NBA Free Agency 2017: 5 offseason needs for the Memphis Grizzlies
By John Buhler
1. Can we get a two-point field goal, please?
The Grizzlies struggled on the glass and their shooting efficiency was absolutely atrocious. Memphis was especially lousy in 2-point field goal percentage, as the Grizzlies finished 29th in the league in that category.
Getting easy buckets in the paint had been the bread and butter for the Grizzlies for the last several years. Struggling to make noise in the mid-range game was startling. The Grizzlies were slightly more efficient thanks to the indoctrination of Fizdale’s 3-ball way, having had the 19th best offensive rating in the league. But if they could have kept control inside of the arc too, they would have really had something.
We can’t expect Memphis’ offense to resemble the Houston Rockets’ of 3s, layups and free throws overnight. Rome wasn’t built on a day and Grit N’ Grind won’t die easy. That being said, it’ll be hard to allow the current Grizzlies basketball brand to continue if they can’t even make 2-point field goals consistently.
Including Parsons, five players that played in over 30 games for the Grizzlies shot under 40 percent from the field. The bulk of them play out on the wing. If shooting guards can’t shoot, then what are they? Probably just not very good at their job.
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No, the Grizzlies don’t need a two-point specialist the caliber of the Toronto Raptors’ DeMar DeRozan, but a suitable mid-range game from somebody that can handle the basketball not named Allen or Conley would be a real treat for the Grizzlies. If Memphis does undergo a youth movement, rebounding and shooting would be the two areas of emphasis for Fizdale and general manager Chris Wallace.