- LARRY KUZNIEWSKI
- Win or lose, tonight could be the last time Lionel Hollins patrols the FedExForum sideline as Grizzlies coach.
1. A Potential Farewell: The best season in Grizzlies franchise history could end tonight, and even if the Grizzlies win this one, they’ll be facing steep odds with a Game 5 in San Antonio. So, by all means, “believe,” but also know that the odds are fairly strong that this could be the last home game of the season for the Grizzlies. As such, it could be the last Grizzlies game, period, for any or all of three figures central to the franchise’s signature team. In order of likely departure: Lionel Hollins, who enters this summer a coaching free agent with other likely suitors driving his asking price — in terms of money and years — upward. Tony Allen, who is also a free agent this summer. And though both Allen and the team would prefer his Memphis tenure to continue, there are no guarantees. Finally, there’s Zach Randolph. He’s under contract next season and likely to return, but the size of his deal ($17.8 next season) and the age difference between him and fellow core pieces Mike Conley and Marc Gasol necessitates the team at least entertain trade options this summer. There are no guarantees, so home fans may want to pay proper respects tonight, win or lose.
2. Conflicting Trajectories: The Grizzlies’ pattern this postseason has been, by and large, to improve as each series has progressed. Even down 0-3, that’s been the case in the conference finals as well. Game 1 was a debacle. Game 2 was a potential debacle that got turned around in the second half. Game 3 was a hot start that dissipated, but the Spurs didn’t acquire their ultimate double-digit victory until the wheels came off in overtime. Follow that trajectory and tonight, at home, should be a tipping point for the Grizzlies. The problem, of course, is that this potentially too-little-too-late upward trajectory is fighting against the crosscurrents of 0-3 malaise, the tendency for both players and fans to sense ultimate hopelessness and pack it in.
