immune to the sinking teeth of the Grizz. He finished with 25 points in Game 3, but missed eight of his last 11 field-goal attempts.

Perhaps pundits like Shelburne will continue to label this team that's never reached the conference finals "overachievers." Maybe a series win against the Thunder would be dismissed because one of OKC's dynamic scorers was injured.

At least they'll acknowledge that the spector of the "grit 'n' grind" is rising. Fortunately, they've awakened to the fact that the Grizz ripped apart a former flavor-of-the-month team in the Los Angeles Clippers and lead the top-seeded Thunder.

Even though folks have noticed the noise coming from the closet, they'll mostly be taken aback when the Grizzlies break out of the West, having dismantled each of the conference's favorites.

Advanced metrics come from basketball-reference.com.

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Memphis Grizzlies Center Marc Gasol Is the New Most Interesting Man in the World

Dan Favale — Sun, 12 May 2013 09:53:13 -0400

Stay thirsty for Marc Gasol, my friends.

Had there been any doubt as to what the face of a "grit and grind" franchise like the Memphis Grizzlies looked like, it's been erased now.

Following the Grizzlies' 87-81 Game 3 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder, team owner Robert Pera tweeted a picture of Gasol as the Dos Equis man, calling him "the most interesting basketball player in the world."

Pera also called Mike Conley the best point guard in the league while taking a jab at Chris Paul. And after Gasol's 20-point, nine-rebound, four-assist and two-block performance, he may be on to something.

The visual evidence Para uses is compelling.

Gasol looks dapper sitting there with a basketball, cigar and pensive (slightly angry?) look on his face. And it's convincing. You're left believing that all of his moves are, in fact, go-to moves.

And because one picture and a single slogan is never enough, Pera had others made as well.

There's an identical image that shows Gasol after he gave Zach Randolph "the talk" (no wonder he looks kind of angry).

There's also one that shows he is "literally" able to give 110 percent.

Who needs the Dos Equis man when you've got 7'1", 265 pounds worth of Gasol dressed like this?

Hopefully Gasol begins to show up to the arena dressed the part so that the illusion won't be ruined. Doing postgame interviews with a cigar in his hand would be a nice touch as well.

Few owners take to Twitter to even offer congratulations for their players, yet here Pera is making memes in support of his. How do you top that?

You can't. You can only hope that there are more photoshopped masterpieces to follow.

Color me interested. And yeah, also a bit thirsty.

Follow @danfavale

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Memphis Grizzlies Bringing Back Old-School Defense in Playoff Stand vs. Thunder

Maxwell Ogden — Sat, 11 May 2013 22:58:34 -0400

In Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals series, the Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder by a score of 87-81. As a result of their victory, the Grizzlies have taken a 2-1 series lead with Game 4 set to transpire in Memphis.

In the process, the Grizzlies have brought back old-school defense to the 2013 NBA playoffs.

Memphis made waves during the 2012-13 regular season, trading franchise player Rudy Gay, sharpshooter Wayne Ellington and future big man Marreese Speights. With those moves, it was widely speculated that the Grizzlies had quit on their 2013 title hopes.

Oh, how wrong we've been.

The Grizzlies finished the regular season at fifth in the Western Conference with a record of 56-26. For perspective, that would have led the Grizzlies to a seeding of second in the Eastern Conference.

They did it all with defense.

Upon trading Gay, the Grizzlies proceeded to lose three of their next four games, and thus, temporarily confirmed the notion that they were weaker without their star. From that point onward, Memphis went 26-8.

They did so by leading the NBA in scoring defense at 89.3 points allowed per game—the only team to allow less than 90.0.

During Game 3, it was more of the same, as the Grizzlies held the Thunder to 36.4 percent shooting from the field. Not only were the Thunder unable to shoot consistently but there wasn't an angle on the floor that they were able to get off a clean look.

Just check the shot chart.

The question is simple, at this point—how is Memphis this good?

Elite Perimeter Defense

The word elite is often utilized without care, labeling any player with a sign of quality play as one of the best in the world. The truth of the matter is, the Memphis Grizzlies' perimeter defense is beyond worthy of the label.

They're one of the best we've seen in recent memory.

Tony Allen is a proven commodity, pairing smashmouth, in-your-face defense with patience as a ball hawk. That led to Allen earning the most votes in a poll of the NBA's general managers that named him the top perimeter defender in the NBA.

Allen was the No. 1 selection in 2011-12 and 2012-13.

Alongside Allen is another powerful defensive force in point guard Mike Conley. Conley's placed in the top three in steals per game in each of the past two seasons and ranked sixth in 2010-11.

Anyone who'd like to debate Conley's star defensive status, just check the numbers.

Per Synergy Sports, the former Ohio State Buckeye allowed 0.67 points per isolation play. By comparison perennial All-Defensive Team selection Chris Paul allowed 0.88 per ISO situation and LeBron James let up 0.81.

Conley is elite defensively.

To round it all off, the Grizzlies added four-time All-Defensive Team selection and former NBA champion Tayshaun Prince. In turn, the Grizzlies have effectively constructed one of, if not, the best defensive trios in the league.

And we haven't even touched on the 2013 Defensive Player of the Year.

Punishing Interior

The Memphis Grizzlies may not be the "Bad Boy" Detroit Pistons, but they're eerily similar to the 2004 championship version. They boast an elite defensive perimeter, are led by the Defensive Player of the Year at center and boast an offensive power at power forward.

They also have Prince, but who's nitpicking?

The key to Memphis' defense is center and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Marc Gasol. Not only was Gasol responsible for 1.7 blocks and 1.0 steal per game, but he anchored the league's top-ranked scoring defense.

With his presence established, the Grizzlies have effectively cut off the paint for an Oklahoma City Thunder team that thrives on jump shooting and slashing to the basket.

Russell Westbrook may be gone, but OKC's formula for offense is to run through Kevin Durant and Kevin Martin. When their jump shooting isn't the target, Reggie Jackson has been effectively attacking the basket.

With that being said, Game 3 was a statement game—the Thunder posted a team slash line of .364/.278/.632.

How It Works

Regardless of whom they draw, the Memphis Grizzlies have the defensive answer for the opposition. They have elite isolation defenders on the perimeter, length at the forward spots and a center that earned the Defensive Player of the Year award.

So how does it all work?

What the Grizzlies do best is press their men along the perimeter. Mike Conley and Tony Allen are masters of doing this, as they can swipe the ball free or simply force the ball-handler to give up their dribble.

A major reason for their confidence in playing such aggressive perimeter defense is the caliber of defenders behind them.

If an opponent is to beat Conley or Allen off the bounce, they'll likely look to attack the lane or drive-and-dish. In the case of the latter strategy, Prince's length is a weapon that not only disrupts passing lanes, but closes them off.

This leaves the unfavorable alternative of finishing in the lane.

Zach Randolph may not be the most decorated defender, but he's 6'9" and 260 pounds of power and rebounding prowess. Not only does he know how to use his physicality down low, but he forces opponents to alter the trajectory of their drive.

Now you meet Gasol.

Gasol finished the season with average of 1.7 blocks per game, but it's not just about swatting shots. Gasol has superb recovery ability when stepping off of his man, which enables him to contest a slasher's shot or react to his diving assignment.

To put it simply, Memphis covers all bases defensively—something we haven't seen in a long, long time.

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