Over the next month, we’ll be talking with a variety of people who cover each NBA team to find out a little bit about their team, and how they expect the season to go. We’ll also find out what they believe will be the most intriguing matchup when the two team’s meet during the regular season. We move onto the Southwest Division with a look at the Memphis Grizzlies. 3ShadesOfBlue contributor Jonathan Louis May answers some questions about the grittiest team in the league. Follow Jon on twitter @Jmay11.
Game Dates
Friday, January 16th @ Orlando
Monday, January 26th @ Memphis
Last Season: 50-32; Finished Seventh in Western Conference; Lost in First Round To Oklahoma City
December 9th: Memphis 94 Orlando 85
February 12th: Orlando 81 Memphis 86
Projected Starters
Point Guard: Mike Conley
Shooting Guard: Tony Allen (Aka The Grindfather)
Small Forward: Tayshaun Prince
Power Forward: Zach Randolph
Center: Marc Gasol
May 1, 2014; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in game six of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at FedExForum. The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 104-84. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports
Q: This is pretty much the same Grizzlies team from last season. What are the real keys for them this season?
A: While there are a lot of the same names on this roster, I think this team will be very different than last season. Obviously staying healthy is the biggest factor. When you stop and look at it with the benefit of hindsight, the fact that the team won 50 games despite missing Marc Gasol and Tony Allen for more than 20 games, and Mike Conley for another dozen is nothing short of remarkable. Indeed, if those guys remained healthy you could make a pretty good argument that the team would have pushed the Clippers for the third-seed at 57 wins.
Gone are Mike Miller, James Johnson, Ed Davis and Jamaal Franklin. In their place the Grizzlies will have Vince Carter, Quincy Pondexter (bear with me), Jarnell Stokes and Jordan Adams. Before you blow me up with emails about not knowing my own team, I understand that Quincy Pondexter was on this team a year ago. However, he had an abysmal start to the season (including a very public showdown with Coach Joerger) before suffering a tarsal navicular fracture and missing the final 67 games of the regular season and the entire playoff series with the Thunder. The Grizzlies have bet on QP returning at full strength and playing at the level he played during the 2012 playoffs. If that bet pays off, the tandem of Pondexter and Vince Carter give the Grizzlies stability at SF for the first time since Rudy Gay departed (and perhaps more importantly, limits the minutes of Tayshaun Prince).
You know what you are going to get from the PG, PF and C positions, not just from the starters but also from their proven backups. The key to the Grizzlies season will be sorting out a rotation among Courtney Lee, Tony Allen, Jordan Adams, Vince Carter, Quincy Pondexter and Tayshaun Prince on the wing. If they find a rotation that works (perhaps pairing TA with Carter and Lee with Pondexter on a “buddy system”?) then this roster will be one of the best, and deepest, in the Western Conference.
Mar 15, 2014; Las Vegas, NV, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Jordan Adams (3) shoots against Arizona Wildcats guard Nick Johnson (13) during the second half in the championship game of the Pac-12 Conference college basketball tournament at MGM Grand Garden Arena. The Bruins defeated the Wildcats 75-71. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Q: Do you think Jordan Adams and Jarnell Stokes will make an impact this season? Both impressed me immensely at Orlando Summer League, and I know coach Joerger was impressed with them as well.
A: Initially, I didn’t expect that Adams would have a role on this team, considering the depth on the wing and the franchise’s history of not letting rookie guards get meaningful run. That has changed after Adams strong summer league performance and the Grizzlies decision to cut ties with Jamaal Franklin. Additionally, I’ve heard grumblings from a couple of different sources that the Grizzlies believe Adams could assume the starting SG role on this team as early as mid-season, and that he’s been told to come to camp ready to compete for a spot in the rotation. If Coach Joerger does what many are suggesting and uses Tony Allen and Quincy Pondexter at the SF position in stretches, it will only further open up time for Adams to get on the floor.
Unlike Adams, I’ve believed from the start that Jarnell Stokes will play a meaningful role for the 2014-2015 Grizzlies. His greatest strength is as a rebounder and that portion of his game is NBA-ready. He has a long way to go to develop an NBA-caliber offensive repertoire, but working under the mentorship of Zach Randolph for the next 3 years will be a huge advantage for him in that regard. The Grizzlies election to let Ed Davis walk without extending a qualifying offer opened up immediate playing time behind Randolph. While I expect Jon Leuer to get an extended look early in the season, as Stokes gets accustomed to the speed of the NBA game, I expect that he and Kosta Koufos will play the bulk of minutes behind Zbo and Gasol.
More from Games
- Orlando Magic FIBA World Cup: Franz Wagner can be a star if he takes it
- 2023 FIBA World Cup: Germany’s success is a model for the Orlando Magic
- Orlando Magic 2023 FIBA World Cup: Paolo Banchero made the right choice with Team USA
- Orlando Magic 2023 FIBA World Cup: Moe Wagner vs. Goga Bitadze
- Orlando Magic FIBA World Cup: Paolo Banchero is blocking shots now
Q: What’s one matchup you’ll be watching when the Magic and Grizzlies clash this season?
A: I mean no disrespect (Editor Note: we’re feeling disrespected) to the Magic when I say this, but there just isn’t a matchup that excites me here. Orlando has some interesting pieces, for sure, but no single player is playing at a high enough level at overlapping positions of strength for Memphis. Assuming both teams are at full strength, Orlando is one of the few teams with the combination of skills and size to take the Grizzlies out of their comfort zone in the paint, and I will be interested to see how Orlando’s bigs play against the Grizzlies. Guys like Channing Frye have always been problematic for ZBo because they don’t operate in the space he is most comfortable, and defending them requires him to get much further from the basket than he (or the team) would like. I think the Vucevic matchup with Gasol is interesting too. Marc was out with the MCL injury during the first matchup last season, and then tweaked his knee during the second game, limiting his impact. I will also be interested to see how Oladipo fares against the Grizzlies (presumably) strong wing defenders – always a good measuring stick for young guards.
Q: What should we expect out of the team this season? Are they gonna be going back to the playoffs? Or do they just miss out in the tough West?
A: With the caveat of health, I absolutely expect this team to make the playoffs this season. In fact, if they can keep their core guys on the floor for most (if not all) of the season, I expect the Grizzlies to fall in the 3-5 seed range, still behind the Spurs and Thunder. The question is not whether they make the playoffs, but rather what do they need to accomplish in the playoffs to (a) satisfy the fan base, and (b) assure Marc Gasol that he can win a title in Memphis if he sees it through. Obviously a first-round exit would be devastating, especially if they secure home-court. Given the playoff experience of this roster, adjusting for match-ups, I think the expectation will be that they advance to the Western Conference Finals. At that point, anything can happen and the fans and Gasol should be content with the progress and projection of the franchise.