The Grit-and-Grind era, which put Memphis in the consciousness of the NBA, came to an end when the Grizzlies were beaten in the first round of the playoffs by the Spurs. It was the climb up the mountain that the Grizzlies could never complete. Zach Randolph and Tony Allen depart and the page is turned.
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ICYMI
Zach Randolph, who had turned around his career and personal reputation and was a cornerstone of Grit ’N Grind, was not re-signed … Team decided to let “The Grindfather” Tony Allen move on … Veteran guard Vince Carter was also allowed to walk … Ben McLemore was signed to a two-year, $10.2 million deal and shortly thereafter suffered a broken bone in his right foot while playing pickup basketball … Ivan Rabb was top pick in Draft … Traded 3-point specialist Troy Daniels to Suns for a second-round Draft pick.
THREE POINTS
1. It was time to move on. After grinding things out with a low post focused offense for nearly a decade and never getting to the head of the Western Conference class, the Grizzlies make a commitment to play at a faster pace and score more and now must deliver.
2. Under first year coach David Fizdale, the Grizzlies climbed from near the bottom of NBA in shooting 3-pointers to a spot in the middle of the pack. Now they’re hoping McLemore can take them higher as the first bonafide perimeter wing scorer since Rudy Gay left town.
3. With the departures of Allen and Randolph, the Grizzlies will have to scramble keep their place as a top-10 ranked defense. Last season they were seventh in the NBA, which allowed a less than average offense to get by.
MAN ON THE SPOT
Chandler Parsons could be the most disliked person in the city of Memphis. After signing a $94-million max free agent contract in 2016, he ended his third straight season on the shelf with a knee injury.
STARTING FIVE
Mike Conley | 20.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 6.3 apg
Point guard needs a consecutive career-high season to keep team in playoff contention
Ben McLemore | 8.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 0.8 apg
When healthy, solid 3-point shooter gets a fresh start with Grizzlies.
Marc Gasol | 19.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 4.6 apg
Three-time All-Star wheels, deals and shoots jumpers from the middle.
Chandler Parsons | 6.2 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.6 apg
Biggest free-agent bust of 2016-17 desperately needs a dose of redemption.
Brandan Wright | 6.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 0.5 apg
Journeyman big with decent offense missed 54 games following knee surgery.
KEY RESERVES
Tyreke Evans | 10.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.1 apg
Eight-year veteran coming off career-best season from behind the 3-point line.
Mario Chalmers | 10.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 3.4 apg
Veteran returning after missed season due to ruptured Achilles tendon.
Ivan Rabb | Rookie
Big man with 7-foot-2 wingspan and offensive moves, needs to bulk up to thrive.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Grizzlies are in a tough spot, trying to change their offensive identity from Grit-and-Grind to play more pace-and-space at a time when the Western Conference is as loaded with as many good teams as ever. Making playoffs might be too much to ask.
Fran Blinebury has covered the NBA since 1977. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.
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