5 reasons Patrick Ewing needs to coach the Memphis Grizzlies
By John Buhler
2. Defensive-minded coach.
From a tactical standpoint, it would a great deal of sense for the Grizzlies to again go with a defensive-first coach. If Memphis chooses to reload rather than rebuild, which is also not a bad route for them to go down, the Grizzlies could remain competitive in the Western Conference by continuing to trot out a defense-first team like they have during the entire Grit N’ Grind era.
Memphis has already done a stellar job of battling on every possession on both ends of the floor in their patented sluggish pace. While the 2015-16 Pacers were kind of able to do it, the Grizzlies are probably the last team in the NBA that could make an honest attempt at joining the small ball era of the NBA.
Memphis simply does not have the outside shooters nor the stretch four (Zach Randolph is anything but that) to usher in the small ball era on the hardwood. Could the Grizzlies become more of a three-and-d type of team through smart draft selections? Absolutely, but that feels like at least a 2.5-3 year process for Memphis to look radically different in that regard.
Since Ewing already comes from such a strong defensive-minded back ground from all of his great mentors from Thompson to Riley to Van Gundy to now Clifford, he’d fit right in with what the Grizzlies already do best. The best thing Ewing can do is to use what Memphis does well to his advantage early in his head coaching career before he starts enacting his own philosophical principles. Ewing can win with defense in Memphis in 2016-17.
Next: 1. Ideal coaching strengths for current Grizzlies group.