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Memphis Grizzlies Coach Dave Joerger Takes Dig At NBA Scheduling (Video)

By Phil Watson

Nov 3, 2014; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies head coach Dave Joerger motions to his team during the second half against the New Orleans Pelicans at FedExForum. Memphis defeated New Orleans 93-81. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 3, 2014; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies head coach Dave Joerger motions to his team during the second half against the New Orleans Pelicans at FedExForum. Memphis defeated New Orleans 93-81. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Memphis Grizzlies improved to 6-0 Friday with a 91-89 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, but coach Dave Joerger took issue with the NBA’s national TV slate.

Memphis Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger celebrated his team’s 91-89 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder Friday night by taking a little swipe at the NBA’s national TV schedule.

It was the sixth straight win to open the season for the Grizzlies, who have made the playoffs four straight seasons and have been a 50-win team the last two.

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And obviously Joerger was blowing smoke—there’s no way a perennial contender such as the Grizzlies could be making their only nationally televised appearance of the season in the first week of November.

After all, the woeful Los Angeles Lakers are scheduled to be on national TV 20 times, so there has to be more opportunities for a good team to get on the tube, right?

Wrong.

Joerger spoke the truth—Memphis’ lone national TV appearance was on ESPN Friday night.

That does not include their seven scheduled appearances on NBA TV, which is not available in many parts of the country (including this writer’s location, damn you, Charter!).

So why is a team as good as the Grizz being ignored?

That’s probably because their games can be painful to watch. The grit-and-grind Grizzlies are very successful, but they are lacking in the whole “aesthetically pleasing” category.

Their offense runs the shot clock down to 23.9 seconds just about every possession (OK, so they are ranked 23rd in the NBA in pace at 91.9 possessions per game, but still).

Their offense ranks 25th in the league at 93.2 points per game and, really, there’s only so many times you can watch Zach Randolph pound the ball into the floor while backing his man down before it gets a bit mind-numbing.

Still, it’s a bit hard to believe that the Grizzlies rated the same number of national TV appearances as the Utah Jazz (last relevant in the late 1990s) and one fewer than the Detroit Pistons and Josh “Please For The Love Of God Stop Shooting From Out There” Smith.

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