Jeff Green is still Jeff Green in Memphis

Jeff Green returns to Boston tonight and it seems like a good time to check in on our old friend.  The Griz got off to a hot start with Green in the mix and it was looking like both sides made out great in the deal.

Grizzlies-Celtics Preview - Yahoo Sports

The Grizzlies are 19-7 since acquiring Jeff Green from the Celtics, including 13-2 when he scores 12-plus. Green had been Boston's top scorer at 17.6 per game. Boston (26-36), though, is 14-13 since that deal and two games behind Charlotte for the East's final playoff spot.

Still, things have cooled off a bit since that early period of success and our friends at the Grizzly Bear Blues are learning exactly what it is like to have Jeff Green on their team.

The heart of the Grizzlies is Grit'n'Grind, but that heart needs to beat a little faster

Needless to say, the Jeff Green honeymoon quickly and violently reached a premature ending over these past few games. Until last night Coach Dave Joerger struggled to put the pieces together in a way that wasn't forcefully and incorrectly jamming the puzzle to completion. The alleged 3-point threat of Green has been a mercurial aspect of his game.

They go on to quote Bill Simmons talking about Green's famous inconsistency and conclude with this assessment.

Those up-and-down performances have complicated the Grizzlies' lineups of late and finding some sense of consistency has been a challenge but is essential with the playoffs around the corner. No the Grizzlies don't always shoot well, but it's not a Jeff Green problem- it's a team wide problem. Normally those missed points would simply come from other areas but that hasn't panned out for Memphis in the doldrums of February/March.

So Green obviously isn't the only problem for Memphis.  In fact, I'd argue that he isn't really a problem really. When you trade for Green, you have to know what you are getting.  He is what he is and I've made the case for some time that that is a good thing.

Celts will look different to Green - Boston Celtics Blog - ESPN Boston

Green is averaging 12.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists over 30.4 minutes per game over the past 14 games. He's shooting just 38.8 percent from the floor and 32.4 percent from beyond the 3-point arc. In the 26 total games since being acquired by Memphis his stat line isn't much different (12.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2 assists over 29.8 minutes while shooting 40 percent from the floor and 32.1 percent from distance).

The Grizzlies would like to see him shoot the 3-pointer better, but he's added some athleticism and Memphis fans certainly perk up whenever he has the big scoring nights he often had here. All things considered, he should ultimately be an upgrade over Prince (at least the Prince that was in Memphis) and help the Grizzlies in the postseason.

Enjoy the Jeff Green experience Memphis.