Earlier this week, the Memphis Business Council hosted an event known as the “The Game Plan of Memphis Basketball.” A special guest of the event was Grizzlies head coach J.B. Bickerstaff. And as Mark Giannotto of The Commercial Appeal relays, there were plenty of questions to be answered by the Grizzlies’ head man, as noted below.
What is the team’s strength this season?
“IQ and intelligence… We got a bunch of guys that know how to think the game and if you can think the game, you can make up for some of the things that we lack. If you look at our team, and I hope this doesn’t offend any of our guys, we’re not the fastest of teams. But we have to be able to use our brains to put us in spots so that we can defend well and score the ball because we’re always one or two steps ahead of our opponent.”
What were the highlights of the team’s offseason?
“We’re going to be a completely different team than you guys saw at the end of last season. Our front office and ownership group have done a great job bringing in different players with different skill sets that kind of fit the theme and the direction that we’re heading in. We’re not as young as we used to be. We’ve brought in some proven, veteran guys like Kyle Anderson, Garrett Temple, Shelvin Mack, those type of guys, who can accentuate what Marc (Gasol) can do.”
How will the team look on the court?
“We’ve been preaching playing a unique style of basketball. Obviously, not reinventing the wheel but playing a game where size, physicality and toughness prevails. I think we’re fortunate that we have some big guys, some long guys, that are very skilled as well, so that they can do both… So we’re fortunate to have guys that can do those things, so that’s where we’re headed. Our guys are excited about it in the conversations we’ve had with them and I think we’re built for it.”
What is Kyle Anderson‘s role?
“He’ll be used at his strengths, which is versatility. He can play multiple positions. He can impact the game on both sides of the floor. I’ve been impressed, just going back and watching him and seeing him, is just how smart he is and how easily he thinks the game. Very rarely do you find him in the wrong spot, offensively or defensively, and he’s always doing something to help his teammates. I think guys like that are invaluable and his ability to play one through four, you can throw him on the floor at any position.”
Will Mike Conley be healthy for training camp?
“There’s no doubt about it. Mike’s been playing pick up, those types of things. Chandler (Parsons has) been playing pick up … For the first time in a long time, we’re looking at walking into training camp with healthy bodies and healthy, high caliber players. Not just guys who would be your 13th or 14th man. We’ve got our studs healthy, which we’re looking forward to.”
What are your hopes for Chandler Parsons?
“Just that he plays games. I think the hardest thing for him is battling with the injuries, and being in and being out, and then trying to catch a rhythm. The more games he plays, he’s proven, even last year in a short amount of time, when he played games in a row, he proved that he could be an effective player and he’s a talented basketball player. We just got to make sure he’s on the floor.”
Why will the bench be better this season?
“The key in all of this is having some experience when you’re trying to win like we’re trying to do. So having guys that have proven they can play in this league, they’re not second guessing themselves, and every single night, from a coaching standpoint, you know what you’re going to get out of guys, is huge… Not to take anything away from our young guys that were here with us last year, they were competing. They were giving it everything they had. They worked hard at it. But again, when you’re young, there’s always those ups and downs and you’re battling that inconsistency.”
What about Jaren Jackson and Marc Gasol (healthy?)?
JJJ complements Gasol more than “accentuates” him! He will be a blast of freshness on that team. And a much better investment than Deyonta Davis. Brandon Wright is still FA.
Smart stuff. That article had a lot of quoting, but missed my favorite.
“Bickerstaff reiterated that in a league where 3-point barrages and what he termed “buddy-buddy” relationships between opposing players are becoming the norm, Memphis will emphasize defense and toughness. The plan is to zig while others zag.”
Never liked the grit n’ grind style of Memphis, but realistically playing in a different style than all the other teams in the league is the only way forward for them. Only wish more teams would play in different ways, predictable when all do & want the same. So kudos to Memphis.
Grit and grind is what they need to go back to and they have the pieces to do it. Jackson Jr’s potential as a defender is insane specially as a shot blocker.
JB is literally the worst of the last 4 men to be Grizzlies coach. I hope the best for him but I’m afraid he’s here to rack up L’s
He said the right things though, so there’s that
The Grizzlies might win 40-45 games.
The Griz play well enough to not be bottom feeders but I think in the tough WC they finish with about 33 wins.