“FIRST TEAM ALL-OFFENSE!”
Can somebody bottle and sell whatever Memphis Grizzlies head coach Dave Joerger is drinking? Flying into Atlanta for this evening’s game against the Hawks (7:30 PM Eastern, Fox Sports Southeast in ATL; Fox Sports South in MEM) after an overtime thriller against whatever’s left of the Pelicans, the Grizzlies (39-26) are 8-4 since the All-Star Break and still in the Western Conference hunt, despite missing just about everybody who was ever anybody. Joerger can’t even sit down, he’s coaching his (bleep!) off!
The bad juju began when Mister Memphis, Marc Gasol, had to shut it down for the season after fracturing a bone in his foot. His backup, Brandan Wright, just came back from injury when he sprained an MCL and he’s back on the IR.
The Grizzlies made deals to try and compensate, but one of those acquisitions, Chris Andersen, is still questionable with an injured shoulder. Another former Heatle from earlier this season, Mario Chalmers played heroically at times, but now he’s been waived after tearing his Achilles.
Also questionable? Z-Bo. Zach Randolph has missed his last three games with a knee injury. We won’t get to see a matchup of Amnesty Survivor finalists, as Mike Conley remains out indefinitely with a foot injury. Half-Man, Half-Hurt a Lot, Vince Carter bowed out early in last night’s game after aggravating a calf.
So, what’s left? Joerger has had to field a crew that would work well when it’s time to put together a remake of The Warriors. Matt Barnes led the way with 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists last night. Shutdown corner Tony Allen put up a season-high 26 points and added 5 steals as the Grizzlies shocked the Cavs in Cleveland on Monday (the Hawks should note, that game was the back end of a home-road back-to-back).
Off the bench last night, Lance Stephenson came through with an ear-blowing 33 points, and even former Hornet P.J. Hairston is logging major minutes. Upstart JaMychal Green (season-high 21 points and 10 boards last night), rookie Jarrell Martin, and journeyman Ryan Hollins are enjoying the sudden bost to their floortime. D-Leaguer Briante Weber virtually walked in off Beale Street and contributed 10 points and 7 assists as a starter.
What this skeleton crew is allowing Joerger to do is to push the tempo in ways he could not with Randolph and Gasol around. The wins over the Pels and the Cavs featured the Grizzlies (28th in NBA for pace) playing at a pace of about 100 possessions per 48 minutes, something that’s occurred just 4 times this season, usually due to the opposing team. In their eight highest-paced games, Memphis, like Atlanta, is 7-1. They also held a halftime lead against the Celtics on Wednesday before Chalmers got hurt and their legs finally gave out.
In theory, the Hawks should have the energy edge with a day off after falling short in Toronto, on top of the health and depth advantages. In practice, will they have the hunger edge? Memphis would love to get their first sweep of back-to-back games since Thanksgiving, something Atlanta is hoping to gain with this weekend’s home matchups with the Griz and Pacers.
All-Star Paul Millsap (2-for-8 FGs vs. TOR) has to make his presence felt as a rebounder and a scorer. The loss in Toronto dropped Atlanta (36-29) to 2-15 when they achieve a total rebounding percentage of 43% or less. The Hawks are now also 3-14 in games with an effective field goal percentage of 47% of less.
The more effective Millsap and Al Horford are around the low block, the more help they will draw from Barnes and Allen, and the more shooters like Kyle Korver and Tim Hardaway, Jr., can breathe. Allen and Barnes will scratch and claw for turnovers and drawn fouls, so composure will be essential for Kent Bazemore and Thabo Sefolosha to keep the Hawks focused. The wings must also minimize transition buckets against Joerger’s harder-charging crew.
The Hawks have also gotten away from quality ball movement. The assist percentages in the win over Utah and the loss to the Raptors were below 50 percent, two of just four such games this season (1-3) for Atlanta.
Chalmers was the hero for the Grizzlies in Cleveland, but he’s gone now, and the Grizzlies have not had to turn to Weber on back-to-back nights until today. Former Spur guard Ray McCallum has been signed and is likely to be rushed into action tonight, along with center Alex “One N” Stepheson. The difference in floor leadership between Atlanta’s Jeff Teague and/or Dennis Schröder and Memphis’ meager options needs to be obvious on the floor tonight. Atlanta has to give the Grizzlies reasons to consider hibernating.
Let’s Go Hawks!
~lw3
