"GET YOUR REST, GET A GOOD MEAL, AND BE READY FOR A DOG FIGHT" - TONY ALLEN EXPLAINS WHAT MADE THE GRIT' N' GRIND GRIZZLIES STARTING LINEUP SO GOOD
Tony Allen is one of the more interesting players in NBA history. He's known almost solely for his defensive skills. Allen was never a strong offensive player, but he was a six-time All-Defensive team member, which helped him stay on the floor.
That said, the 6'4" guard was a perfect fit for the Memphis Grizzlies in the early 2010s, and he ended up becoming a key piece of the Grit' N' Grind Grizzlies. Looking back on that time, Allen shared what made that team's starting lineup one of the best in the entire NBA.
Allen on the Grit' N' Grind Grizzlies starting lineup
After spending the first six seasons of his career with the Boston Celtics, Tony signed with the Grizzlies in 2010 to shore up their backcourt. In the process, he became the final piece of a starting lineup that featured Mike Conley, Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph, and Marc Gasol.
From that moment, the Grit' N' Grind Grizzlies were born. After a few years of mediocrity, Memphis returned to the postseason for the first time in four seasons after signing Allen, and he credits their dynamic starting lineup as the main reason for their success.
"At the time, we had a good team," Allen said on Forgotten Seasons. "We had Rudy Gay at the three. Prototype, almost like a LeBron James, no disrespect to 'Bron, but he had the tools…Shoot, dunk on you, all that. Then you got an All-Star power forward in Zach Randolph who gonna give you 20 (points), ten (rebounds) out his sleep."
"Then you have Marc Gasol who they was kind of comparing to Arvydas Sabonis at the time. And Mike Conley, a proven point guard…He was always smart with his playing…He was probably, I thought at the time, one of the top five point guards in the league, and people really didn't notice," he added.
Allen was the only new member of that starting lineup in the 2010-11 campaign, and his impact was immediately felt. "The Grindfather" explained how he filled his role with his new team and helped implement a new culture within the Grizzlies building.
"And you implement me in there, a guy that's gonna come in and do the dirty work, take charges, dive on loose balls, with all the smoke, ready for whatever, and well-respected on the defensive end. So what I helped do was, I believe, when you talk about culture, we made it to where guys, when they come in, ain't no more just counting us as a W and moving to the next city. No, you might need to come in, get your rest, get a good meal, and be ready for a dog fight. And I think that's what the Grit' N' Grind culture pretty much laid out," he continued.
He changed the direction of Memphis
Prior to his arrival, the Grizzlies had talented players but weren't exactly a cohesive unit. Allen's arrival changed everything, as he was their glue on defense and could also play a supporting role on offense when his team needed him to.
While the entire unit only lasted two and a half seasons before Gay was traded, they made their impact known. In fact, the year they traded Gay (2012) resulted in their deepest playoff run, which saw them go all the way to the Western Conference Finals.
They may not have won a championship, but this starting lineup changed everything for Memphis. After being a punching bag for a few years, they turned themselves into one of the toughest teams in the NBA, even though they didn't necessarily have a superstar leading the way.
Allen didn't solely change everything for the franchise. Still, his arrival was the final move that helped usher in a new era in Memphis. And for a point in time, the Grit' N' Grind Grizzlies were one of the last teams you wanted to cross paths with on the court.
2024-06-15T17:50:45Z dg43tfdfdgfd