The Memphis Grizzlies are having a rough go of things – to say the least. The team now stands with a 12-27 as of 6 January – placing them 14^th in the Western Conference. That mark also places them in the bottom five of NBA teams in total. The team has gone through turmoil and injuries this season, firing head coach David Fizdale and missing star point guard Mike Conley for a bulk of the season. After starting the season hot at 5-2, the Grizzlies have since gone on to win only 7 of their last 32 games. Their offensive numbers are abysmal and their defensive numbers are mostly skewed due to the team’s slow pace.

The post Grit N’ Grind Grizzlies are off to a rough start. But with nearly half the season left to play (that’s a glass-half-full approach), the Grizzlies could still see an uptick. While the Playoffs seem farfetched as of now (anything is possible, right?) Memphis may not be as bad as their record shows.

Here are some ways in which the Grizzlies could potentially improve in the second half of the season (or build upon their future)…

Mike Conley’s Return

Memphis’ stud point guard hasn’t played in nearly two months due to an Achilles injury. Conley has started participating in limited contact drills, but the timetable for his return is still unclear. While Conley’s efficiency this season may not be super impressive, the hole he leaves the Grizzlies in his absence is apparent. Memphis’ point guard rotation currently consists of Andrew Harrison and Mario Chalmers, with wing Tyreke Evans sometimes sharing a bit of the ballhandling duties. Chalmers and Harrison have PERs of 10.2 and 11.2 respectively, with both players dishing out around three assists per game.

Conley himself has said that "everything has been flipped" after the optimism to start the season.

Especially in the Western Conference’s murderer’s row of point guards, the absence of even an average playmaker – on both ends – may have doomed the Grizzlies. While Conley’s return date is unclear, his presence will at least bring some danger to future matchups, a player teams must gameplan against. Conley’s return will be a major boost to a team that has been plagued by much inconsistent play since mid-November.

#TRADESZN

One favorite topic of many NBA writers is “Should ________ blow it up?” (You can probably run with that headline for EVERY team in the NBA - and the Seattle Supersonics too.) That question surrounds the Grizzlies now. The team still has major money committed to the trio of Marc Gasol, Mike Conley and Chandler Parsons, and to a lesser extent, JaMychal Green. The first three seem untradeable, but seemingly everyone else on the roster should be available – at the right price.

Tyreke Evans seems like the prime candidate for a trade. Evans is the team’s leading scorer, nearly replicating his numbers from his rookie of the year campaign (still his best season). Evans has been an all-around offensive force for Memphis – which may not be seeing much for one of the most anemic offenses in the league, but is still impressive nonetheless. While Evans’ production may be a byproduct of Memphis’ system, his efficient shooting (41.6% shooting on 5.3 attempts per game) should at least carry over in the future. The swingman is on a one-year deal, and could be looking for a big payday next season. Memphis should at least gauge the market for an Evans deal, and possibly acquire a draft pick or prospect for a player inevitably departing this summer.

While not as enticing a trade option as Evans, bigs JaMychal Green and Brandan Wright are on friendly deals and could at least be decent bench pieces for teams looking to make a deep playoff run. While trading key rotation players may be another blow to a difficult season, introducing new faces into the formula could be enough to make noise and be more competitive. If the Grizzlies decide not to pursue a late-season surge, they should at least begin to build on the future.That brings us to a final point…

Growing the Grindhouse

 The Grizzlies’ draft success and development haven’t been too hot as of late. While their best players, Gasol and Conley, were essentially homegrown, the Grizzlies have really struggled to find new players through the draft. Their first-round selection last season, Wade Baldwin IV, was waived at the beginning of the season. Jarrell Martin and Deyonta Davis, drafted in 2015 and 2016 respectively, have yet to look impressive off the bench. Dillon Brooks, a second-round selection, has become a solid rotation piece early in his career, fitting with the team’s gritty mentality. This season’s other rookies, Kobi Simmons and Ivan Rabb, have seen limited action.

If Memphis wants to change things up, they could push the pace with their young players. Over the past few seasons, the Grizzlies have zigged where other teams have zagged. They play the slowest pace in the league by a fair margin, shooting the least number of field goals per game. The new pace could start with bench units, not interfering with Marc Gasol’s rhythm. Playing lineups with Brooks, Harrison, Davis, and a returning Wayne Selden could push the pace, with athleticism and grit. The Grizzlies could still grind out possessions, but at a faster pace. At this point, the Grizzlies should be growing together – building chemistry could lead to victories – eventually.

While the Memphis Grizzlies’ 2017-2018 season has been ugly (to say the least) the team still could use the remainder of the season to make a run for respectability or begin building for the future. There are still many games to be played. This season shouldn’t be looked at lost, but rather seen as a year for growth after Grit N’ Grind.