September 26, 2016- Tony Allen breaks into laughter during media interviews at Memphis Grizzlies media day held at FedExForum. (Nikki Boertman/The Commercial Appeal)

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By Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal

Picture this: The Grizzlies have a possession and the basketball is being dribbled up the court with someone calling out a set, pointing and yelling instructions.

But the point guard isn’t Mike Conley.

He’s Tony Allen.

Yes, Grizzlies veteran swingman Tony Allen had the ball in his hands during training camp because head coach David Fizdale wants to expand Allen’s game.

Allen spoke at the team’s media day on Monday about how Fizdale’s plan is to put him in more offensive action and make him a playmaker. So Allen picked up point guard duties Wednesday during practice.

“Coach said I did good so I’m going to try to build on it,” Allen said.

Allen is known for yelling “First Team!” when he makes a dynamic defensive play. But when asked if he handed out a stellar assist, Allen sounded more humble.

“I don’t want to be the primary backup point guard guy but I want some spot minutes at it,” Allen said. “I don’t want to take away from my first-team attributes. I didn’t have any key assists. But I was getting the team in formations, putting guys in the right spot and know what plays to make when the defense reacts. It’s more about veteran savvy.”

The bar is set low actually given Allen couldn’t possibly do worse than former Griz O.J. Mayo. There was a loud cry from Mayo’s camp and segments of the media for Mayo to play the point. He failed miserably when given the chance.

“I’d give myself an F,” Mayo told me in Las Vegas after a turnover-filled summer league game at point guard.

Yet what we know about Allen is he hardly, if ever, fails.

He said it

"They’re already ahead of the game defensively from the standpoint of understanding coverages and how hard you have to play and how hard you have to compete to be a great defensive team. Now, it’s just getting everybody on the same page systematically and through the language where we can be connected.” – Griz coach David Fizdale, talking about the team’s strength after two days of training camp.