Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph adjusting to reserve role – NBA Update
The Memphis Grizzlies have moved star power forward Zach Randolph to the bench, something that was unthinkable just a few months ago. The Grizzlies are on a roll at the moment, and in recent games they have defeated some of the strongest teams in the NBA.
The Grizzlies are a compact unit, who don’t really rely on any one star but use a number of good players to move forward.
The playoffs last year were different however, as the Grizzlies depended on Zach Randolph. The powerhouse forward was the spearhead of a depleted Memphis side that upset first seed San Antonio Spurs and gave quite the scare to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Such were his exploits that Thunder forward Kevin Durant labelled him the best power forward in the NBA. After the return of Rudy g*y, Randolph’s importance to the Grizzlies shrank this season, but the recent rise of Maurice Speights has proved to be even
more crucial in his move to the bench.
While Randolph was injured, the Speights established himself in the starting line-up and the team learned to play with him. The offence certainly didn’t suffer too much without Zach. Now that Randolph is back in action, the Grizzlies have decided to use
him from the bench for extra impact.
The player isn’t too flustered with the move either, as he knows it is for the best of the team.
"I'm doing what's best for the team. I'm getting back to myself," Randolph said. "I'm a team player so it is what it is."
It wasn’t that easy for coach Lionel Hollins to make the call however. He knew Randolph could react to the decision but made sure he knew it was for the team and not in any way due to the player’s performances.
"I just told him in front of the team, 'Zach, it's not anything you've done wrong or bad. I think that for us to be effective this is where we need to go,'" Hollins said.
The logic behind the move was that with Speights, the starters still functioned well. However, if Randolph was put on the bench, and could function as part of a second string which included O.J. Mayo among others, he could make a serious dent on his own.
"Mo Speights' contributions had dropped off. We weren't getting the same starch that we'd been getting. It was a difficult decision”
The results certainly have picked up with Randolph’s move to the bench. But the player doesn’t intent to stay there forever. He revealed the he is getting better with every game, and once he is back to his best he would like to be in the starting line-up.
"I'm close. I'm getting there. I'm not there yet," Randolph said.
"Hopefully, when I get back to myself, (Hollins) puts me in the line-up."
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