NBA Memphis Grizzlies

Memphis Grizzlies’ Backcourt Is Improving

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By @The_Only_Grubes

Mike Conley

Joe Murphy/Getty Images

For years now, the Memphis Grizzlies‘ frontcourt of Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol has been responsible for most of the production on both ends of the floor. Luckily for Memphis, the backcourt is maturing and is finally ready to handle more responsibility, especially on offense.

In the Grizzlies’ 107-102 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, the guard play for the team was efficient and productive, as Mike Conley and Courtney Lee combined for 38 points on 12-of-26 shooting. Between hitting free throws, 3-point shots or floaters or lay-ups in the lane, Conley and Lee put on a show from start to finish, even hitting shots in clutch time to stop the Lakers’ comeback push.

One of the more important things that both Conley and Lee showcased during the game was their ability to get their own shot. Both players were proficient at creating separation for a jump shot or drawing contact on a drive to get to the free throw line; in other words, very few of their shots were bad or not generated in an efficient manner.

The Grizzlies have not really been known for creating efficient offense on the perimeter, but now that the backcourt is able to convert on these kinds of opportunities, it makes the offense that much better.

If the backcourt can keep generating opportunities to score on the perimeter without having to rely on ball movement or passes from the inside from Gasol or Randolph, then it adds a completely new dimension to the Memphis offense that has not been present in recent years. Being able to draw pressure away from the interior would be huge for both Randolph and Gasol, who get double-teamed way too often and forced out of shots down low.

There is no reason why the Grizzlies’ frontcourt should not be able to score at a higher rate if consistent perimeter offense is initiated by Conley and Lee.

The Grizzlies are becoming a more dangerous team by the game, with improvements being made on both ends of the floor by every player in the rotation. However, this development may be the most important, as it could mean big things for an offense that has lacked firepower for quite a while.

Look out Western Conference, the Grizzlies are maturing, and it may mean that there is a new contender in the championship hunt.

Nathan Grubel is an NBA writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @The_Only_Grubes, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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