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I will preface this by saying I do not have league pass and do not have the benefit of seeing my team every week. While I would normally post in the game thread, I have never been more disgusted with my Grizzlies.

What I witnessed against the Nets was the intensity level of the Washington Generals. Never before have I seen more ball watching, open three pointers (with no defender within 3 feet!), porous interior D, and general lackadaisical attitude in the fourth quarter of a close game. This was a historically bad performance by some standard - the fewest points allowed by the NBA's likely worst defensive team (Nets).

So I do not claim to know what the Grizzlies have been playing like during this 8 game losing streak, but I am embarrassed to be a Grizzlies fan after this performance. Whether it was Ben McLemore not boxing out, failing to close out on a shooter, or simply driving into three defenders on the other end, why is this man in the game in the fourth quarter? Where were Mario Chalmers and Gasol? I understand that you may want to rest your players, but this is a close home contest and the fans deserve better than what I just witnessed.

DeMarre Carroll looked like Lebron James out there on the floor and for good reason. There was not a defender within 4 feet of him on any of his three point attempts. To Grizzlies management: if you plan on tanking and calling this season a loss, at least inspire your G League callups to play with some heart, demonstrate some player development as the season progresses, and ultimately give fans a reason to keep coming to games. If the organization instead wants to concern itself with demonizing fans who boo'ed Chandler Parsons at home, they can continue to be out-of-touch with the fan base. Forget Chandler, this entire team deserved to be boo'ed off the floor tonight (and he wasn't even in the game in the 4th quarter).

Tonight was unacceptable and can't happen again.

Sincerely, the original Grizzlies fan /rant

I could not agree more. Ive watched like 6 out of 8 game of that losing streak and we are not even close the same team we were last year.

Remember last year when we were the best team when games decided by 3 or fewer points? That was closing out games. We are losing games at home that we should not be losing if we want to get into playoffs. If we are not getting in playoffs, whats the point in having three supermax players? We have moved on from zbo-TA and the gng era. Is it time to move on from the Conley-Gasol duo?

Bobobolas,

I'm with you 100% from a strategy perspective. It seems like they want to keep the Conley/Gasol's, hoping Grit N Grind toughness will rub off on the new players. However, to your point, the strategy is inconsistent.

My gripe is not even with the inconsistent strategy, which could set us back even more years if we are not careful. I can't believe the product that is being put on the floor. The defensive rotations are so bad that Nets players were consistently taking wide open shots. And as good of a job as Fizdale has done with all the injuries and limited personnel, I can't believe that he didn't recognize this. He failed to put Marc in the game late because the no defense lineup somehow eeked together a run. But, this to me seemed like more of a random coincidence and maybe some fresh legs on offense initially. Back half of the fourth, the Grizz were playing tired and the defense was nonexistent. I am shocked he didn't make a change and put Marc in the game.

Then again, we could be the Phoenix Suns of last year, who sat Eric Bledsoe to tank. I am not even 100% opposed to this strategy. However, when you have these developing players on the floor, they should play with intensity, like it is their one shot to show that they belong in the NBA. In this game, their effort level was appalling and their defensive rotations were some of the worst I have seen for an NBA team. If these guys can't do basic professional basketball things, they don't belong on an NBA court. Sign three Sean Kilpatrick's from the G League and I guarantee these guys will give an arm and a leg to be out there in a Grizzlies uniform. What I witnessed yesterday was a disgrace.

I dont think tanking is an option. With the current roster, we should get a playoff spot. I understand Mike is injured and that will mean minutes to some players that are not nba-starter caliber. Harrison and Chalmers are the worst PG duo in the league and thats a fact. Chalmers has been out of the game for many months and he just cant defend. Harrison might do some pretty good stuff at some points in the game but overall, he will hurt the team more than he helps.

Despite that PG stituation, we have had some very good addition that nobody thought they would turn out to be that good. I talk about Evans, Parsons and Brooks. Parsons was doing a pretty good game last night, going 5/8 including a couple of threes, attacking the rim. However, 12 minutes for him with a +7. However, he got benched. If he is under minutes restriction, we should know that, otherwise, he might be frustrated with coaching, same thing as Gasol.

I can guarantee Gasol wont accept being on the bench for tanking. A trade will be requested if that ever happens again. Gasol is a late bloomer, He is 32yo and he is in his prime. One of the most competitive players in the league. He just needs to win. Id rather see him traded and get some picks and such, than seeing him on the bench against a bottom3 team in the nba with his best 3 players injured.

I haven't been able to watch many of the last 8 games so my opinion is probably a little out of touch. The bench unit has been what was keeping us in games at the start of the season. In particular Brooks, EVANS, and Parsons have shouldered the load. Gasol has been playing decent but him and Conley seemed a little out of sync (hopefully just due to Conley playing injured) and defenses key in on him and double him every time he touches the ball. Conley has been hurt and hasn't played like his normal self since the first few games. Our starting unit doesn't have a flow and taking people from the bench unit and plugging them in hasn't helped (it has hurt the bench though). We need Seldon to come back hungry and be our starting SG. Conley, Seldon, Ennis, Green, and Gasol starting with Chalmers, Evans, Brooks, Parsons, and Wright off the bench is a deep team. Parsons is playing well enough to start but I think he really brought energy to the second unit in a way he can't with the starters since Conley/Gasol set the pace.

Ben hasn't really impressed me thus far. Parsons is looking decent which just sounds weird to say after last season. Martin brings energy but is a very limited role player. Harrison is also a limited role player and has gotten TA treatment in some games (left wide open whenever he goes out to the 3pt line). Green has been what I expect more or less (haven't gotten to watch much of him though so can't evaluate his defense well). Chalmers has struggled with shooting and defense. If he is purely facilitating for the second unit he can maybe be an okay backup PG but ideally his shooting picks up some. Wright has been an ok bench big though I don't know how he has been the last 8 games.

I think we are heading towards a full rebuild here soon. It'll be interesting to see what we can get for our guys. Parson might actually be movable if he keeps up this level of play (NOP and we take back Asik, Ajinca, and NOP 1st lottery protected or something)

No way Parsons is moveable with that huge contract he signed. Teams will shy away because he is way too injury prone. We are stuck with him. If we want to make a playoff run, we keep him. If we go to full rebuild, we cut bait and save on his burdensome contract.

To be fair to Chalmers and his defense, he was coming off a major injury and sat out all of last season. While that is not an excuse, there is no reason we should have expected him to play starters' minutes and perform up to this role. He's a veteran energizer off the bench at this point.

It amazes me, though, that this team is completely inept without Conley on the floor. Yes, I believe it says a lot about the strong leadership and intangibles that he brings to the table. But more significantly, I believe it says something about the mental toughness of the rest of this Grizz team. They put in defensive effort only when their two captains show up and there is a lack of accountability otherwise. Conley cannot shoulder this kind of a burden moving forward.

The Ben McLemores of this team need to be sent to the G League, where they can learn defensive rotations. The rest of the team needs to learn their roles. Ennis should not be hoisting contested threes with the game in range. Move the ball, create opportunities for your teammates and allow Evans to attack the rim. And please put your veterans on the floor in the fourth.