The Memphis Grizzlies have made significant changes to their coaching staff and game strategy as they prepare for the upcoming NBA playoffs. Assistant player development specialist Noah LaRoche has been brought on. In the meantime, Tuomas Iisalo takes over to coach speed and pace-and-space offense. Taken together, these moves signal a change in the Bay Area team’s gameplay approach. They prioritize spacing and abandon the whole high pick-and-roll start here with the guard. These moves perhaps made sense given the contrast with the Grizzlies’ immediate counterproductive results, wherein the team has gone 8-13 since the All-Star break.
LaRoche joined the Grizzlies after working as an analytics consultant with the San Antonio Spurs. His experience, they hope, will help player development, especially in developing younger players and molding a winning culture within the team. With the Grizzlies aiming to refine their offensive strategy, LaRoche’s expertise will play a crucial role in implementing new drills and techniques that align with the team’s evolving philosophy.
New Offensive Philosophy
The Grizzlies’ new offense places a premium on spacing, almost completely eliminating the team’s use of pick-and-rolls and dribble handoffs. This approach creates more opportunities for players to get square into catch-and-shoot position. More importantly, it plays right into the strengths of their star guard Ja Morant. As of writing this, the team is averaging 49.8 BSPDs per game (6th in NCAA). It’s the lowest figure in the NBA since this stat was first tracked back in the 2013-14 season.
Morant has been upfront about his ambivalence towards this new, more perilous style of play. Further complicating this, despite the advantages it’s presented him with, he’s been pretty timid when it comes to moving off the ball more often. “Whatever coach wanna call, man, I’m fine with it,” he stated, yet he noted the importance of retaining some of his old playing style: “A little bit of Ja, the old Ja.”
The changes help maximize Morant’s insane athleticism while generating better shooting looks for his teammates. This transition may take time, but Morant has indicated that he is noticing positive outcomes: “I’m seeing a lot of different looks now… I’m getting a lot of catch-and-shoot opportunities, back cuts, catch on the run, so I feel like it plays right into my hands and allows me to get better looks and not have to create so much.”
Coaching Changes and Team Dynamics
The recent hiring of Tuomas Iisalo as the head coach of their G League team is another example of the Grizzlies smart strategy. Iisalo’s mandate was mostly to improve the squad’s speed and transition offense – both key areas of Morant’s game. The Grizzlies think bringing in Brad Stevens’ older brother, a more seasoned veteran coach, would be the move to inject some discipline and maturity into that unit. The franchise is committed to fostering a healthy environment for both Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., encouraging them to respect and learn from their coaches.
Even with these hopeful advances, morale within the team seems to be at a historical low. As one insider noted, “Players are not idiots.” This short statement illustrates a number of deeper issues that may not be readily apparent. Another team source mentioned, “You could just tell no one was on the same page,” suggesting that unity within the team might be challenged as they adapt to new strategies.
Like the Pelicans, the Grizzlies have been working on shaping their roster for peak performance come playoff time. They just dealt Marcus Smart to Washington in a pre-trade-deadline salary-dump deal. Memphis has its sights set on extending the contracts of cornerstones Jackson and Santi Aldama this summer.
Looking Ahead to the Playoffs
Memphis is looking forward to a likely first-round matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers. Both teams have hit a rough patch lately. Their record since the All-Star break is just 8-13, and 6-7 with Morant on the floor. The Lakers have been just as bad, having lost four of their five games in March.
P.J. Green’s observations about the wins and losses in Memphis ring true. He stated, “Memphis is going to get their reality check,” highlighting the challenges that lie ahead for the Grizzlies as they face off against a formidable opponent in the playoffs.
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