Tony Allen reveals how he helped create a defensive culture at Memphis Grizzlies – NBA Update
Tony Allen signed for the Memphis Grizzlies last summer, something that was considered just an afterthought at the time.
When Tony arrived, he wasn’t a regular starting in the side. However, he gradually grew into a leader in the locker room; aligned himself with the coaches to an extent that in practice, he was like one of them, always willing and
encouraging his teammates to work harder.
He is one player, who has helped shape the Grizzlies into a determined defence minded side that went to turn a few necks in last season’s playoffs. In a recent interview, Allen revealed how they got there. Allen says he doesn’t
deserve the credit for turning Memphis around, he just played his part in something big,
“I was just a piece of the puzzle,” Allen told Hoopsworld. “Every day in practice, I harped on defence. We had seven coaches, but I was kind of like the eighth coach. I was trying to show that we could use defence as a stepping
stone to make the playoffs. At the end of the day, I was just a piece of the puzzle.”
The Grizzlies did get their act together in time and after a weak start to the season; they qualified for the NBA playoffs as the last seed from the West.
However, paired against the San Antonio Spurs, the Grizzlies weren’t really expected to make a mark once they got in the post season.
That though was an ill advised assessment.
Memphis sent the first seeds crashing out of the playoffs and almost reached the Western Conference Finals, narrowly losing out to the Kevin Durant led Oklahoma City Thunder in the game-7.
The season was a great success overall for Memphis, who went past the first round of the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Allen attributed the landmark achievement to the togetherness in the side.
He believed that rather than a single star leading the charge for them, a number of Grizzlies players stood up to be counted last season and that helped change things around.
“We had a lot of guys step up. Sam Young filled the void when Rudy [g*y] was gone. Zach Randolph turned it to another level on both ends of the court. O.J. Mayo was a starter, but adjusted to coming off the bench and adapted well.
It was a group effort. We all came together and made it what it was.”
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