2013-14 NBA Bench Power Rankings
By Alex Siquig
May 27, 2013; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies point guard Jerryd Bayless (7) drives against San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) in the second half of game four of the Western Conference finals of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at FedEx Forum. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports
22. Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies’ bench ranked 246h in scoring last season, 28th in rebounding, 24th in assists, and 24th in steals. On the other hand they were a solid 4th place when it came to turning the ball over! Suffice it to say, if the Grizzlies want to be taken seriously as a contender they need to develop a group of shock troops that know their roles and don’t automatically vomit over the leads Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, and Mike Conley so lovingly leave in their care. The return of Mike Miller should help with three-point accuracy (though the Grizzlies bench actually did much better on this front than their grit and grind starting five). Ed Davis remains a fun enigma, but he can’t shoot free throws and could stand to put some meat on his bones if he ever wants to hold his ground in the post, and add another reliable dimension to his defense not predicated on blocking shots. Jerryd Bayless, who looks like a clone-gone-wrong of Carlos Boozer, is a gunner through and through. Talented and no doubt the scourge of pick-up games, his value to the team never seems all that critical. His job is to score some points, sometimes pass the ball. He does that decently. He’s decent. The Grizz lost Darrell Arthur and poached Kosta Koufos from the Nuggets. I predict Fab Melo (edited to add: Fab Melo has been waived! no!) and Nick “Big Nick” Calathes will develop a beautiful friendship. The Grizzlies bench, not so good to begin with, has progressed in a lateral fashion, perhaps with a slight uptick due Koufos, but expect to still find them in the bottom of third of all the metrics that matter.