Grizzlies Need to Get Serious Against the Nuggets
Just going to leave this right here.
Apologies in advance because this isn’t going to be easy like Sunday morning. I’ve got some frustrations weighing down my thought process at the moment, and perhaps an airing of grievances of sorts is what I need to clear my mind and push past this mental roadblock.
The Grizzlies are in serious need of a come to Jesus meeting, and I do feel pretty confident that David Fizdale will have conducted one between Friday night and 4PM CST this afternoon.
That said, there’s some testimony I feel led to share with you, our esteemed readers, testimony directed at/inspired by our Memphis Grizzlies.
So gather ‘round everyone, I’m feeling overcome with the holy spirit of the basketball gods, and I’m about to preach a word.
Dear Grizzlies Squad,
Hi, Aimee here, your friendly neighborhood pedantic editor and armchair basketball analyst. I’m obviously a big fan, and I’ll be ride or die for Memphis, and the Grizzlies, no matter what.
However. I have some questions.
Did you forget how to make free throws, or did y’all just collectively decide that wasn’t going to be a thing anymore? Was there a meeting or a memo that I missed somewhere? Please, help me understand what’s going on.
I know I have said this before, but clearly it bears repeating:
You’ve Got to Make Your Free Throws.
Because 56.5% free throw shooting isn’t ever acceptable. I know this. You know this. Errrybody know this.
Also, while I still remain firmly on Team Pay That Man His Money, I never want to see Mike Conley shoot 0-4 from the charity stripe again as long as I live.
So…let’s never do this again, okay?
Whew. I feel much better now. Moving along…
Grizzlies were 13-23 from the free throw line Friday night, that’s 10 free points left on the table. Ten free points left on the table in a game Memphis loses by, drumroll please, TEN POINTS. (102-92)
Props to a Pacers team that desperately wanted to avoid getting dealt their 7th consecutive loss, it was obvious they wanted that win more than the Grizzlies did.
Which brings us to today, in Denver. Now that we are officially in the stretch run, the Grizzlies need to treat every game like it counts, because right now they do.
Captain Obvious says:
The Grizzlies have to want to win this game more than the Nuggets. They have to want it from the opening tip to the final buzzer, and bring it accordingly. They need to be hungry and play like it.
I hope they looked back at their most recent visit to the Mile High City on February 1 for some inspiration. More like that, and less like…whatever the hell it was we saw Friday night against the Pacers.
As my dear friend Carmen would say, the Grizzlies need to get some get right. Particularly after the hot steaming pile of garbage they’ve been trying to pass off as basketball in their last two games. Yes, I went there. It hurts me to say, but it hurt even more to watch.
Dorothy Parker Bear Says:
Let’s all face the reality that has been presented to us, in regards to the team and certain players. Chandler Parsons isn’t 100%, and while him being able to comfortably play increased minutes is definitely a good thing from a recovery perspective – right now that’s not translating to efficiency on either end of the court. And that isn’t the end of the world.
It’s better for everyone to accept that Parsons isn’t going to be 100% this season, much the way Vince Carter was not in his first season in a Grizzlies uniform. If past is prologue, chances are good that Parsons will be a markedly different (read: better) player next season and beyond.
Which brings me to my most important point of this entire post, something I believe will help increase the likelihood the Grizzlies can come away with a win today against the Nuggets.
As the NBA Twitter kids say these days
Today, against Denver, Vince Carter needs to start at the SF position and Chandler Parsons can come in off the bench with the second unit.
Before NBA Twitter comes for me with a pitchfork, I’m NOT saying this should be a permanent change.
But Vince Carter is indisputably playing better than Chandler Parsons in the last 10 games, and he certainly played better against the Nuggets the last time the Grizzlies were in Denver.
Why not mix it up, and see how it goes?
Who: Memphis Grizzlies @ Denver Nuggets
Where: Pepsi Center – 1000 Chopper Cir, Denver, CO 80204
When: Sunday, February 26 – 4PM CST
TV/Radio Broadcast: Fox Sports Southeast/WMFS – 92.9 FM ESPN 680 AM Memphis
Doesn't bluff, stays grinding.
Bluff City Born and Memphis Made
- Memphis Grizzlies Assistant Coach Niele Ivey Named New Head Coach for Notre Dame Women’s Basketball Team - April 22, 2020
- Notes From Grizzlies Media Day 2019 - October 2, 2019
- Memphis Grizzlies 2019 Training Camp Roster - September 30, 2019
