No offseason for new Griz coach
Busy Joerger adapting, feels team is on par with West elite
Because Dave Joerger had spent his NBA coaching career as an assistant until now, he pretty much could count on spending a hot August weekend splashing in a pool with his wife and two daughters.
He didn’t have to adhere to the unyielding demands that come with being the face of a franchise at the highest level. The Grizzlies’ most important customers — MVP season ticket holders — didn’t want to see and hear anyone for a “Chalk Talk” other than the head coach early Saturday in FedExForum.
“The head coaching part of it, I’ve gone through. Mentally, you’re always working on the next year,” Joerger said. “What’s different is all of the other things that come with it. The stakes are a lot bigger. There’s more media. It’s a bigger organization. Your time gets stretched more than any other time I’ve been a head coach, and certainly as an assistant coach.”
Joerger isn’t complaining
He’s still as fired up as that late June day he was named to replace Lionel Hollins as Griz head coach. As much as Joerger basks in realizing a dream,
he understands the Griz need to meet the high expectations they will face following last season’s Western Conference Finals appearance.
Joerger must sustain the continuity that exists between the core players, maintain the proficiency and prowess of a grit-andgrind defense, and improve an oftentimes stagnant offense to contend in the rugged West.
“I feel like we addressed some of our team needs,” Joerger said. “We’ve added championship experience. We’ve added IQ. We’ve added shooting. We’re trying to grow from within. Those are all very positive. You better be ready to play in the West. Houston got better. Golden State got better. Minnesota got bet- ter. And the Clippers have definitely improved themselves. I also feel like we’ve kept up.”
For most of the summer, since Griz management decided not to renew Hollins’ contract, Joerger has traveled to visit players already on the roster and help recruit free agents. He has studied game films and consistently talked to players by telephone or around workouts in FedExForum.
“It’s positive right now,” Joerger said.
Joerger said he wants to continue the open and honest communication that players have become accustomed to, and doesn’t want to make major changes — even when it comes to offense.
“We do some things really well offensively. I don’t want to lose those things. I want to add to them,” Joerger said. “On the front end of it, I want to add more pace. I want to add more ball movement. With the ball movement comes a continuation of offense. The ball can’t stop. When there’s eight seconds on the clock, the ball can’t just come out (and get stuck in isolation). We have to keep going. I’m trying to push the basketball. Other guys are going to have to be able to make decisions with the basketball at times. The ball needs to move.”
If Joerger plans on doing anything noticeably differently than Hollins, then that is using reserves more regularly. Joerger pointed out that he’s challenged with managing several players at least 31 or older in Mike Miller, Tayshaun Prince, Zach Randolph and Tony Allen.
“I like our roster. I’m hoping we’ve created depth,” Joerger said. “I’m hoping Jerryd Bayless, Quincy Pondexter, Ed Davis and Kosta Koufos keep growing. If they do that and have a good year this year, then we have some really nice depth.
“We need those guys to make shots. They’ve got to play. And I’m looking forward to having that. I know what Mike Miller is going to give us from the perimeter. Hopefully, those other guys have a big year. I want the bench to be successful. It’s a long season and the West is a gauntlet.”
Training camp starts in about five weeks.
That’s when Joerger plans to really get down to business with the goal of keeping the Griz as competitive as they’ve been the past few seasons.
“I don’t want the bad taste in our mouths (from being swept in the West Finals) to be forgotten,” Joerger said.