Memphis Grizzlies Predictions

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Last Year’s Record: 41-25
Key Losses: O.J. Mayo, Dante Cunningham
Key Additions: Jerryd Bayless, Wayne Ellington, Tony Wroten

Player Outlooks

Centers

Marc Gasol

Gasol has developed into one of the top centers in the NBA. He is coming off his first All-Star appearance, as he averaged nearly 15 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks a game last year. Gasol’s biggest attribute is his defense, but he is more than capable of holding his own offensively. He is an excellent ball-handler and an above-average passer for a big man. He is most effective out of the high-post but can sometimes settle for too many jump shots.

Hamed Haddadi

The Grizzlies do an excellent job of putting Haddadi in spots where he can excel, but his limitations on defense and conditioning will likely never allow him to play more than a few minutes a game.

Forwards

Rudy Gay

If Memphis is going to be a serious contender in the Western Conference, they need more production of Gay offensively than what they got a year ago. While he led the team with 19.0 ppg during the regular season, he didn’t shoot the ball well from the outside. He shot a career-worst 31.2% from behind the 3-point line and wasn’t much better on his long distance 2-point attempts. He does excel at finishing around the rim, but avoids contact keeping him from getting easy points at the free throw line. Gay does a solid job on the glass and is a decent shot blocker, but his overall defense isn’t very good.

Zach Randolph

A knee injury limited Randolph to just 28 games (only 8 starts) last year and though he worked his way back into the rotation late in the year, he wasn’t the same player from previous seasons. Whether or not he can return to the form of 2010-11, where he averaged a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds is still up in the air.

Darrell Arthur

Arthur missed the entire season last year with a torn Achilles tendon and there’s some concern that he won’t be the same player. Arthur played a key role off the bench during the 2010-11 campaign, averaging 9 points and 4 rebounds, while shooting nearly 50% from the field. He was an extremely solid pick-and-roll defender who could space the floor on offense with his ability to knock down the midrange jumper.

Marreese Speights

With the injury to Randolph Speights ended up starting 54 games last year. What kind of role he plays this season will likely depend on what Memphis gets out of Arthur. Speights is a very good shooter for a big man, but can sometimes force up shots that aren’t there. He is also an extremely productive rebounder, who gets after the offensive glass, but doesn’t provide a whole lot defensively.

Quincy Pondexter

Pondexter needs to improve his outside shot if he wants to play a bigger role with Memphis this season. He is more than capable of holding his own defensively, but his inability to create his own shot doesn’t allow him to see much playing time.

Guards

Mike Conley

Conley has developed into a reliable floor general, who can frustrate opposing defenses with his floater inside and long-range shooting. The big knock on Conley is he needs to be more aggressive offensively, especially when it comes to taking 3-point shots. He connected on nearly 38% from behind the arc, but only attempted 2.6 3’s a game.

Tony Allen

The Grizzlies led the NBA in forced turnovers last year and Allen was the main culprit. He led all shooting guards in steals/minute and is the true definition of a shutdown defender. Despite the fact that he is a horrible shooter and ironically takes poor care of the basketball, he makes up for it by getting to the basket and converting his free throw attempts.

Jerryd Bayless

Memphis went out and signed Bayless from Toronto in hopes that he can step into the role of O.J. Mayo as a key offensive contributor off the bench. While Bayless only played in 31 games last year, he was very effective when he was on the floor. He shot a career-best 42% from behind the 3-point line and has the ability to attack the rim. He can sometimes rely too much on the outside shot and is only a 35% career shooter from long distance.

Tony Wroten

The Grizzlies are very optimistic about the potential of their rookie first rounder. Wroten has incredible size for a point guard with the ability to attack the hoop offensively and shutdown his opponent on the other side of the ball.

Wayne Ellington

Ellington has the talent defensively to play a key role on this team, but in order for him to get playing time he has to shoot better from behind the 3-point line. He connected on just 32.4% of his attempts from long distance and settled for too many long 2’s.

Team Outlook

The Grizzlies are a difficult team to gauge coming into this season, mainly because we just don’t know what they are going to get out of Randolph. If he can return to his All-Star form this team should have no trouble finishing in the top 5 in the Western Conference. Even if Randolph is back to his old ways, there are still some major concerns with the offense. Defensively this team is going to be one of the better units in the league, but could struggle to score enough points to be a serious threat in the Western Conference. Either way I still have them ranked as the 2nd best team in the Southwest Division behind San Antonio.

Odds to Win the NBA Finals:  35/1

Odds to Win the Western Conference:  18/1

About the Author: Steve will be the first to tell you that College Football is his passion, but he enthusiastically follows the NFL, NBA, College Hoops, and Major League Baseball. Get started today with a premium package from Steve Janus!
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