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Zach Randolph: Likely to stick in bench role for multiple games

Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger said after Sunday's loss to the Heat that Randolph would likely remain in a bench role for the foreseeable future, Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports. "It's going to be for a while. Our team's changing," Joerger said Sunday, when he was asked if the newly-configured starting lineup would remain in place. "And it's nobody's fault. It's not a blame game. It's a different opportunity to do different things."

Analysis:

Joerger adjusted two-fifths of his lineup ahead of Sunday's game, with Randolph heading to the bench and Tony Allen (sore knee) sitting out, paving the way for Matt Barnes and Courtney Lee to take their respective spots. Barnes, who offers more ranginess and is a superior perimeter defender, a quality that comes in handy against teams that stretch the floor. Randolph saw just 26 minutes Sunday compared to Barnes' 37, and while the gap may not be quite as dramatic in the games to follow, it'll be difficult to count on Randolph seeing over 30 minutes on a regular basis.

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