Grizzled Vet

It's never good when Pete is mentioning how in the past the team has come back from when it is early 2nd quarter.

Has anyone allowed themselves to look up at the playoff race instead of down on the convey/not convey topic? As of today, the young Grizzlies sit 1.5 games out of 8th in the West (13-21). I think it is safe to say the following: 1. As of the last day of 2019, nobody on this board, including me, expects them to make the playoff this season (please speak up if you do). 2. While the Grizzlies may have slightly exceeded expectations (as have the 17-15 Thunder), several WC teams have greatly underachieved. Spurs 13-18 sit in 8th. The Pelicans and Warriors have been hurt by injuries. Portland and T-Wolves have really disappointed, and the Kings and Suns still are who we thought they were (teams that should be much better than this year's Grizzlies squad, but sit above and below them now). 3. The POTENTIAL is there that if the Grizzlies beat the Kings on 1/2/20, they could be sitting in 8th place (Spurs, Suns and Portland would need to all lose their games through that date. 4. The NBA is a different league for the last 40 games or so of the season. I'm going to say this, I wouldn't mind watching a game again and thinking about playoff implications based on outcome. I don't expect it to be the topic of conversation on this board.....except for maybe in this one tiny thread that might not last 1 week in January, depending on how dumpy the rest of the WC tends to be.

There are too many names being mentioned as unrealistic trade targets. What teams believe they are on a cusp of competing for a championship: they will be dealing picks and young prospects for players who can contribute right now. What teams have to shed salary: they will deal more expensive players for salary relief (right now, not an option as that cap room is currently not available). What teams are "developing young talent"/tanking for the next draft: they will be dealing contributors for young talent and/or draft picks.

Having watched the slide of the Grizzlies in the seeding games, whether or not this team makes the playin game, the thing I am most certain about is that Dillon Brooks either needs to take a huge step forward in his game or a huge step back in minutes played and shots taken. His role should be a leader of the 2nd unit that closes out games when his shot is going in, but otherwise plays 18 minutes a game. Too many guys are playing in roles that are just slightly above their head, which I guess is why this team is 33-38.

The reason to win a couple of the early games was so that games against Milwaukee and Boston weren't must wins. As mentioned before the bubble, if this team goes 2-6 or worse, they won't have earned a playoff spot. They might get to two wins, maybe, but this game will be close until the 4th, and at some point, Boston pulls away to win by 7+ points.

Feel a little bummed that Marc Gasol never got a return trip yet to Memphis since his trade. Hope he is OK with a loss.

Sorry, I didn't clarify. No more games or posting for me today. I'm out of loop for next 20-36 hours. Yes, still games that matter being played today.

Josh should be fighting for his career and a chance to show what he can do, unless he was not doing anything over the break, or he's out of shape and not sharp right now, in which case playing badly or getting hurt kills his FA value. I believe that when he returned, he looked worse than what we are seeing on the floor from the Grizzlies. I don't believe the Grizzlies are trying to "hide" him to keep other teams from seeing how good he is. I'm not saying he's a healthy and finely tuned rest. I just think he's not good at this present time.

OK, no more games today that i will be watching that impact the Grizzlies playoff chances. Assume Grizzlies go 0-8, finishing 32-41 (.438%), here is what the other teams need to do to pass them. Portland 2-3 (33-41 would be final record) Spurs 2-2 puts them at 31-40, which isn't good enough, so they have to go 3-1 (32-39). Kings, Suns and Pelicans are all tied now and would need to go 3-1, or in the Suns case 4-1. So what I'm saying is, I don't think this team goes 0-8 in Orlando. I think it will be 0-9.

Upon further reflection, I wonder if Josh and Melton are playing to not get injured before free agency, possibly having expressed this to Jenkins?

I too have reflected on a comment I made in the Jazz game, and after reflection, I still feel this way: (From Jazz thread) Put in Konchar I've seen enough of Melton in Orlando. He's been terrible this re-start, and he's terrible today. 2-10 from field and 0-4 from field. I'm convinced Josh Jackson, Melton, and Dieng (and Tyus) either didn't pick up a basketball or had no access to a gym. Josh and Melton have hurt their FA value. Tolliver looks like he knows he's fighting for a job, at least. At this point, I'm fine if Melton isn't offered a QO.

Undefeated.

The Mickey Mouse Beignets are warmer there though.

Put in Konchar I've seen enough of Melton in Orlando. He's been terrible this re-start, and he's terrible today. 2-10 from field and 0-4 from field. I'm convinced Josh Jackson, Melton, and Dieng (and Tyus) either didn't pick up a basketball or had no access to a gym. Josh and Melton have hurt their FA value. Tolliver looks like he knows he's fighting for a job, at least. At this point, I'm fine if Melton isn't offered a QO.

I think they wait for swelling to go down.

When players enter the NBA, are they told that if you get the ball with 8 seconds or less in a quarter, dribble around until your only option is a horrible deep three or off-balanced contested shot? I see it way too often.

There hasn't been a 12 man rotation. It's primarily been 8 with Tolliver and Josh Jackson picking up minutes here and there. First game in Orlando, Grizz played 10 guys, with Josh and Tolliver playing 27 minutes combined. Second game, Grizz played 10 guys, with Josh and TOlliver only playing 13 minutes combined. Third game, Grizz only played 9 guys, with Josh not playing and Tolliver playing 9 minutes, and some of that was because JV and JJJ had some foul issues. Maybe they need to get back to playing a 12 man rotation? Ja, JJJ, and BC all played a lot of minutes before going into that third game, which was 2nd in B2B. I just wonder how much some of those guys were working during that break? Grayson got better and healthier. Josh looked worse and Melton looks like he just played video games with Tyus. At this point, I'm all for an expanded rotation to see what some of those guys can do (But don't put Guderic in, I'm not that crazy). But I agree about Brooks. His shot selection isn't going to sit well if he's not making it. I swear, any time the team has been closing down a lead, he kills the momentum with an early in the shot clock attempt or turnover that leads to a fast break the other way. Not sure what game it was where JV scored 2-3 times straight to close the lead, and Dillon took a quick 3 as if he has his own personal shot clock that requires him to shoot at least every 2 minutes, and JV didn't touch the ball until the lead expanded again.

Crazier things in this league have happened in this league than a Grizzlies upset tomorrow. I don't expect it, but hey, who expected to be watching NBA basketball in August while it has been in 70s and 80s in Memphis? I'm just going to try to appreciate the fact I get to watch the Grizzlies play meaningful basketball this extremely long season. I'll try to put a smile on my face that will probably turn straight when Dillon launches his first ill advised shot, and then turn to a frown by mid way through the 1st quarter over another Brooks clanger, but I'll try to still tell myself, "This is still better than no sports"

For at least another few days, Grizz still sit in 8th: And how cool is it that nobody is tied now, with .5 games separating each team? There really aren't that many games left between these teams, except for those involving Pelicans. Portland is 1.5 games back Spurs sit 2 behind Grizz. (Still play Pelicans) Pelicans 2.5 games back (Still play Kings twice and Spurs) Suns sit 3 games back Kings sit 3.5 behind back (Play Pelicans twice)

Not sure the game count is accurate for last year as we were in tank mode to land Ja. However, it still is what it is for Winslow and JJJ, and to compare them to a few of the other "fragile" Grizzlies and the start of their careers: Justise: 241 games in first 5 seasons JJJ: 115 games in first 2 seasons. Chandler Parsons: 139 games in first 2 seasons, 340 games in first 5 seasons(note: First season was lockout year of 66 games) Darrell Arthur: 108 games in first 2 seasons, 256 games in his first 5 (note: Missed all 66 games of that lockout year) Ronnie Brewer: 132 games in first 2 seasons, 352 in first 5 seasons Jordan Adams: 32 games in 2 seasons. So, at least JJJ is not Jordan Adams, and hopefully his injuries are related to his growth, and won't be an issue down the road. I don't have confidence that Justise will play more than 70% of the games next year.

I'm not sure if it is about teams figuring out the Grizzlies, or just the competition playing more intensely at a playoff level and the Grizzlies are young and just aren't that great. And maybe they just aren't playing bad teams to beat them: Record against non-bubble teams: 13-4 Record against teams in bubble that haven't clenched playoffs: 11-12 (11-9 before bubble; 7-10 against WC Bubble teams) Record against teams that have playoff spot clenched: 8-20 Based on that, you might have projected 1-2 from first 3 games and 1-4 from last 5 games. Basically a 2 or 3 wins out of 8 is playing at about the level they had played at most the season against this completition. Atlanta: 2-0 Chicago: 0-2 Minnesota:3-0 GSW: 2-1 Detroit: 2-0 Cleveland: 1-1 Charlotte: 2-0 Knicks: 1-0 Portland: 1-1 (1-0 before bubble) Spurs: 2-2 (2-1 before bubble) Pelicans: 0-3 (0-2 before bubble) Suns: 3-1 Kings: 1-3 Nets: 2-0 Magic: 0-2 Wizards: 2-0

The hope for the restart was that the young guys get some experience, and so that really hasn't changed as nobody really had expectations that this team would make it past the Lakers. However, the problem is that two of the main youngsters are sitting (Winslow and JJJ) and another (Tyus) will probably sit out as well. And we'll probably see what Clark is like in a starting role although he adds a ton to that 2nd unit and plays starters minutes anyway. Time to see if Josh Jackson or Tolliver are worth keeping around for next year, and I"m not opposed to seeing Jontay Porter (if he's healthy and not Thabeet level of lost out there).

Give your 8 game record prediction for the seeding games. For tie-breaker reasons, give the games you think the Grizzlies will win. Tie breaker, give the teams that will be in the 8th & 9th spot. Reminder of the 8 games: Portland Spurs Pelicans Jazz Thunder Raptors Celtics Milwaukee

I agree. And I have a feeling Zion will get these calls now and if they get to the playoffs, he won't. A couple times I'm not sure what else JV could have done. He's jumping vertically, Zion jumps into his chest so it looks like JV is no longer vertical. This team needs a solid off season or they will be in the 9-11 spot for the next two years barring injuries to others

Dillon's early 3 point attempts not only kill any offensive rhythm, they lead to too many fast breaks the other way. It is also worth mentioning that Ja is shooting horribly....3-15, including 0-8 from field.