MEMPHIS – This time exactly a month ago, Mike Conley dashed across the basketball court inside an upscale fitness center in downtown San Francisco, stopped abruptly at the free-throw line, spun around and shifted his body to sprint in the completely opposite direction.
The will was there.
That much was evident by the sweat-drenched shirt and the response to attack every tedious drill that the Grizzlies’ sports science team, training staff and assistant coaches pushed Conley through.
But ultimately, Conley couldn’t push past a fundamental issue that needed to be addressed with his troublesome left foot.