https://www.hardwoodherald.com/blog/2018/11/27/the-grizzlies-are-here-to-punch-you-in-the-mouth
A little snippet...
We’re constantly being told that you need to go pace and space if you want to compete in the new NBA. So if the Grizz haven’t bought into that ideal, how are they winning? It helps when your two best players are great; and Conley and Gasol are great. After a years’ worth of Gasol is washed and Conley is overpaid talk, the two Grizz mainstays have silenced all of the doubters. We’re about a quarter through the season and Marc Gasol has the highest plus-minus of his career at plus 5.5. When Gasol is on the floor the team has an offensive rating (points scored per 100 possessions) of 107.8 and a defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions) of 99.5. That is sick. Gasol hasn’t gotten enough hype for the best big convo. Put those numbers up against Joel Embiid’s season (107.2 ORtg – 102.9 DRtg) and Gasol bests him in both categories. Gasol may be old but he damn sure ain’t washed.
As has been the script for his entire career, the NBA has been sleeping on Conley again this season. Conley has struggled a bit with his shooting, specifically his at the rim finishing, but he’s been a maestro running the show. Despite his low percentages, Conley has an offensive rating of 105.9 and an overall Net Rating of 5.2. That number is higher than Kyrie and Dame. He isn’t flashy but the dude just knows how to win.
While the play of Conley and Gasol has been the main factor in the Grizzlies’ early success, Memphis still needs contributions from the rest of the roster to succeed. The Grizz have built their season on the backs of their defense and some unselfish offense. When your two stars are the ultimate team guys who love to move the rock, everyone tends to make the extra pass. Memphis is fifth in the league in assist percentage (% of field goals that were assisted) and eighth in the league in assist ratio (% of possessions that end in an assist). Sixty-three percent of their field goals end in an assist. When you play with as few possessions as Memphis does, you have to take care of the ball; and they do, committing the seventh fewest turnovers in the league. A high assist rate and low turnovers is a pretty good recipe for success. When its crunch time and they need to get a bucket, Conley and Gasol have them covered. Both guys can create their own shot in iso or kill teams with a Conley-Gasol high ball screen. Over commit to Conley and Gasol has room to attack the hoop and play as a creator. Play him for the roll and Gasol has an open three where he is shooting a career high forty percent. The Grizzlies may not play like the Bucks or Pelicans, but they’re fun to watch if you’re a basketball purist.
