Memphis Grizzlies

Is Memphis' 'grit and grind' era dead?

Published May. 21, 2015 3:44 p.m. ET

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The Memphis Grizzlies are a very good basketball team, but for years they've refused to adopt some of the league's contemporary trends, such as high three-point usage and a faster pace.

They were ultimately eliminated in six games by the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference semifinals, which brings up the question of whether a "grit and grind" mentality is capable of winning a title in today's NBA.

Here's the Commercial Appeal's Ronald Tillery with more on what's next for a franchise that can't seem to get over the hump:

"The Grizzlies’ window for contending at a high level isn’t closed, yet the franchise must do more than change personnel. A tweak in how head coach Dave Joerger relies on the sum of his parts is under scrutiny. Grit and grind won’t be put in a grave this offseason. Yet an actual plan to adapt to a run-and-gun, bombs-away league is paramount to maximizing what clearly is the Golden Age of Grizzlies basketball. 'I don’t think that you go start tearing it apart. We don’t have a lot of room to make moves anyway. You add a piece here or there,' Joerger said. 'We’ve got to move the basketball a little bit better and maybe allow our wings to make plays and be comfortable with that.'”

The Grizzlies are an anomaly in today's NBA—the team that refuses to launch three pointers yet still has long-term success. They have no rings, but were widely regarded as the best team in the league earlier this season, won a playoff series and put up a decent fight against a juggernaut while Mike Conley played with a broken face.

It's tough for them to change their identity, especially if they re-sign Marc Gasol and keep Zach Randolph. But slight alterations are absolutely necessary.

(h/t: Commercial Appeal)

Photo Credit: AP Photo/Mark Humphrey