featured-image

Courtney Lee Electrified

By: Kevin Negron

The Grizzlies acquired Courtney Lee as part of a three-team trade on Jan. 7, 2014. At the time, Memphis was under the impression it had netted a consistent scoring option for the starting lineup, but if Lee’s early season play is any indication, the Grizzlies may have gotten more than they bargained for.

Now with his fifth NBA team in seven years, Lee has started the 2014-15 season on a shooting tear. Boasting career-highs in points (13.5), assists (2.4), field goal percentage (.530) and three-point shooting percentage (.556), Lee has provided a jolt to the Grizzlies’ much-improved offensive attack.

Memphis’ offense, featuring a more consistently dominant and aggressive Marc Gasol drawing double-teams, has seen a larger stream of quality outside shots being taken advantage of by the likes of sharpshooters such as Lee. The Grizzlies’ overall shooting percentage from beyond the arc has improved from last year, rising from 19th (.353) in 2013-14 to ninth (.368) in the league this season much in part to Lee’s impressive effort. Since joining the club, Memphis has had spectacular success with Lee in the starting lineup, wielding an outstanding 45-14 (.762) record.

Lee has also been a more than formidable complementary piece to Mike Conley, helping to spread the floor with the threat of his shot and create more open lanes for the guard to penetrate. Conley and Lee have had great chemistry thus far this season, both ranking in the top 10 in player plus-minus in the NBA, often an indication of the overall effect a player can have on his teammates when on the floor.

A pivotal moment for the Grizzlies early in the season was Lee’s thrilling tip-in at the buzzer via a Vince Carter inbounds pass (with 0.3 seconds remaining) on a designed play which sealed a victory against the Sacramento Kings on Nov. 13.

In a game which seemed like a sure loss early on, Memphis completed it’s biggest comeback in franchise history wiping out a 26-point deficit culminating with Lee’s game-winning shot.
The finish propelled the team to win eight out of their next nine in what could be a game that the organization looks back on as a defining moment in what is shaping up to be memorable 2014-15 season.

An essential piece to a delicate and so far successful puzzle, Lee has helped Memphis soar to new heights, with the Grizzlies recording a franchise-best 19-4 start. In what already felt like a playoff-type atmosphere during the final minutes of the Grizzlies’ comeback vs. Sacramento, Lee created one of FedExForum’s most electrifying moments in the building’s 10th anniversary season.