Chandler Parsons is frustrated by his subpar play but Grizzlies coach David Fizdale indicated Thursday that the small forward will remain in the rotation, Michael Wallace of Grizzlies.com reports. Parsons signed a four-year, $94MM free agent contract last summer but has battled knee injuries while averaging 6.1 PPG on 34.5% shooting in 19.5 MPG. Fitzdale said Parsons remains a big part of the team’s plans this season but admits Parsons is feeling the heat. “He feels like he’s letting his team down, he feels like he’s letting this city down, and he doesn’t want that,” Fizdale told the assembled media.
In other news around the Southwest Division:
- Point guard J.J. Barea hopes he can return to action during the Mavericks’ five-game homestand that begins on Friday, according to Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News. Barea hasn’t played since January 20th after straining his left calf. Barea joined the team on their road trip to Atlanta on Wednesday to work out with team’s training staff, Sefko adds.
- Mavericks owner Mark Cuban would like to see the team grab a playoff spot but doesn’t see a downside regardless of how the season plays out, Sefko writes in a separate story. Dallas currently trails the Nuggets by 3 1/2 games for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. “To me, it’s a win-win,” Cuban told Sefko. “If we lose, we get a better draft pick. If we win, we get in the playoffs.”
- Spurs center Pau Gasol doesn’t mind coming off the bench, as Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com relays. Gasol found himself on the second unit this week after returning from a fractured finger on his left hand. Dewayne Dedmon started at center. “I think [Spurs coach Gregg Popovich] is trying to do a good job of putting the best lineups and how they work together, and also maximizing everyone’s talents,” Gasol told Wright. “With the second unit, I have more opportunities to score, to play my game. With the first unit, it’s a little more limited, my options.”
Chandler isn’t producing for us yet, but he isn’t lashing out at people and defending himself. He’s handled it well and he’ll be back to the Parsons we’re used to seeing soon.
Agreed. I still think his contract was an overpay/mistake, but it’s good to see him take responsibility for his struggles.
Chandler sucks it’s been almost a whole year . I blame management giving him all that money knowing his knees fucked up. Why not pay the role players lil bit more money on the grizzlies . Hell they doing more than chandler . Management need to starts paying there back ups role players . They are key for the grizzlies .
So glad the Mavs got Barnes instead of Parsons.
That decision looks better by the day.. Mavs dodged a bullet
You
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I actually think Gasol off the bench would be better for the Spurs in the long term. He would essentially serve as a slower LaMarcus Aldridge for the second unit. You could easily interchange them if Aldridge is struggling and Gasol is playing well for that first unit. And with Aldridge and Leonard getting the lion’s share of the usage from the first unit, you’re wasting Gasol by having him sit out there and essentially being a decoy to space the floor out a little.
White role players get more money than black role players.
Crazy I don’t understand or get it . There are some good black role players in NBA that should be getting more money for there services . Then the team want to depend on them every night to save the team . It’s not right , I expected the role players to get paid also . Have to be fare with the black role players they deserve it .
Haha! What!?!? So black role players don’t get paid accordingly bc of the color of their skin? This has to be race bait or you are just really ignorant
*their *fair
It’s going to take a lot more than that to fix all his mistakes.. obviously he’s not well educated. Maybe he is a former NBA role player himself? Most of them talk the same way..
It actually does make sense for Pau to come off the bench. Personally, bigs like him work a lot better off the bench nowadays b/c of exactly what Gasol was talking about, but most wouldn’t be willing to come off the bench. It’s the same reason Whiteside worked so much better off the bench for the heat last season. I’ve always been a really big fan of Pau Gasol, and this is just another example of his professionalism as an all time great, at least of my generation
Poor Grizzlies
If they had signed almost anyone else, they’d have an opportunity to really contend in the West this year. I don’t trust the Duncan-less Spurs yet, Dantoni’s offense always crashes and burns in the playoffs, and Clippers will never be healthy and play to their potential. Oh yeah and some dude named Kevin got hurt on the Warriors. It’s pretty amazing what Fiz has done with missing Conley a month and what’s left of Parsons roaming the court
Then adding Toney Douglas really helped them . They are 13-4 when he plays . He bring energy and great defense when he is in the game and run the team well and get score a lil bit . That was a great move by the grizzlies . They rookies won’t be ready for another two or 3 years .