Memphis Grizzlies

Memphis Grizzlies: 5 Early Season Takeaways

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 6:34 p.m. ET

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The Memphis Grizzlies have quietly climbed to a 17-8 record in the Western Conference. Here are five takeaways from the first quarter of the season.

Dec 1, 2016; Memphis, TN, USA; Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

Don’t look now, but the Memphis Grizzlies are fifth in the Western Conference and climbing. They’ve won six straight games, including a convincing 110-89 victory over the Golden State Warriors on December 10. They are 7-3 in their last 10 games.

Much of that success is due to what first-year head coach David Fizdale has this team doing on the defensive end. The Memphis Grizzlies are one of just six teams in the NBA allowing less than100 points per game.

They have allowed 100 points or more in just 12 games so far this season. They rank third in opponents points per game, allowing just 97.6 per contest.

Even more impressive, the Memphis Grizzlies have managed to go on this six-game winning streak without point guard Mike Conley. Conley is out for six weeks due to a transverse process fracture in his vertebrae. The winning streak began when Conley went out with his injury.

This is Fizdale’s first season as head coach and he’s off to a great start. Big man Marc Gasol is averaging a career-high 19.9 points and 4.1 assists per game.

The “other Gasol” has found his confidence this season behind the three-point line, attempting a career-high 3.6 three-point shots per game.

Here are five early season takeaways for the Memphis Grizzlies.

Dec 6, 2016; Memphis, TN, USA; Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Zach Randolph off the bench brings a different dimension to this team.

The Memphis Grizzlies are bringing forward Zach Randolph in off the bench, something that hasn’t been done since his rookie season. And it’s paid dividends so far.

The Grizzlies are 13-5 with Randolph off the bench so far this season. Z-Bo is averaging 13.7 points, 8.2 rebounds in 21.9 minutes per game. He missed seven games to deal with passing of his mother.

He scored 12 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in his return on Dec. 6 against the Philadelphia 76ers. Six of those boards came on the offensive end. Randolph has four double-doubles off the bench for the Memphis Grizzlies this season.

He is tied for third with among NBA bench players in double-doubles.

He has scored in double figures in all but two games for the Grizzlies through the first 25 games. If Randolph can continue his gritty play off the bench, maybe a Sixth Man of the Year award is in order for the 35-year-old veteran.

Nov 25, 2016; Memphis, TN, USA; Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Unexpected players rule the day in Memphis.

The Memphis Grizzlies can credit a lot of their success in trusting the acquisition of some unexpected talent. Undrafted power forward  JaMychal Green has found himself in the starting lineup this season for them.

Green is averaging a career-high 9.6 points and 7.9 rebounds while playing 30.8 minutes per game.

Then there’s undrafted guard Troy Daniels. He is averaging a career-high 9.4 points per game in 14 games for the Grizzlies. Daniels has put up games of 31 points and 29 points in two of the six games in their win streak. He went 13-for-23 from the three-point line in those games.

Point guard Andrew Harrison has also fought his way back into the NBA. He signed a three-year, $3 million deal with the Memphis Grizzlies in the offseason. He spent last season in the NBA D-League with the Iowa Energy.

The rookie guard out of Kentucky averaged 18.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.

For the Grizzlies this season, Harrison has started nine of the 24 games in which he’s appeared. He is averaging 7.0 points, 3.8 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 27.3 minutes per game.

With the contribution of these three players, the Grizzlies continue to find success. Look for them to be key in a continuing run.

Nov 28, 2016; Memphis, TN, USA;Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Don’t forget about Chandler Parsons.

The Memphis Grizzlies signed forward Chandler Parsons to a four-year deal worth $95 million. Unfortunately, Parsons has only appeared in six games for the Grizzlies. Through those six games, he is averaging 7.7 points and 3.0 rebounds per contest.

He is shooting just 39.1 percent from the floor and 23.8 percent from the three-point line.

In his season debut on Nov. 6, he shot 0-for-8 from the floor and 0-for-4 from three. On restricted minutes, Parsons still seemed unable to go on a bad knee. He has been listed as out for all games currently with a left knee bone bruise. As of Dec. 2, he was listed as out for 7-10 days.

His return seems almost imminent, which bodes well for the Grizzlies’ offense. The sixth-year forward is averaging 14.2 points, five rebounds, and three assists per game through his career. Parsons is a sharpshooter from behind the three-point line.

He shot a career-high 41.4 percent from the three-point line last season.

The Grizzlies hope his contribution can up the ante for them on the offensive end of the floor. So long as he can get back on the floor in a timely manner.

Dec 6, 2016; Memphis, TN, USA;  Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

The Grizzlies are still a defensive force in the Western Conference.

The Memphis Grizzlies biggest strength by far this season has been their defensive play as a team. They are third in the NBA, allowing just 97.6 points per game. They tie for first in opponents field goal percentage with the Milwaukee Bucks, Utah Jazz and Golden State Warriors at 43.1 percent.

The Grizzlies are 6-6 in games where they allow over 100 points and 11-2 when they allow under 100 points. Not a bad statistic for them considering the odds they’re up against in the Western Conference.

They defeated the Golden State Warriors in their most recent game while holding them a season-low 89 points. The Memphis put up 110 points in the victory while snapping a six-game losing streak against Golden State.

The Grizzlies forced 23 turnovers and earned 10 steals in the game. The team ranks sixth in opponents turnovers per game with 15.5 a contest.

The defensive intensity has picked up mightily since Mike Conley’s has been sidelined due to injury. And then there’s big man Marc Gasol who had 19 points, eight rebounds, and six assists to lead the way on offense.

Dec 1, 2016; Memphis, TN, USA; Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

Marc Gasol is the key to what really makes Memphis tick.

Marc Gasol is averaging a career-high 19.9 points, along with 6.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.6 blocks per game. The ninth year big man is shooting 46 percent from the floor and 43.7 percent from three-point land.

He has four double-doubles and one triple-double for the Memphis Grizzlies this season.

In their last six games, Gasol is averaging 25.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists, two blocks, and 1.5 steals. He is shooting 50.9 percent from the floor and 47.8 percent from three on the six-game winning streak as well.

The maturation process continues to turn Marc Gasol into a formidable opponent on both ends of the floor. With Mike Conley out due to injury, he’s really stepped up his play for the Grizzlies.

When Gasol scores 22 points or more, the Grizzlies are 8-0 this season. When he grabs over 10 rebounds per game, they are 4-0. Not too shabby when it comes to finding success in Memphis.

If the team wants to continue rising in the Western Conference, these five key takeaways play a role going forward.

The Grizzlies have another big game coming up Tuesday when they travel to Cleveland to face the Cavaliers. Their six-game winning streak will be on the line.

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