The Memphis Grizzlies’ decision to fire head coach David Fizdale just 19 games into the season might have seemed abrupt to some. However, Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace says it was a necessary move in order for the team to salvage their season.
“We needed to have a change to try to save the season,” Wallace said per Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal. “Looking at where we were headed, there just weren’t a great deal of positive trends. We hope to get a positive reboot.”
The Grizzlies were clearly headed toward a very concerning path with Fizdale as they lost eight games in a row. Wallace also cited last year’s poor end to the season, going just 14-26 in the last 40 games.
The Grizzlies don't seem to have intentions of triggering a rebuild, which would be tough given the money they still have committed to the likes of Marc Gasol, Mike Conley, and Chandler Parsons. Making the playoffs is basically their main goal, and they couldn’t afford to lose more ground in the competitive Western Conference.
But given the lack of outstanding talent on the roster and the uncertainty surrounding Conley and his troublesome Achilles, it seems unlikely that a coaching change is the only thing the Grizzlies need in order to successfully rescue their season.
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