MEMPHIS – JaMychal Green rose from the bench midway through the fourth quarter
the other night in Chicago, unwrapped the large heating pads from around his
knees and tossed aside the towel that had been wrapped around his neck.
This is typically the reentry process.
The Grizzlies were in a tight game against the Bulls and desperately trying to
snap a 14-game losing streak, longest in the Memphis era of the franchise.
Green, the fourth-year starting power forward for the Grizzlies, had another
streak of his own going. With 11 points and eight rebounds entering the fourth
quarter in Chicago, Green was all but certain to snag at least two more boards
to extend his career-best streak to seven consecutive games with double figures
in both points and rebounds.
So with around six minutes remaining, and with the spark starting to fade from a
group of rookies and young backups who had made an encouraging run, Green rose
to his feet in anticipation of the nod from interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff and
waited.
And waited.
And waited some more.
Ultimately, the call never came from Bickerstaff to insert veterans Green and
Marc Gasol back into the game for the finish. And ultimately, Green’s streak of
double-doubles came to an end as the Grizzlies’ losing streak stretched to 15
games entering Friday’s matchup against the Jazz at FedExForum.
In reality, the only thing that stopped Green from continuing the most
productive stretch of what had largely been an injury-riddled, underwhelming
season was his coaching staff’s decision to maximize a developmental teaching
moment. A unit of younger prospects played the entire fourth quarter of
Wednesday’s 119-110 loss to the Bulls.
In a season that’s also become about salvageable moments, there are no hard
feelings from Green – only more hard work yet to be done in the opportunities
that remain over the final month of games.
“That’s just my mindset going in, trying to finish the season strong,” said
Green, who earlier this week was tied with Russell Westbrook and Andre Drummond
for the most double-doubles since the All-Star break. “We’ve been going through
a lot of adversity right now, so I’m just trying to be that spark for my team.
My mindset has always been to go out there and work hard. One thing about me
that ain’t going to change is my game is built off my energy and effort, so I’ve
got to bring that every night.”
Nearly six weeks of unrelenting losses have overshadowed almost everything for
the Grizzlies (18-46), who carry the league’s worst record and longest losing
streak of any team this season into Friday’s game. Buried within the rubble of a
lottery-bound season for Memphis is encouraging evidence of Green still working
to build a foundation moving forward.
Green admitted his season got off to a rocky start after prolonged contract
negotiations with the Grizzlies while he was a restricted free agent last
summer. The sides didn’t finalize terms on a two-year, $17 million contract
until a week into training camp, and conditioning issues slowed his progress
during the preseason. Green then sprained his foot and ankle minutes into the
regular-season opener against New Orleans and would miss the next 12 games.
More nagging injuries followed that cost Green three games in December with knee
soreness and another five games in January with a second ankle sprain. In all,
Green had missed 20 of the Grizzlies’ first 50 games this season before his
productivity picked up at the start of February.
“Definitely it (all) kind of slowed me down,” said Green, who averaged 13.7
points and 12 rebounds in 33.2 minutes during the streak of six straight
double-doubles. “I also had a slow summer coming in, and I didn’t really get a
good chance to work out and play, condition and all of that. So, coming in, I
was a little out of shape and then I got hurt. So that kind of set me back a
little bit. But now, I’m starting to turn it around. I’m in great shape. I’ve
got my legs back and I’ve got a good mindset.”
It’s Green’s recharged motor that’s impressed teammates, coaches – and
opponents.
A 14-point, 15-rebound effort on Monday in San Antonio drew another round of
praise and respect from coach Gregg Popovich, who has long regretted the roster
numbers crunch that forced the Spurs to cut the undrafted Green from their
development pipeline four years ago.
Last week, it was Green’s all-around impact with 10 points, 13 rebounds, seven
assists, three steals and two blocks against Orlando that underscores his value
to Memphis. Gasol, who did not travel with the Grizzlies to Orlando for the
game, said Green’s determination and effort jumped off the TV screen.
“He just plays with so much energy every possession that it’s contagious,” Gasol
said. “And he’s that guy for us, because we need him to do that. He sets the
tone as far as everything goes for us. Obviously, when you play with him it’s
one thing. But, for example the Orlando game, you get to watch him every
possession and it’s overwhelming how hard he plays, how much he fights
regardless of the situation.”
Fighting is nothing new for Green. It’s an essential part of his fabric. He’s
been wired that way since he left the University of Alabama and methodically
worked his way into a starting role for Memphis, where he was groomed the last
two years behind beloved forward Zach Randolph, who departed in free agency to
Sacramento last summer.
Now, as the Grizzlies focus on developing and evaluating younger rotation
prospects, Green is the experienced veteran mentoring rookie Ivan Rabb,
second-year big man Deyonta Davis and third-year forward Jarell Martin in the
same fashion “Z-Bo” once showed him the way.
The season has hardly worked out the way Green expected, but it’s hardly stopped
him from working.
“For the longest time, he was the young guy who was scrapping and clawing his
way through, trying to prove he was an NBA player,” Bickerstaff said of Green.
“Now, he’s a proven NBA player who has to be a role model for the younger guys
who are now in the shoes he was in. I am seeing maturity. What he’s done is
show, no matter the circumstances, he’s going to continue to fight. In tough
situations and circumstances, where it’s easy for some to say, ‘to heck with
it,’ he hasn’t. He’s continued to battle.”
Green knows no other way. It’s impossible to lead all undrafted NBA players in
rebounding average for a second straight season by giving in.
Again, rebounding isn’t simply a job responsibility for Green. It’s a way of
life.
And he’s rebounded from a rough start to a difficult season.
Still, there’s more to grasp.
“We’ve got to,” Green said of working alongside Gasol to maintain a professional
approach and high standards. “Marc is the leader, and I’m one of the vets now.
Plus, we’ve got a young team, so we’re trying to show them you still have to
come to work and go hard no matter what.”
Green is no longer streaking, but still certainly striving.
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Player: Deyonta Davis
Player: JaMychal Green
Player: Jarell Martin
Player: Ivan Rabb
Player: Andre Drummond
Player: Russell Westbrook
Player: Zach Randolph
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