- LARRY KUZNIEWSKI
- Lionel Hollins and the Grizzlies have some things to figure out.
Before last night’s game in San Antonio, I suggested the team’s performance — win or lose — would determine whether the previous big losses were a trend or a blip. Well, blip gave way to trend as the game went on, an early close contest turning to a laugher with a demoralizing second-half collapse.
What’s wrong? Here’s a short answer nobody likes: I don’t know.
Unfortunately, renewed chaos and worry on the Griz front coincides with a moment where I don’t have time for any kind of deep dive. Instead, for now, a few quick reactions to different potential answers to that opening question
Trend be damned, it’s still a blip: I tend toward the “calm down” approach most of the time, but I’m skeptical about the “blip” notion. But I’ll entertain it. The Dallas loss wasn’t surprising given the scheduling aspects. The Clippers game was played without Rudy Gay and with some odd lineups — some forced, some, as with the early, disastrous insertion of Josh Selby, not. And the Spurs, well, the Spurs are really damned good. Even with all this, the Grizzlies are still fourth in the Western Conference. Certainly, a home game Friday against Sacramento could be a good way to get healthy again. But a big loss in that situation would end all doubt.
Trade rumors have ruined the chemistry: This sounds good but feels like nonsense to me. The Rudy Gay trade rumors have been out there for a while now. They were out there when the team started January going 5-1 with a perfect West Coast trip, a road win in Boston, and a home win over the Spurs. Trade rumors were a lot hotter with O.J. Mayo in the past and the team didn’t go in the tank. Trades rumors are common all over the league every season. It’s an easy excuse, but in the absence of some actual evidence, I have a hard time saying that’s the reason for anything.
