For every NBA team that is on a roll, there is a team that isn't. That's why we need the doctor -- Dr. Jack Ramsay. Each week in Dr. Jack's Prescription, the Hall of Fame coach will analyze a team in distress, and offer a cure to what ails them.
This week: Vancouver Grizzlies
|  | | Top pick Stromile Swift doesn't get much time, but he will in the future. |
The Symptoms
The Grizzlies were 7-17, had lost six in a row before Wednesday's home game
with Washington, and were in last place in the Midwest Division. Last season
they were 22-60, and over the life of the franchise, have an 85-317 record in
this, their sixth season in the NBA. That kind of losing can be contagious and
carry over from year to year.
On paper, this isn't a bad team. Mike Bibby and Michael Dickerson form a
capable guard tandem; between Bryant Reeves and Ike Austin, there's enough
skill and size to be competitive at center; and forwards Shareef Abdur-Rahim
and Othella Harrington give the team nice scoring and rebounding potential.
The bench lacks a catalyst game-changer, but is staffed with veterans (Grant
Long, Kevin Edwards, Tony Massenburg and Doug West), an NBA wannabe (Damon
Jones) and a talented rookie, Stromile Swift. Head coach Sidney Lowe had
experience in the same capacity at Minnesota (33-102), and also served as an
assistant with the T-Wolves and Cleveland. A former player, Sidney knows what
the NBA is all about.
| |  | |
| Abdur-Rahim |
Why is this team losing? One of its problems is that it has a hard time
scoring, putting only 88 ppg on the board while shooting only .415 from the
field. Only Chicago, with a 3-21 record, shoots a lower percentage from the
field. Vancouver has no 50 percent shooters on its roster, while Utah -- the league
leader in field goal percentage -- by contrast, has seven of them. Instead the Grizzlies have seven
players shooting under 40 percent; and, even though it has a 20-ppg "go-to" player
in Abdur-Rahim, it has trouble finishing close games, losing three of four decided
by three points or less.
Defensively, the Grizzlies give up only 92 ppg, a mark that many teams win
with; but they allow opponents to shoot .454 from the field -- which ranks
23rd in the NBA. Vancouver also ranks last in the league in blocked shots.
So, typically in low-scoring close games, opponents take the ball freely to
the hoop and either finish or dish for high percentage shots, and they make
those shots down the stretch with better consistency than do the Grizzlies.
| |  | |
| Dickerson |
| |  | |
| Bibby |
The Diagnosis
There's not an abundance of high-level talent beyond the starting guards and
forwards. Abdur-Rahim has all the skills needed to be a top small forward in
the NBA; Bibby is a steady point guard (14 ppg, 7.5-3 assist-turnover); but Dickerson,
who has struggled with injuries, is scoring (14 ppg) and shooting a lower
percentage than last season; and while Harrington shows flashes of
brilliance, he is somewhat inconsistent (11 ppg, 6.5 rpg) at big forward.
Austin, acquired to shore up the weakness at center, has been a
disappointment -- averaging 5 ppg and 4.5 rpg and shooting under 35 percent from the
field; and Reeves (6 ppg, 5 rpg) hasn't picked up the slack.
Of the bench players, only Long plays with consistency, with tough defense and
good percentage shooting (just under 50 percent), but even he is unable to score
enough to be a real catalyst.
Another factor is psychological in nature. The Grizzlies have lost two games
by one point; two games by three, one by four, and another in overtime that they
could have won in regulation. Losing games like those becomes very
demoralizing and erodes confidence in future close games. Players and coaches
begin to wonder if they can win games decided down the stretch, and that
doubt often leads to missed defensive assignments, uncertain offensive
execution with bad passes, missed shots ... and another loss.
The Cure
The Grizzlies face a daunting challenge. There are no easy games in the West,
so their margin of error is small. Without dominating starting talent and a
thin bench, every player must make his maximum contribution for Vancouver to
win with greater consistency. Abdur-Rahim and Bibby must lead the way. Having
Dickerson and Edwards healthy again should help. Dickerson in particular has
a lot of talent. It's time to bring it all out. Harrington needs to improve
his rebounding numbers -- he's capable of more than six a game. Reeves and
Austin must get their games in sync. Both are performing well below their
potential.
| |  | |
| Austin |
| |  | |
| Reeves |
And hopefully the bench players will start performing better. It may be time
for coach Lowe to give more minutes to Swift, who, although a rookie, has a
capacity to score points -- something the Grizzlies need desperately.
This team started the season winning four of its first five games. It looked like
the beginning of a turn-around year. The players talked optimistically about
their improved defense that resulted from coach Lowe's emphasis on that area
in training camp. Then they got hit with some injuries and those close
losses, and their game fell apart.
The Grizzlies must get back to feeling good about themselves, get opponents'
field goal percentage down a couple of notches, use it to get some easy
hoops. To get over the hump in those close games, coach Lowe may want to use
his best offensive players, Bibby and Abdur-Rahim, in two-man plays more often
to score down the stretch. By spreading the floor he would give more space
for those two to maneuver and, if the defense double-teamed, to open up high
percentage shots for others. Nothing turns a season around like winning close
games.
Lastly, Lowe must do whatever possible to get his team untracked. Some of his
players would like him to be more vocal, more critical of their play. If
that's what it takes, he must do it. Players will accept discipline, so long
as it applies equally to everyone on the squad. The bottom line is to
win ... it's ultimately up to the coach to find a way.
|
|
ALSO SEE
Dr. Jack's Prescription: Nuggets
Dr. Jack's Prescription: Nets
Dr. Jack's Prescription: Heat
Dr. Jack's Prescription: Sonics
Dr. Jack's Prescription: Bucks
Dr. Jack's Prescription: Raptors
|
