5 reasons Patrick Ewing needs to coach the Memphis Grizzlies

By John Buhler | May 13, 2016

Oct 8, 2013; Asheville, NC, USA; Charlotte Bobcats assistant coach Patrick Ewing stands on the court during a timeout in the game against the Atlanta Hawks at the U.S. Cellular Center.The Hawks defeated the Bobcats 87-85. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /

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May 1, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Charlotte Hornets associate coach Patrick Ewing looks on before game seven of the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Ideal coaching strengths for current Grizzlies group.

Not only does Ewing offer the right kind of throwback coaching philosophies that would get the most out of the 2016-17 Grizzlies, but he would also offer a fresh perspective in both the locker and on the sidelines for Memphis.

Nobody is saying this, but hiring either Vogel or Blatt would give off similar vibes to what the Grizzlies already had in Joerger. With Vogel, it would be that Memphis would have trade one top 10-15 defensive-minded head coach for another. With Blatt, Memphis would be getting another notorious know-it-all with questionable diplomatic skills.

While he was an intense competitor, Ewing is a well-respected, maybe even a beloved assistant coach across the Association. He’d be able to convey messages to the team and speak with management in a way that always-cranky Hollins and hyper-intellectual Joerger never could.

Defense first will be the way Memphis will have to win the first few years of the Ewing era, but don’t think for a second that he wouldn’t draw up some great low post maneuvers to get a certain bucket out of timeouts. Old habits die hard for the Hall of Fame center.

The biggest challenge for Ewing as a head coach would be if he can help the horrendous jump shooting team in Memphis join the pace and space era of the NBA, or can at least hang with teams should the game call for an up-tempo approach.

Whether or not he was responsible for the Hornets’ improved offensive game in 2015-16 from beyond the arc, he had to have picked up on a few things during the Hornets’ much improved season from distance that could aid the Grizzlies in getting out of the bottom three in three-point shooting in 2016-17.

Vogel is going to pick where he wants to go. While the Magic seem like an ideal fit for the former Pacers head coach, should Memphis want to act quickly and fill their coaching vacancy, why not take a chance on Ewing?

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