NBA’s preseason MVP? PG Mike Conley

Conley the league leader in PER this preseason

One week from the start of the regular season, Numbers Game is back. And right off, there is a huge story for the Grizzlies that has been largely overlooked. No, not Marc Gasol's ankle/foot, though that indeed is big. No, not the health status of Chandler Parsons, though that is an enormous part of the Grizzlies' season. It's the biggest story -financially -- in the NBA, and perhaps the biggest one locally, too:

Mike Conley. He has been nothing short of sensational this preseason. Don't believe it? Consider that entering Wednesday night’s games, he had the best Player Efficiency Rating in the NBA, ahead of LeBron James, ahead of Kevin Durant. Sure, it's preseason, so everything should be taken into that context, but still -- Mike Conley! It's all a little jarring. Yet there are many reasons for the Grizzlies to believe this surge of productivity is more than just a mirage.

Fizdale factor

The growth in Conley's game starts with his new head coach, David Fizdale. Fizdale has demanded that his team play with more pace; that alone doesn't make him unusual, since virtually every coach of every team would prefer his team to play faster. Heck, Dave Joerger exhorted this same team to go, go, go around this time of year, every year, but it never quite stuck. This year, it seems that it will.

There is a commitment in both word and, crucially, action to make certain the team plays with far more freedom, pace, and spacing. There is a very real embodiment of that action in the starting lineup, with the unfamiliar face of JaMychal Green now filling the power forward spot that had been cemented by Zach Randolph for seven successful seasons.

Fizdale wants to put lineups on the floor that can play quickly and contain at least four legitimate outside shooters. Seeing it in action can be a bit of a shock, but it's one that seems to have unleashed something quite special in Conley.

"With the spacing, it allows less congestion,” Conley said. “I think the decision-making is easier for guys, it's either a layup or a wide-open guy."

Fast, fit and free

Conley's in the best shape of his life; the extended time away last season to recover has left him much fresher than in years past. Fizdale said of Conley, "He's in incredible shape to come in right out of the gate."

Conley's personal numbers are superb this preseason -- he's averaging more points in 22 preseason minutes than he did in 31.5 minutes in either of