What’s Wrong With The Memphis Grizzlies Defense
The Memphis Grizzlies have a record of 7-7 with a few impressive wins under their belt. But there’s justifiable concern with their ability to get stops on the defensive end of the floor. Their offense has been lights out and carried them in some big games, but on more than a few occasions where they’ve struggled to hit shots, they’ve been on the wrong end of a beatdown.
Not every team will be defensive stalwarts. With Dillon Brooks missing the first few weeks of the season, that didn’t help, but there’s no excuse for them being this bad. They’ve been one of the worst defenses in the league by some metrics despite having players who’ve developed reputations as solid defenders.
According to NBA.com’s defensive efficiency numbers, the Grizzlies have the 2nd worst mark in the league, allowing 112.1 points per 100 possessions. Only the New Orleans Pelicans have a worse mark at 112.9.
Memphis is tied for 3rd in the NBA at 6.1 blocks per game and 3rd in steals with 10.1 per game. So they can attack people on that end and make plays, but when it comes down to rotations, they break down and allow too many open shots. The Grizzlies are right in the middle of the pack when it comes to three-point attempts allowed, but they’ve given up the 4th most when it comes to makes, which gives them the 2nd worst percentage in the league.
This team needs to find a way to find a way to balance chasing turnovers while committing more to not giving up open looks. The transition game is such a big part of this team, but when you’re allowing 113.5 points per game, it’s tough to beat anybody no matter how well you’re shooting the ball.
Key pieces such as De’Anthony Melton, Dillon Brooks, Kyle Anderson, and Jaren Jackson Jr. have shown themselves to be good defenders. That said, they have all struggled at times this season, but there’s no reason to think this team can’t turn it around.
The Grizzlies are still in development mode as they’re not trying to rush the process. They believe they have a good core to build forward with, so they take the long-haul approach. The defense will get better as they should be close to a league-average defense, but it isn’t going to get better overnight. Memphis fans will need to be patient and try to keep the same long-term mindset that the organization has adopted.
-Chris Kern
Twitter: @ChrisKern11