Will the New Look Grizz Stay?

We are only five games into the new NBA season and the Memphis Grizzlies have a completely different look and feel to them. The phrases "BANGO!" and "Ring it up and put three on the board!" have been said a lot, 47 times each exactly, by Grizzlies TV Color Commentator Pete Pranica and Grizzlies Radio Play-by-Play Commentator Eric Hasseltine. Through the first 5 games, the Grizzlies are 47 for 131 from the three point line, 36%. With new coach David Fizdale, the offense has been spread out and he has forced Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph and other bigs to shoot threes. Man have they made defenses pay for leaving them open!

On Sunday, October 30th, against the Washington Wizards, Marc Gasol caught fire behind the three point line going 4 for 6 including a three pointer that ultimately sent the game to overtime (See video below). Gasol and Randolph shooting threes are things many Memphis fans thought they would never see, and now it is a thing of beauty! This is extremely weird to see this Grizz team shooting the three ball as much as they are. But will that stay the same throughout the year?

The Grizzlies have done a good job at continuing to hit Marc and Zach in the paint and that is where they have gotten their best looks inside the 3-point arc. If the Grizz want to continue their success from three, I think you work through Marc and Zach down low. Then guys can spot up and let Marc and Z-Bo hit them and so they can knock down the open look. 

Although, I do not see this carrying out through the remainder of the season, this team is more than capable of hitting 6-9 threes a game and force teams to guard everyone out around the perimeter. Something that can hurt the Grizz is the amount of threes they shoot a game. Currently, they are shooting 26 threes a game, but that should decrease as the season goes on. This is something that Grizz fans are not used to and it is very entertaining when they are hitting but absolutely miserable when they are not. I sure enjoy watching the Grizz shoot a ton of threes, but I do not want them to get into a habit of shooting them and forgetting where their bread and butter is: Mike and Marc pick n rolls and Z-Bo and Marc bruising down low. 

In order for the Grizz to keep this shooting spree going, they need to find a balance of threes, feeding the post, and working from the inside and then out. I believe fans will begin to see this as the team gets Chandler Parsons and Brandan Wright back and the rotation becomes more consistent. If the Grizz find a consistent game plan and carry it out, they can be a serious threat come playoff time and give some of the top teams in the Western Conference a run for their money. Buckle up Grizz Nation, the season is just getting going! #AllHeartGritGrind