Fansided

Every NBA team’s worst iteration ever

By Rich Kraetsch

BOSTON - NOVEMBER 20: Guard Chris Herren and coach Rick Pitino's expressions on the bench reflected their loss against the 76ers. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
BOSTON - NOVEMBER 20: Guard Chris Herren and coach Rick Pitino's expressions on the bench reflected their loss against the 76ers. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
16 of 31
Next
MEMPHIS, TN – APRIL 27: Head Coach David Fizdale of the Memphis Grizzlies gives instruction during a timeout in Game Six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on April 27, 2017 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Joe Robbins/NBAE via Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN – APRIL 27: Head Coach David Fizdale of the Memphis Grizzlies gives instruction during a timeout in Game Six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on April 27, 2017 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Joe Robbins/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Memphis Grizzlies (2017-18, 22-60, -5.81 SRS)

Any of the first, well, four years of the expansion Vancouver Grizzlies could fit as the worst iteration for the franchise but as mentioned in other team’s I just don’t feel right choosing expansion teams.

With that said, man were the Grizzlies abhorrent their first few years in the league. They came into the NBA in 1995-96 and went 15-67 (-9.55 SRS) under head coach Brian Winters. Things got much worse in 1996-97 as the Grizzlies go off to a 8-35 start. Winters was let go in favor of Stu Jackson. Jackson went 6-33. The Grizzlies finished 14-68 with one of the worst SRS numbers in history at -10.17. It would take until 1999-00 for the Grizzlies to win 20 games (they won 22). The team wouldn’t be above the .500 mark until 2003-04, three years into the team’s tenure in Memphis.

Despite the horrid first years in the league, we don’t have to look too far into history for the absolute worst iteration of the Grizzlies: 2017-18.

After years of instability and up and down play the Grizzlies established a winning culture in Memphis beginning with a Western Conference Semifinals run in 2010-11. Over the next six seasons Memphis would make it to the playoffs each year, win more than 50 games three times and even make it as far as the Western Conference Finals in 2012-13. The team that was once the laughing stock of the league became one of its model franchises establishing a model of “Grit and Grind”

Then 2017-18 happened.

Sitting at 7-12, Memphis fired head coach David Fizdale. The firing had less to do with results on the court (though the team did lose eight straight games) and more to do with a growing friction between Fizdale and one of his star players Marc Gasol. Fizdale was launched and all the Grizzlies problems were solved.

Not exactly. The team cratered going 15-48 the remainder of the season under interim head coach J.B. Bickerstaff. Reliable star Mike Conley missed all but 12 games of the season, Marquis Teague played three games and overall Memphis suited up 24 different players with 17 getting starting nods. Tyreke Evans—he of just 52 games and 32 starts—was the team league in VORP at just 2.3.

Home/NBA