Grizz Gaming Gazette: Looking for Consistency as ‘The Switch’ Nears

There are so many parallels between the NBA on the actual hardwood and virtual hardwood (the NBA 2K League). There is so much that goes into a gameplan, film, and learning the opponents’ tendencies.

This year’s Memphis Grizzlies NBA 2K League Franchise Grizz Gaming team was fortunate coming into this season, because opponents didn’t have film on this group. It’s built around a rookie point guard, a rookie lockdown, surrounded by a savvy group of veterans. If you watched the first week of Group Play in ‘The Slam’ 3v3 Tournament, you’d had thought Grizz Gaming was a top-tier team.

Going 4-0 in their first week of group play, as rookie Point Guard Harry Friedman (LikeCP) was nominated for the NBA 2K League Player of the Week Award in his first week of action. However, it was going to be interesting to see how the team responded to opposing teams gathering a weeks worth of film on them.

Playing the same group of teams in week two, Grizz Gaming was humbled — going 0-4 in week two, and now 4-4 overall in group play. An 0-4 week two forced Grizz Gaming Coach Mehyar Ahmed-Hassan (AuthenticAfrican) to make some changes to his starting lineup adding Josh McHatten (Sparxn) to the starting lineup.

“Spartxn is one of those great vocal veterans, and we felt like we were missing that vocal presence… The ablility to talk,” Authentic discussed his reasoning behind moving Spartxn into the staring lineup. “Obviously with JROD, Logic, and CP, they are extremely intelligent, it’s not like they don’t talk at all, but there three of the more quiet guys out there.”

Obviously adding a voice like Spartxn is huge. Before the season, I praised the way this roster was built, for this reason — talented rookies alongside veteran presence.

“It’s honestly been amazing. We went through that rough patch (in the Slam), but no one was salty, no one was getting angry with one another, no one was complaining… Everyone realized that it was a moment for our team to get better,” Authentic African explained the dynamic in the Grizz Gaming locker room.

Grizz Gaming made it to the second round of The Slam Open before falling in double elimination to community team Glo Navy Glosquitos. Three weeks worth of lessons for Grizz Gaming, specifically talented rookie Point Guard LikeCP.

The Highs & Lows of Learning:

Rookie Point Guard LikeCP had quite the start to his rookie season. A 4-0 start, ending in a second round exit in bracket play. CP showed signs that he can be a top five point guard in the 2K League. However, teams were able to counter his early season tendencies.

“The second week was huge, because now they had film on him (LikeCP), so teams were trying to limit his rim running, and we did a great job of letting (LikeCP) know how teams were going to play him after that second week,” Authentic African explained CP’s adjustments through four weeks of 2K League play.

“They are going to take away your strengths, so you have to be prepared to do things that you may be uncomfortable with…”

AuthenticAfrican explained his conversations with Grizz Gaming Point Guard CP.

“CP is a really good shooter, just a really smart player in general, he’s quiet, but he knows everything that is going around him on the court and off the court… Just a really talented and smart individual,” Authentic continued to praise the Grizz Gaming rookie point guard.

LikeCP holds the keys to the franchises success this season. Realistically, the 2K League historically has been a PG-driven league since its inaugural season back in 2018. With that being said, LikeCP’s game looks more advanced than many rookie Point Guards I’ve seen before.

“For us, it’s continuing to instill that confidence in him (LikeCP), and let him know that he is the best player on this team, that’s why we thought he was the best point guard in the draft,” Authentic discussed CP’s play and future in Memphis.

The Switch:

The last 3v3 tournament of the season tips off tonight for Grizz Gaming. Group play features Knicks Gaming, Celtics Crossover Gaming, and Lakers Gaming. Tonight, a matchup with Knicks Gaming, and Celtics Crossover to begin The Switch Group play.

It won’t be easy, the Knicks, who sit in fifth place in total points to start the season in 3v3 and then Celtics Crossover, who sits in 10th in total points. An opportunity for Grizz Gaming to show how much they grew in the first four weeks for 3v3.

Grizz Gaming will tip-off The Switch tonight at 7:15 P.M. on the NBA 2K League Twitch and Youtube channels. They end their night with a matchup with Celtics Crossover Gaming at 8:45 P.M. An opportunity for Grizz Gaming to move up in the 3v3 rankings.