By Michael Wallace
Grind City Media
DETROIT – While continuity has been nonexistent and chemistry has been lacking for the Grizzlies during their three-game losing streak, coach David Fizdale is most concerned about another vital component that has been missing amid this current slide: Communication.
Fizdale hasn’t hesitated to call out his veterans this season when he feels there’s been a void in communication and leadership in the face of adversity. When the first-year coach ripped into his team last month in Salt Lake City after a listless loss the previous night in Milwaukee, the Grizzlies responded with six consecutive victories to become one of the NBA’s early surprise stories.
With the Grizzlies (18-12) now on their longest skid of the season, Fizdale has challenged his best players to step up and lead the team out of its current funk heading into Wednesday’s game against the Pistons. Fizdale delivered his latest blunt assessment after the Grizzlies squandered a 17-point lead in the second half of Tuesday’s 112-109 overtime home loss to the Celtics.
At issue was the team’s lack of response to defensive instructions on the court and a further reluctance for players such as Mike Conley, Marc Gasol, Tony Allen and Zach Randolph to hold themselves and one another accountable in time to alter the outcome. After holding Boston to 31 points in the first half, the Celtics scored 31 in the third quarter to launch a rally in which 5-foot-9 point guard Isaiah Thomas erupted for 36 of his career-high 44 points after the intermission.
“Our defense totally failed us,” Fizdale said before the flight to Detroit. “Right now, I’m really down on our leadership. Our huddles are like tombs right now. No one wants to step up and lead this group yet during this tough time. I’m going to keep demanding it and see who’s going to rise to the challenge.”
While Fizdale didn’t name any players specifically, he has previously mentioned how important it is for the team’s ultimate success that Gasol and Conley embrace demands to be more vocal leaders.
Gasol was arbitrarily appointed the sole official captain, in part, because Fizdale wanted the talented but temperamental big man to channel his emotions into clear and direct communication with teammates when issues arise. At one point during a timeout huddle earlier this season, Fizdale abrasively told Gasol that he needed to address Allen directly instead of “cursing at the floor or scoreboard” if there was a problem between the two on the court.
Getting the mild-mannered Conley to speak up and take charge of both older and younger teammates has also been a work in progress. That task started back in the preseason, when Fizdale unexpectedly handed Conley a clipboard and told the 10-year veteran to run the timeouts for an entire quarter.
Fizdale’s reasoning is simple: Gasol and Conley have the richest and longest-running contracts on the team, so the Grizzlies’ success – both now and into the future – rests on their ability to lead on and off the court with their method and message. The mission ranges from getting Allen to remain engaged in huddles instead of drifting away into his own personal space to carrying out defensive assignments that prevent an opponent from going off the way the Celtics and Thomas did in prolific fashion Tuesday.
“I listen to Coach, and whatever he sees, it’s something I’m going to work on,” Conley said. “At the end of the day … I’m going to look at myself in the mirror, other guys are going to look in the mirror as well and say, ‘Did you lead as best as you could? Did you give everything you had? Did you do things to help the team win?’ And then, you get ready for another game (Wednesday).”
Gasol declined to address specific questions about Fizdale’s leadership concerns, but admitted the Grizzlies are struggling to work key players back into roles. Memphis has lost four of its last five games, a stretch that included Conley, James Ennis and Vince Carter all returning from prolonged injury absences. Rebuilding chemistry, establishing continuity and increasing communication are priorities as the Grizzlies close a demanding December that featured a season-high 17 games in 31 days.
“It’s just what we have to go through,” Gasol said. “Obviously, there’s going to be some growing pains, but we still have got to do the things we have to do defensively. That shouldn’t change. Offensively, the spacing might be different, the execution might be a little different, the plays we run might be a little different. But defensively, I think there shouldn’t be any changes.”
HEALTH REPORT
For the Grizzlies, Chandler Parsons (knee) and Jarell Martin (foot) are listed as probable. Brandan Wright (ankle) and Deyonta Davis (foot) are out. For the Pistons, no players are listed on the injury report for Wednesday’s game but Detroit is 3-6 since point guard Reggie Jackson return from a knee injury.
NUMBERS WATCH
6 & 0. If there’s one positive streak the Grizzlies have maintained during their recent slide, it’s their sparkling, league-best 6-0 record on the second night of back-to-back sets. But this may be the most demanding test yet, considering the team arrived at its Detroit-area hotel after 3 a.m. Wednesday and is facing a similarly desperate opponent that has dropped three in a row and five of seven. The fact that Memphis has played seven back-to-back sets through their first 31 games is indicative of just how demanding their schedule has been through the season’s first two months.
KEEP AN EYE ON
David Fizdale. Yes, we normally focus on a specific Grizzlies’ player in this space. And considering the team is 0-3 since Conley returned, a strong case can be made to again examine the playmaking point guard. We could also discuss the potential return of Parsons, who might make his way back onto the court for the first time in a month after dealing with a knee bruise. But this one is all about Fizdale, especially after the coach’s latest, measured rant about the leadership void on his veteran team. Fizdale is not unlike a few other brutally honest and transparent NBA coaches. In fact, he’ll be facing one of the most abrasive ones in the league Wednesday in Pistons’ coach Stan Van Gundy, who also hounded his players this week and questioned their commitment after they followed a players’ only weekend meeting with Monday’s 31-point loss in Chicago. Fizdale must continue to strike a delicate balance between tough love and tender encouragement with this team. But the bar has been raised and patience is running thin now that most of Memphis’ key players are back. Still, the reality is this is yet another back-to-back set and Fizdale must manage minutes and juggle the varying emotions and personalities that comprise this unique group of Grizzlies. Let’s see how he responds now that he got some things off his chest.
GRIZZ-TAKE
Allen on Fizdale’s communication methods – He calls a spade a spade … It’s not like we’re fighting back with Coach or nothing. We have to be better leaders and respond in critical situations.
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.