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John Konchar's Memphis Grizzlies role is an enigma. This is what advanced basketball metrics say
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- John Konchar's Memphis Grizzlies role is an enigma. This is what advanced basketball metrics say
A new Memphis Grizzlies player must assume the role as the most polarizing member of the team, now that Dillon Brooks has taken his talents to Houston.
The qualifications include being someone who splits the fan base to the point where some fans believe his playing time is justified, while others fail to fathom why he's even on the team.
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It also includes the history of the head coach — in this case, Taylor Jenkins — having to justify why said player is on the floor in key situations.
Enter John Konchar .
Maybe by the end of the upcoming season, a player like Derrick Rose or Marcus Smart can assume this title, but it's safe to say Konchar gets the tag right now.
On one hand, he is a superb 6-foot-5 athlete who can rebound with the best at the wing position, or rotate over to block an Anthony Davis dunk attempt at the apex. On the other, he has provided little to no offense and shotmaking in the past two playoff runs despite getting rotation minutes.
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The Grizzlies have a ton of depth on the wing that includes multiple young players with upside, but Konchar still figures to be a rotation factor this season. They value what he brings. That was proven last offseason when he was handed a three-year contract extension.
Here's why Konchar has solidified a role on a crowded roster.
The advanced stats favor John Konchar
Konchar doesn't make many flashy plays, so his best work is usually found deeper than the box score. Advanced analytics have favored his defense and his overall presence in Grizzlies lineups. The stat RAPTOR is used to measure a player's plus-minus contributions on both ends of the floor per 100 possessions.
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Although Konchar ranks negatively on offense, his defensive RAPTOR ranked 11th in the NBA last season. First-team All-Defensive guard Alex Caruso led the rankings, and Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr . was 18th. Konchar's RAPTOR impact helped him finish with a 4.0 WAR (wins above replacement), which was 91st in the league, ahead of notable names like Tobias Harris , Klay Thompson and CJ McCollum .
But it's not just RAPTOR that favors his defense. Konchar's 2.4 defensive box plus-minus led the Grizzlies last season.
Shooting upside
As previously stated, Konchar's offensive production is well below what he brings on defense, but there is upside to his game. The Grizzlies showed last season how much more of an emphasis they put on fixing their shooting woes by drafting Jake LaRavia and David Roddy , plus trading for Luke Kennard .
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Two seasons ago, Konchar made 41.3% of his 3-pointers on 1.8 attempts per game. His attempts went up last season to 2.5, but he converted a career-low 33.9%. His offensive upside is mostly tied to his shooting, and that just so happens to be an area of emphasis for the Grizzlies.
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Doing more with less
With Jackson, Ja Morant and Desmond Bane, the Grizzlies have a core that likely will combine to average more than 60 points for the foreseeable future. That means the ball will be in their hands the most, so you need players who can do more with fewer touches. Steven Adams has excelled in that role when he's healthy, and that's why Memphis likes having Konchar on the floor.
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Of the 17 Grizzlies' four-man lineups that played at least 175 minutes together last season , Konchar was included in five. But four of the top five Grizzlies lineups in net rating included Konchar. Those numbers aren't lost on the Grizzlies.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies' John Konchar has advanced basketball stats to look at
