By Michael Wallace
Grind City Media
MEMPHIS – Grizzlies’ coach David Fizdale admits he was running out of options.
So if any aspect of his decision to insert undrafted rookie Troy Williams into the starting lineup in Memphis’ last game was calculated, the equation only emerged after adding up the number of missing bodies at the forward positions. Starting small forward Chandler Parsons is out nursing a knee bruise and backup James Ennis is recovering from a calf strain, with both likely sidelined at least another week.
From a personnel standpoint, there was one way to describe Memphis’ predicament: Desperate.
“We are so decimated now at the wing position, I threw him in there and he took advantage of the situation,” Fizdale said of Williams, who looks to build on his breakout performance from Saturday’s win in Miami when the Grizzlies face the Hornets on Monday at FedExForum. “We couldn’t have won without him. He is another kid that stays ready. He is not afraid of the moment.”
Williams has taken on the Grizzlies’ persona in the way he seems to deliver his best work in desperate situations and under pressure. A little over a month ago, the 6-foot-7 athletic forward from Indiana University was a longshot to make the regular-season roster on a Grizzlies’ team that entered training camp already with 15 players under guaranteed contracts.
All Williams did then was step into a perimeter void created by the injury absences of Parsons and Tony Allen in camp and lead all rookies in scoring during the preseason. And Williams is in the process of doing the same thing now. Barring another lineup shift by Fizdale, Williams could make his second consecutive start, and third overall in Monday’s game.
Williams scored a career-high 18 points during Saturday’s win in Miami, which included knocking down two key three-pointers in the fourth quarter as the Grizzlies extended their road win streak to six games. The fearlessness and energy with which he played provided a major boost for Memphis. The team needed another consistent scorer to emerge beyond Marc Gasol and Mike Conley, with forward Zach Randolph away from the team following his mother’s sudden death last week.
“He’s on an NBA roster for a reason,” Gasol said of Williams. “He’s talented, he’s athletic, he’s relentless, he has confidence. Trust me, being in the NBA is not a given. When you’re given a chance, you’ve got to stay within yourself, do your job. Don’t try to show everybody what you can do, just do what your teammates ask you to do and what your job is.”
The primary job responsibility is to stay ready. The combination of injuries and a proactive minutes’ management process has forced the Grizzlies (11-6) to use nine different starting lineups in 17 games this season. Only the league-worst and injury-depleted Dallas Mavericks (3-13) have used as many.
But Memphis may have found a sustainable stopgap in Williams until others get healthy.
“Credit him for being ready on such short notice,” Conley said of Williams, who is averaging 4.4 points and did not play in six games. “You never know when guys get injured and what the plan is. He was ready to play and really showed that. He’s been playing desperate ever since he came on the team.”
HEALTH REPORT
Fresh off their weekend back-to-back set, the Grizzlies open this week with another relentless stretch, this time facing three games over the next four nights. That could again bring the minutes’ management plan into effect for Conley and Gasol at some point. But there doesn’t appear to be concern about their availability for Monday’s game against Charlotte. Memphis is still shorthanded without Ennis (calf), Parsons (knee), Randolph (personal) and Brandan Wright (ankle). For the Hornets, Nicolas Batum (eye) is questionable and Marvin Williams (knee) is out.
NUMBERS WATCH
7 & 0. That’s the Grizzlies’ record this season (7-0) in “super-clutch” scenarios, which is defined by the league as games in which the score is within three points in the final minute. Nearly half of Memphis’ games this season have been decided under those circumstances, and team members take pride in their ability to execute in the clutch. “Well, I’d rather not be in a close game (every time),” Conley said. “But we find a way to win more often than not, and have a lot of guys who have been in a lot of situations. So we never feel like we’re out of it when it comes down to the last minute of a game.”
KEEP AN EYE ON
Tony Allen. Gradually, Mr. First-Team is beginning to regain his defensive stride and swagger. After missing most of training camp, all of the preseason and seven of the first 11 regular-season games with knee and groin injuries, Allen is set to play in his seventh straight game Monday against Charlotte. He is coming off his most extensive outing after having played a season-high 34 minutes and finishing with 11 points, eight rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal in Saturday’s win over Miami. He remains a few notches below his peak, lockdown form but Allen is moving much better and more confidently on both ends of the court. It’s obvious Allen is totally engaged when his mouth is moving as fast as his feet. His offense has also been a bonus for the Grizzlies, who have won three in a row when Allen scores in double figures.
GRIZZ-TAKE
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra on Conley’s impressive start to the season – (Conley) makes every big play down the stretch. It’s early right now, but if he’s not an All-Star that will be a crime. He’s playing at an extremely high level and he’s doing it in these close games when they matter most.
The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Memphis Grizzlies. All opinions expressed by Michael Wallace are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Memphis Grizzlies or its Basketball Operations staff, owners, parent companies, partners or sponsors. His sources are not known to the Memphis Grizzlies and he has no special access to information beyond the access and privileges that go along with being an NBA accredited member of the media.