Bench play and the BCS

Posted on 01/07 at 02:42 PM

In the Grizzlies’ first three games of the new year (and three games since Michael Conley became the starting point guard), Pau Gasol has averaged 23.3 points per game, Rudy Gay has averaged 22.3 points and Mike Miller has added 20.0. Their efforts have helped lead the Grizzlies to a 2-1 record since the calendar turned to 2008, with the only loss a four-point defeat on the road to the league-leading Boston Celtics.

In the Grizzlies’ two wins the trio of Gasol, Gay and Miller combined for over 70 points in each game, and in each case the Grizzlies needed every one of those points. The reserves are going through a cold spell right now, and the starting unit has been counted on to score most of the points.

Against Indiana, the bench shot 2-14 from the field and 0-6 from three-point range for five points. Against Boston, Juan Carlos Navarro had a great night with 20 points on 7-9 shooting, but his fellow reserves went just 3-12 from the field and 1-4 from three-point range for 11 points. And Sunday against Miami, the bench went 2-12 from the field, 0-8 from three-point range and accounted for just seven of the Grizzlies’ 101 points.

“I think they’re trying a little too hard, I really do,” said Grizzlies head coach Marc Iavaroni after Monday’s practice in trying to explain the bench’s recent struggles. “I think they’re working so hard on defense, and they know their importance to the team. I don’t think there’s anything mopey, or anything that they’re not working on in practice or preparing themselves for. I think they’re trying just a little too hard, (they’re) pressing.”

While the team is happy to have won two of three games, the reserves acknowledge that their recent funk puts more pressure on the starters.

“We’re missing shots. We have to find a way to get ourselves back going and find a way to be productive again,” said Kyle Lowry.

Lowry said that as the point guard on the second unit, he feels an added responsibility to make the unit more productive.

“That’s my unit, and as the backup point guard it’s my job to lead our unit to maintain the score or progress it and I definitely take that as a very challenging job,” he said. “It’s been very frustrating, but we’re 2-1 (in the last three games), our starters have been doing a great job and our bench has to find a way to come along and get better.”

Iavaroni isn’t concerned about their recent struggles, but also doesn’t understate their importance to the team.

“They’re getting good open shots, and they’ll knock them down. I told them that at halftime (of Sunday’s game),” he said. “They will (snap out of it). If somebody steps up we’ll be a good team, if nobody steps up we won’t be.”

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Tonight LSU and Ohio State go head-to-head in the BCS championship game, and at least two Grizzlies will have a vested interest in the proceedings. Stromile Swift went to college at LSU for two years, while Michael Conley spent a year at Ohio State before entering last year’s draft. After weeks of banter between the two, their teams will finally decide a national champion tonight.

“Stro’s been giving me a hard time saying that we’re not as talented as last year’s team and that the SEC’s going to take over the Big Ten, all this stuff but I have faith in my team. I think we’ll do it this year. I think we have the weapons,” said Conley of his Buckeyes. “It’s us against the world right now and that’s how we like it. We’re going to get it done.”

“Bragging rights are on the line. We’ve got a couple of SEC guys in here. I think we’re going to take it,” said Swift. “It should be a good game, but I think we’re going to take it though. It should be close.”

There is an automatic, friendly wager that is on the line anytime Grizzlies players have their alma maters going head-to-head, although neither player would divulge the stakes.

Posted on 01/07 at 02:42 PM

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