Grizzlies

set the tone for the year ahead. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff has repeatedly emphasized that the Grizzlies will establish their own iconoclastic identity — on offense.

Some of the things fans are likely to see as part of that identity are increased player movement off the ball, selective spacing, trying to get more points at the free throw line, and taking advantage of transition opportunities. Taking 3point shots will not be the goal in and of itself, but if those opportunities can be created within the flow of the offense, so be it.

The crushing mathematical reality that 3 > 2 means that teams with outside shooting talent will always have an offensive edge. It would behoove the Grizzlies to develop such outside shooting themselves. Since the arrival of David Fizdale (with Bickerstaff in tow as an assistant) two seasons ago, the Grizzlies have taken many more threes per game. In 2015-16, prior to Fizdale, 18 percent of the Grizzlies' shots were threes. In the last two seasons, that's risen dramatically to 32 percent. Yet even that elevated number is still shy of the NBA's average of 33.6 percent.

They won't take as many threes as other teams, but can they make them at a higher rate? Using the passing talents of Kyle Anderson, Mike Conley and Marc Gasol to open up shooting opportunities will be critical. Conley himself is a terrific outside shooter and can do so off the dribble. Gasol is a 3-point threat. Jaren Jackson Jr.'s outside shot appears to be a potential weapon. Chandler Parsons shot a career-high 42 percent from three last year. MarShon Brooks, too. There's potential for shooting improvement to occur. But it's just potential until it happens.

Grizzlies need outside shooting

In the meantime, Bickerstaff and his staff have to find ways to get around the fact that the Grizzlies don't have the kind of guaranteed outside shooting many other teams do. Last year, the Grizzlies worked around that by generating points at the free throw line and off turnovers. They were seventh in the NBA in proportion of points that came from the charity stripe, with Conley finishing fifth in the NBA among qualified guards in scoring points at the line. Aggressive driving and relentless play can throw teams off guard — that, along with the three, has been the bedrock of Houston's approach over the last few seasons.

Generating points through turnovers is also something the Grizzlies have historically done well; even amid a chaotic season last year, they finished in the top 5 in that statistic. It's the clearest way to marry defensive intensity with offensive performance, and that combination has the bonus effect of throwing opponents off their rhythm. The Grit n' Grind Grizzlies were experts at disrupting their opposition, with remarkable success a byproduct of doing so. However, even in a best-case scenario, points off turnovers comprise less than one-fifth of a team's overall output. It's just not enough in and of itself. If the Grizzlies can bump that number up, that will be a help, but they'll have to apply some other improvements, too.

The Grizzlies' goal on offense this season won't be to finish as a top 10 group. That's probably out of reach. But if they can combine what could be elite defense with a moderately-improved, solid offense, then that could take them a long way.