Grizzlies News and Features

Grizzlies conclude trip tonight against Clippers, by Matt Tumbleson

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:26 GMT

While they have failed to win a game thus far on the trip this Grizzlies team is showing some very positive signs, but their inability to defend and carry an effort for a full 48 minutes has prevented them of cracking the win column on the trip. The Grizzlies have played very well during spurts, as evident by the early first quarter leads that they jumped out to against the Nuggets, Kings and Warriors. They led the Lakers last night at the half. Their ability to consistently lead at different points in the game on a grueling road trip at the beginning of the season shows that the talent is there on this team to compete on a nightly basis, but it appears that this team is still figuring out how to carry that effort throughout the entire game. They’ll get another chance to put together a 48 minute effort tonight against the Staples Center’s other tenant. While the Clippers don’t carry the panache of the Lakers, they are a talented group that can’t be taken lightly by the Grizzlies. If the Grizzlies can find a way to come away with a win tonight it will alleviate some of the frustrations from earlier in the trip, but if they struggle again, the flight back to Beale Street could be a long one. Here are a few things to watch for in tonight’s contest… No No. 1 vs. No. 2: Tonight’s game should have been the first regular season matchup between No. 1 overall pick Blake Griffin and No. 2 Hasheem Thabeet, but a knee injury to Griffin derailed the possible matchup. While the Grizzlies understand that it might take some time to develop Thabeet, Griffin was expected to produce immediately for the Clippers, but now that vision gets a little murkier for a player whose game at this point in his career is based on explosiveness. When he returns will Griffin revert to more of a developmental mode like Thabeet because a sliver of his athleticism has been compromised because of the injury? Will he still be able to attack the rim with the ferocity that made him the top pick in the draft? Hopefully Griffin returns fully healthy, but there have to be some concerns in Clipperland about how their prized rookie will come back. Confidence game: As the Grizzlies five game road trip winds down tonight, this matchup against the Clippers could be vital to the season moving forward. At 1-5 the Grizzlies have plenty of time to turn things around and get back on the playoff track, but they best do it sooner rather than later. The fact that they have struggled on a trip that includes three teams that will struggle to sniff the playoffs and another in the Lakers who was missing two of their top players is hard for the Grizzlies to swallow. When they return to FedExForum things won’t get any easier, as a date with the Portland Trail Blazers looms. That’s why they need to take advantage of a matchup with the Clippers tonight. Cracking the win column on the road would be huge for this team, and help them get a little bit of the swagger back that we saw at the beginning of the trip. Matchup of the night: The key matchup of tonight’s game will come at the two guard spot, where O.J. Mayo will need to outplay his counterpart, Eric Gordon, if the Grizzlies hope to come away with a win. Both Mayo and Gordon are deadly shooters, but Mayo plays a more complete floor game, which should help him win this matchup. They have similar builds, so Mayo should fair better defensively against Gordon than he has against bigger guards like Kobe Bryant and Kevin Martin on this trip. Stat of the night: Even though the Grizzlies have struggled on their recent trip, they have to be hoping that history is on their side tonight against the Clippers. They are 28-26 all-time against the Clippers, making them one of only four teams in the NBA that the Grizzlies have a winning record against (Charlotte, Toronto, Washington). Discuss the game with fellow fans on the Fan Boards.

Grizzlies hoping for blockbuster win against Lakers tonight, by Matt Tumbleson

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:01 GMT

Despite their struggles on the current road trip, the Grizzlies might be catching this Lakers team at the perfect time. While the Lakers will most assuredly be in the hunt the entire season, they are by no means rolling on all cylinders, even though they currently at 4-1. They are without the services of Pau Gasol and have been taken to overtime in each of their last two contests against the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Houston Rockets. They are still the Lakers, but they aren’t steamrolling quite yet, which makes this a perfect time for the Grizzlies to face them. If the Grizzlies can find a way to come away with a win tonight in Los Angeles it would more than make up for the three disappointing losses that have come previously. An argument could be made that if the Grizzlies pick up a win tonight it would make this is a successful trip no matter what happens the rest of the way. To do so the Grizzlies will have to ramp up their defensive intensity, because the offense, rebounding and ball movement is as good as it has been in years for the Grizzlies. Here are a few things to watch for in tonight’s game… The Kobe Conundrum: The Grizzlies have had a hard time stopping people this season, so the prospect of seeing No. 24 on the other side isn’t exactly what the doctor ordered for a team still trying to figure out how to stop the top scorers on other teams. So how do the Grizzlies slow down a player who will ultimately go down as one of the top five most explosive scorers in the history of game? Right now the Grizzlies don’t have a lockdown one-on-one defender that they can throw at Bryant, so they have to rule that option out. As time goes on DeMarre Carroll or Sam Young might develop into that role, but for now, if the Grizzlies hope to keep Kobe in the 20’s or even the 30’s for that matter they’ll need to play team defense and be efficient with their rotations to and from the former MVP. If the Grizzlies can figure out a way to slow down Kobe tonight there will be no better defensive template for them to follow going forward. Matchup of the Night: As explosive as Bryant is, the key matchup for tonight’s game is at the small forward position, where Rudy Gay will have to do is best to not let Ron Artest take him out of his game. Artest is one of the best defenders of his generation, and has been known to lock down an opponent and get underneath their skin to the point where it becomes difficult for the offensive player to operate, as evident by the clamps he threw on Joe Johnson last week. Rudy cannot allow Artest to get to him tonight, and will need to go into the contest with an attacking mentality. Artest is not as spry in one-on-one situations as he used to be, so if Gay can get the first step on him, he’ll be able to draw fouls on the Lakers bigs and keep the Grizzlies at the line, manufacturing points. Stat of the night: The Grizzlies have been an offensive juggernaut in the early going this season, and as proof, are the only team in the NBA with three players who are averaging 20 or more points per contest. While it might be a difficult clip to keep up, O.J. Mayo (20.6), Rudy Gay (20.4) and Zach Randolph (20.2) are all averaging 20+ points. Currently there are only three other teams (Lakers, Nuggets and Raptors) who even have two players who are averaging 20+ points.

The Curious Case of Allen Iverson, by Chris Avis

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:09 GMT

I love blog comments for a few reasons. One, it lets me know people are reading. Two, it lets me know what people care about. People don’t leave a comment on a blog about a subject they don’t care about. The comments on this blog have mostly revolved around Allen Iverson, and specifically, that Iverson should start. I’ve had a few back-and-forths in the comments about this, but wanted to tackle the subject in depth. Plus, what better way to get comments than to write about A.I. So The Answer is coming off the bench much to the displeasure of him and his rabid fanbase. Here’s my take on the situation. Just because you think Mike Conley should start over Allen Iverson does not mean that you think Conley is better than A.I. I think that’s the biggest misnomer about coming off the bench. Everyone assumes that the 5 best players on a team start and that the bench is comprised of lesser talent. To a degree, this is correct. The best players usually start, but there are exceptions. One of the reasons that players like Jason Terry and Manu Ginobili come off the bench is very clear; the 2nd unit needs scoring. While Manu and JET start the game on the bench, they still get their shots and their minutes. It’s simply a matter of distributing some of the scoring load and some of the talent between the first and second teams. No one is saying that Michael Finley and Quinton Ross are better than Manu and Terry. It’s simply a strategy to keep points going up on the board throughout the game. I’ve never understand the fascination with starting. I’ll let Ben Gordon tackle this, “I'm a basketball player, and I might not get you in the beginning, but I'm gonna get you at the end,” he said Thursday. “It really doesn't matter if I'm out there from the start. It's never gonna affect the way I approach the game.” And that should be the focus of Iverson and his fans. Can he approach the game the same way whether he starts or comes off the bench? Isn’t this what veterans do? Isn’t this what being a professional is all about? As Gordon mentions, “he’s gonna get you at the end.” This is a completely different focus. Whether a player starts doesn’t really matter. Ultimately, your best players should play the most minutes (even if the times in which they play are different) and your best players should, ideally, all be playing together at the end of a close game. For Iverson’s first two games, his minutes have been limited as he’s worked into the lineup and eased back from an injury. He’s played well so far and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him surpass Conley in minutes soon or play in crunch time. But Iverson has to also understand a certain component of playing on the Grizzlies. This team has made it clear that it is trying to develop its young talent (Gasol, Gay, Mayo and Conley). Regardless of how well Iverson plays, he will be splitting minutes with Mayo and Conley all year. Part of this is to develop the young talent and part of it is to keep an aging superstar healthy. One of the most curious parts of the Iverson situation so far is Iverson’s contention that he was successful as a starter in the past and thus, he should be a starter now. A statement like this says a lot about the fragile psychology of Iverson. He’s saying that because he performed well as a starter in his prime that he should continue to be a starter. He’s supposing that nothing has changed about his game. He’s comparing his 34-year-old self to his 24-year-old self. It’s clear that he doesn’t think anything has changed. And you know what, no one wants to grow old. It’s one of the most universal feelings. The sad reality of sports and is that 34 can seem old. Sports is one of the few, if any, places where this is the case. And Iverson knows people think he’s growing old, cause in the sports world, he is. Now, growing old and being unable to play are different. Iverson isn’t washed up. However, psychologically, it seems as though Iverson equates coming off the bench as proof that he’s lost a step. It’s almost like he’s telling himself, “I’m good, and good players start.” He doesn’t want to admit that anything has changed about him, which I can sympathize with. I’m not just saying that either. I know it’s not the same thing, but every time I step out onto the basketball court to play with friends I try and do all of things I did when I was 10 years younger and 40 lbs lighter. I don’t want to admit things have changed. Who does? But you know what, my best games are when I play within my limitations. For Iverson to do this, he has to admit his game has limitations. I’m not sure he’s capable of this self-realization given his comments and his reckless style of play. Iverson seems like the type of person that cares about his legacy. In a certain way, I think he wants to start because he cares about how his career is viewed. The irony of this is that Iverson’s public posturing about starting is hurting his legacy. He’s making a lot of people think he’s not a team player. I know he’d disagree and say that he simply thinks he’s giving the team the best chances to win by being on the court, but one of the most needed things on this Grizzlies team is a scorer for the 2nd unit. The Grizzlies need to have Gasol, Randolph, Gay, Mayo or Iverson come off the bench to help keep the 2nd unit afloat. Those that want Iverson to start ahead of Mike Conley are basically saying they want Mike Conley to shoot more since that’s what he’d be asked to do on a 2nd unit comprised of some combination of him, Sam Young, DeMarre Carroll Steven Hunter and Hasheem Thabeet. The reasons Iverson has been thrust into the 6th man role are quite simple. First, he was injured during training camp when the team was being assembled. His time to make his case as a starter was taken away. Second, by admitting the 2nd team needs a proven scorer leads one to ask, “who?” The proven scorers on this roster, as noted above, are Gasol, Randolph, Gay and Mayo. Marc Gasol is the least explosive scorer of the bunch. Zach Randolph is playing very well with Gasol right now and there isn’t a legitimate starting power forward option other than Z-Bo, at least until Darrell Arthur returns from injury. OJ Mayo couldn’t move to the bench for Iverson since an Iverson-Conley backcourt is too small. Rudy Gay could move to a 6th man type role but that would thrust Sam Young or DeMarre Carroll into the starting SF position. I could conceive of Carroll doing this if, and only if, Gay still logged the majority of minutes at the SF. The weird thing about saying that Iverson should come off the bench is that from the comments I’ve seen so far, people seem to think that means you don’t respect Iverson, or his game. People assume you’re a hater. But that’s not what I’m saying at all. I respect Iverson’s ability to scorer and to lead a unit. I’m simply asking him to do this for the 2nd unit for parts of the game. But to simply say, “Iverson should start over Conley” isn’t thinking about bench scoring whatsoever. Now, if one wanted to say, “Iverson should play more minutes than Conley” or “I think Iverson should finish games given his big-game experience and ability to create his own shot” well then, I’m all ears. Let the comments begin.

Grizzlies at Golden State, by Pete Pranica

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:41 GMT

Watching the body language of the Grizzlies around the hotel lobby as they departed for a workout yesterday, I couldn't sense tension or anxiety or anything like that. They're frustrated for sure and they're tired of being Sacramento's opening-night foil two years running. But tonight presents an intriguing opportunity against a team the Grizzlies swept 3-0 last season. The Warriors are 0-2, the only team in the league to not play three games. They dropped a one-point decision to the Rockets and got blasted in Phoenix behind 20 Steve Nash assists. Golden State, as you might figure, plays an up-tempo style. It's high risk (19 turnovers per game) with high reward (16.5 fast break points, 4th in the league). The Grizzlies, at least so far, are in the same boat. They lead the league in fast break points while committing the fourth-most turnovers in the league. In fact, when you put the two teams' stats side by side, they're virtually a mirror image, except for rebounding where the Grizzlies are far better than the Warriors. Memphis must take care of the glass as well as the basketball and straddle that fine line between aggression and recklessness on offense. They also must prevent a monster game from either Monta Ellis or Stephen Jackson. In consecutive games, the Grizzlies have been torched by Chris Bosh, Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Martin. Normally, the race to 100 points determines the winner. Forget that, the race is to 110 points tonight. Sidelight: I talked to Marc Gasol last night outside the hotel and I congratulated him on his vastly improved play. He wanted nothing with the compliments, instead insisting, “I know I can play better.” I will give him credit; he is all about improving and winning and competing. I don't know yet if he might be on the path to the league's “most improved” award since he was pretty good last season, but if he averages a double-double of say 18 points and 11 rebounds for the year, then the Grizzlies need to rev up that bandwagon.

4 games down, let's review, by Chris Avis

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:54 GMT

I've consumed 333 minutes of Grizzlies basketball in the past week. Time for me to regurgitate some knowledge onto your brain. Mike Conley has played adequate so far. His three-point shot is consistent and he plays good defense (save for the Beno backdoor play last night). He knows how to run a team but still defers to the players around him. I get the sense that Conley is turning into a solid role player. OJ Mayo is the bomb. He’s got killer instinct on the offensive end. Did you see the Denver game? He scored 40 points while only going to the charity stripe two times. Unheard of. But the problem with OJ is that he’s too short to stop some of the better shooting guards in the league. Mayo just doesn’t have the height to bother guys like Kevin Martin and Rip Hamilton. A good defense wing is a must when Mayo is on the court. I like DeMarre Carroll. He hustles every single play. He fights for rebounds. He runs the court. He plays full court defense. And, like Harry Dunn, he’s got a terrible shot. Maybe he just misses Harry Christmas. The Grizz are going to be in some shootouts. Other than the opening night game vs. the Pistons, the Grizz have been involved in some high scoring affairs. They’re currently scoring 107 a game. Opponents are scoring 115. It’s like Fratello-ball, except the opposite, you know, fun. Zach Randolph is a beast. There’s no other way around it. The guy controls the paint, shoots a high percentage (56%), and can pass when needed (13 assists). The amazing thing to me is how Z-Bo, even with his size, can still hit the outside jumper pretty consistently. And did you see his near game-winner last night vs. the Kings? Watch the 1:24 mark of the video below. Marc Gasol is a beast. See a trend here? He’s not just Pau Gasol’s little brother anymore. His slimmer frame has helped him on the offensive end, looking spry going to the rim and also helping him create some shots for himself. But the best part about watching Marc play is twofold: he competes as hard as anyone in the league and he knows how to play the right way. Gasol will pass to the open man, take the good shot, hustle for every board, and not check his nose for blood after every foul. The Allen Iverson experiment is underway. Let’s move on. I love the NBA. I love an 82 game schedule. I like having games to watch 5 nights a week. A loss like last night to the Kings only stings for 24-48 hours before the team is lacing them up again. Here’s to hoping Memphis beats the Warriors tomorrow night, 125-118.

Grizzlies looking to bounce back against the Warriors, by Matt Tumbleson

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:34 GMT

They are rebounding the ball at a phenomenal rate, their offense looks as good as any in the league, and their front court has developed a chemistry that will make them hard to slow down as the season goes on. Conversely, there are holes in this team that need to sown up quickly before they accumulate too many games in the loss column. Individual and team defense is lacking right now, their assist to turnover ratio is a problem that needs to be taken care of pronto and the matter of how the team is going to fit future Hall-of-Famer Allen Iverson into the mix is still undetermined. Regardless, the Grizzlies have shown in their first four contests that this group of players is one of the most talented in the history of the franchise. Whether they can be one of the most successful remains to be seen. They’ll take another shot at getting things right against the currently winless Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night. Here are a few things to watch for in Wednesday’s game… Big Question about the Answer: After Allen Iverson’s remarks to the media about playing time following Monday’s game surfaced in the media, questions started popping up on local talk shows, national websites and fan message boards about how the Grizzlies would respond to Iverson’s concerns. While it is a tough position for all involved, the best thing that the Grizzlies can do right now as a team is to focus on winning. There is an old adage that says that winning cures everything, and this situation definitely falls in that category. The schedule makers might have done the Grizzlies a favor in this category, as they’re now tasked with facing the winless Warriors. More Mayo please: One of the most encouraging signs of the young season has been O.J. Mayo’s increased dedication to getting baskets at the rim. More so than ever, Mayo is finding a way to get to the rim, which in turn, has created space for him on the perimeter. Right now Mayo is finding a way to score, and could be evolving from a dead-on shooter to an all-around scorer. There were a couple times against the Kings late in the contest when calls could have gone either way on drives to the cup by Mayo. As times goes on he’ll start to get these calls, and his impact will be even greater, which is saying quite a bit, considering the fact that Mayo is averaging 22.3 points per contest, which is tops amongst second year players, leads the team and is 19th overall in the NBA. Join the club: Whenever Iverson enters the game tonight he’ll have a chance to enter elite company. Iverson is currently six points shy of becoming the 16th player in NBA history to join the 24,000 point club. Matchup of the Night: The backcourt unit of Mayo, Mike Conley and Iverson will all get the opportunity to try to slow down Monta Ellis, who currently leads the Warriors in scoring at 22.5 points per game. In each of the last three contests the opponents' best player has torched the Grizzlies for 37 (Chris Bosh), 42 (Carmelo Anthony) and 48 (Kevin Martin) points. If the Grizzlies can’t find a way to slow down the offensive focal points for the other team they are going to be in trouble on a lot of nights, which is why the matchup against Ellis is so key. The Grizzlies need to show a commitment to stopping one player from beating them, and against the Warriors Mayo, Conley and Iverson have a chance to set a precedent moving forward. Stat of the Night: Zach Randolph’s 30 points and 16 rebounds on Monday night against the Kings marked the first time that a Grizzlies player has had at least as many points and rebounds in a game since Lorenzen Wright had 33 points and 26 rebounds on November 4, 2001 vs. Dallas. With the way Randolph has played during the Grizzlies first four contests, don’t be surprised if he hits the marks again this season.

A Brief Intermission, by Pete Pranica

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:15 GMT

Let's put this to rest right now, shall we? Last night's O.J. Mayo-Rudy Gay “chat” was more a matter of competitive fire run rampant than anything else. I'm not sure why people have felt compelled to paint O.J. and Rudy as rivals. Ain't so. They need each other to win and they realize that they also need their teammates. O.J. was exactly right with his sentiments last night—the Grizzlies weren't getting stops against Denver, but rather trading baskets. Final fourth quarter count? 30-29 Nuggets. They'll sort it all out. Honestly, I'm relieved and gratified to see this type of passion from the Grizzlies. They didn't back down against one of the best homecourt teams in the business and a Western Conference finalist from a season ago. I'm calling out anyone who suggested—and there are some who were suggesting even this pre-season—that Marc Gasol was little more than a “throw in” and a “coat rack” in the trade with the Lakers. Anyone going to go public and admit he's an awfully good player? I'm waiting. The reports are that Allen Iverson may well be making his Grizzlies debut tonight. I have no official word on that, but you can be sure that the Grizzlies are going to be very careful with AI's hamstring. Those injuries can linger and nag for weeks and months. With the Grizzlies facing three (currently) winless teams in the remaining four games—the Kings, Warriors and Clippers are a combined 0-9—rushing Iverson back to action unless he's 100% ready to play would make no sense. ARCO Arena will be sold out tonight. The community banded together to get the building sold out for opening night and for the next home game against Atlanta. The Kings have a chance offensively because of Kevin Martin, who makes a habit of lighting up the Grizzlies. However, the rest of the offense has been poor. The Kings are shooting less than 41% and allowing opponents to hit at better than 51%. Defending the perimeter, a sore spot for Sacramento last season, is even worse so far this season: opponents are hitting a ridiculous 46% of their threes. New head coach Paul Westphal has made the curious decision to sit seven-footer Spencer Hawes in favor of 6-9 Sean May in the middle. Unless Westphal changes up his strategy, it should be a big night for Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph.

Grizzlies hope to rule the court in Sacramento tonight, by Matt Tumbleson

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:21 GMT

It might be too early to call them an offensive juggernaut, but over the past two games the Grizzlies certainly look like a team that will be very hard for opponents to stop this season. They have averaged 119 points over the past two games, shot well over .500 from the field and show no signs of slowing down with a lineup that has four or five players who are capable of going off for 30+ points at any time. Last night the Grizzlies fell to a very good Denver team, but competed from the start. The question now is whether they can come with the same intensity tonight against the Kings. If the Grizzlies play with the same sense of urgency against the Kings they should come away with a victory, as they are further along in their building process than Sacramento. If the Grizzlies hope to surprise people and push for one of the final postseason spots this is the type of game that they have to win. They need to beware of the Kings, however, as tonight will marks the Kings’ home opener, and Sacramento is sure to come out of the gates with a lot of energy. If the Grizzlies can weather the initial push they should be in a good position to pick up a win. The Grizzlies are 2-25 all-time in Sacramento, but their most recent win came last season on 3/27/09. Here are a few things to watch for in tonight’s contest… Eye on Iverson: There is speculation that Allen Iverson will make his Grizzlies debut tonight after missing the entire preseason and the first three games of the regular season with a hamstring injury. The timing of Iverson’s return couldn’t be better, as his arrival adds even more pop to a lineup that has had no trouble finding ways to score over the last two contests. The emotional lift of adding a future Hall-of-Famer for the second game of their first back-to-back of the season would also play nicely in the Grizzlies favor. When he does return, whether it is tonight or later in the trip, expect Iverson to come off the bench, giving the Grizzlies another scoring option to a potent lineup that looks like it could be in the upper echelon of scoring this season. The Raptors and Nuggets had a hard time stopping the Grizzlies the last two contests, so imagine what their offensive capabilities will be when they add one of the greatest offensive players in the history of the NBA. The Grizzlies offense has seen a down-tick when their starters have been out of the game, but with Iverson added to the mix, there is no reason that their offense shouldn’t be clicking throughout the game on most nights. Casting call: The Memphis Grizzlies have two low post scorers, a pair of young perimeter studs, a point guard who is coming into his own and a future Hall-of-Famer who is about to add even more punch to a promising group. What’s missing from this picture? A lock-down defender who Lionel Hollins can send out to slow down the talented offensive players that the Grizzlies will face on most nights. Many thought DeMarre Carroll would be the multi-faceted defender the Grizzlies could rely on to slow down the NBA’s most talented scorers, but as evident by the 37 points that Chris Bosh had on Friday and the NBA season high 42 points that Carmelo Anthony had last night, the Grizzlies are still lacking a player that can play this lockdown role. Carroll and Young are the two most likely candidates because of their athleticism, but as rookies, they don’t know enough of the tricks of the trade to rely on them. Another player who could help disrupt the flow of an offense in the Lindsey Hunter mold is Mike Conley. Conley is as fast as any player in the league, and could pressure the opposing point guards from initiating offenses more than he has shown during his time in Memphis. Rudy Attacks: Lionel Hollins had to like what he saw from Rudy Gay on the offensive end last night, as the small forward connected on six of his seven field goals at the rim. If Gay can continue to attack with a slasher’s mentality as opposed to settling for jumpers as he has done in the past the Grizzlies will have an even more balanced offense, and Gay’s point production will likely increase, because he will got to the line more frequently than when he is a jump shooter. Stat of the Night: Are Grizzlies fans in for an O.J. Mayo encore tonight? Mayo scored a career-high 40 points last night against the Denver Nuggets, but don’t be surprised if he churns out a similar performance tonight against the Sacramento Kings. Last season Mayo scored 30+ points seven times, six of which came in consecutive contests. Mayo’s 40 point performance was only the eighth time in team history that a Grizzlies player reached the 40+ point mark.

Grizzlies hope to rule the court in Sacramento tonight, by Matt Tumbleson

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:21 GMT

Grizzlies start road trip in Denver tonight, by Matt Tumbleson

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:53 GMT

Much like the Grizzlies last contest, the game tonight is monumental for a young team like the Grizzlies. A win tonight against one of the best teams in the Western Conference takes a lot of pressure off this Grizzlies team. Winning the first of five road contests makes the trip seem less daunting and builds a sense of confidence and swagger, knowing that they’ve taken down one of the Western Conference’s powerhouses. To do so they’ll need to enter the game with a similar attacking style on both ends of the court that they displayed on Friday night. The Grizzlies have had their struggles with the Nuggets, only winning three times in franchise history against Denver, but with as much talent as the Grizzlies have on their current roster, the time might be now to buck that trend. Here are a few things to watch for in tonight’s game… Great Expectations: If you were to ask Grizzlies players and coaches what they’d like to accomplish on this road trip, they’d probably respond, “5-0.” Is it realistic to think that this young team could head west for the first time this year and come back with an unblemished mark? Maybe not, with two Western Conference finalists on the schedule this week, but it is very realistic to think that the Grizzlies could return to FedExForum next week with a record above .500. Sure two of the more beatable teams this week, the Kings and Clippers, come on the back end of a back-to-back, but at this point in the season, when everything is fresh and new, games on consecutive nights do not carry the same weight and significance as they might during the grind of the season in January and February. If the Grizzlies can find a way to get out of Denver with a win tonight they will be setting themselves up for a very successful road trip. Matchup of the night: While slowing down Carmelo Anthony is always one of the keys to stopping the Nuggets, the most important matchup tonight will come at the point, where Mike Conley will face off against one of the best leaders in the game in Chauncey Billups. Billups, who mentored O.J. Mayo this summer, has crushed the Grizzlies in the past, but if Conley can build on his all-around performance from the other night, the Grizzlies could be in a position for a win. Conley is most certainly quicker with the ball than Billups, so he’ll need to come into the game with an attacking mentality, getting to the rim as much as possible to draw fouls and create opportunities for his teammates. Stat of the night: There is an old adage that was picked up somewhere along the way that stats in the NBA don’t start to trend until at least three games have been played, and that an NBA observers shouldn’t talk about them until that time, but this one is too good to pass up. After two games the Grizzlies are second in the NBA in overall rebounding and are out rebounding their opponents by 9.5 boards per game. Compare this to last year when the team finished last in rebounding in the league at 38.8 rebounds per game, and you have a clear indication that things could be much improved in Grizz Nation this season.

Start of the Long Road, by Pete Pranica

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:22 GMT

The Grizzlies' 115-107 win over Toronto was satisfying on a number of fronts: - The Grizzlies faced off against a team brimming with enthusiasm from their 101-91 win over Cleveland and, although pushed to the limit by an All Star-caliber performance from Chris Bosh, pushed right back, limiting Bosh offensively in the second half and keeping Hedo Turkoglu to a very pedestrian 14 points (and only three of those after halftime). - The Grizzlies won with a fourth-quarter comeback, something they accomplished just five times in 51 situations a year ago. They also put up 39 points in the fourth quarter, more than in any quarter last season. Moreover, the 117 points represented more points than the Grizzlies scored in all but one game last season. - Normally, I'm not a big chest-thumping guy, but I liked the swagger the Grizzlies showed in the fourth quarter. Rudy Gay made a big play and pounded his chest. I think he should do both more often. Rudy had the type of game that he should have—a full stat sheet with the exception of just two free throw attempts. Nine rebounds, three steals and a block were a great complement to his 17 points. - Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph are going to be a handful. Gasol has a variety of post moves and is a strong rebounder in his own right, while Randolph can play anywhere on the floor which spaces the floor beautifully for the Grizzlies offense. Forty-nine points and 14 rebounds and 11-for-11 free throw shooting is really good stuff. - Randolph gets the rap for being a “black hole.” Well, the teams he's played on since the Blazers dismantled the 2003 playoff team have been varying shades of bad. If you were playing for the Knicks or Clippers would you want to pass the ball? In Memphis, Randolph has talented teammates and he's eager to share. His press conference talk about “I want to win” sounds canned, but it's true. Players in this league would rather win that score a bunch of points. At the end of the day, it's all about the “W.”

Grizzlies pick up big win over Raptors, by Matt Tumbleson

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:21 GMT

Coming into tonight, the pressure was on the Grizzlies to redeem themselves after a disappointing showing on Opening Night, and with a five game road trip looming, the outcome of the contest was even more imperative to the Grizzlies. With the pressure on, the Grizzlies stepped up down the stretch, as O.J. Mayo contributed six of eight Grizzlies points during a critical minute and a half stretch in the fourth to seal the win for Memphis. Zach Randolph led the Grizzlies with a steady 30 points and seven rebounds to help Memphis even their record at 1-1, while Chris Bosh led all scorers with 37 points, as the Raptors fell to 1-1 on the season. One glaring hole that the Grizzlies knew they had to correct heading into the game was the production of their starting backcourt. O.J. Mayo and Mike Conley quickly asserted that their Opening Night performance was an aberration, controlling the tempo and equaling their collective output from the Grizzlies first game. Mayo and Conley had 13 points and five assists combined in the first quarter, compared to the 12 points and five assists they had in the team’s first game. With each starter reaching the scoring column the Grizzlies had an impressive team effort in the first, but an old nemesis, turnovers, prevented the team from creating any distance between them and the Raptors. Leading 23-22 after one, the Grizzlies had a hard time slowing down the Raptors All-League power forward, Chris Bosh, who exploded for 18 points in the second quarter on a variety of shots. The Grizzlies threw multiple defenders at him, including Randolph, DeMarre Carroll, Marc Gasol and Steven Hunter, but Bosh still managed to equal the Grizzlies opponent high for a half last season. The Grizzlies were able to weather Bosh’s presence thanks to a balanced effort and improved bench production. Marcus Williams had six points in the second quarter, including a nifty layup at the rim, and Carroll added five points in the first half to help the Grizzlies take a 53-49 lead into the break. Part of the reason for the Memphis resurgence was the fact that they limited their turnovers to three in the second frame. The Grizzlies were able to bridge the two halves and build a 60-53 lead early in the third without much of a peep from Andrea Bargnani. Unfortunately the former No. 1 pick woke up, which didn’t exactly play in the Grizzlies favor. Bargnani scored 12 points in the third quarter, including a pair of threes, sparking a 15-3 Raptors run to give the Raptors a 68-63 lead midway through the quarter. Just as they had done in the first half when Bosh exploded offensively, the Grizzlies showed grit by finding a way to bounce back from Bargnani’s offensive spurt to rally back tie the game at 72 on a Gay three late in the third. Trailing 79-76 to start the final stanza, Gay set the tone for the fourth quarter with the play of the game, following a miss with a reverse slam that provided electricity to the building. The raucous crowd would not prevent the Raptors from pushing their lead to 88-80 two minutes into the quarter, but the Grizzlies took over from there, responding with an 8-0 run to tie the contest at 88. The teams would go back and forth over the next five minutes before Mayo’s heroics down the stretch gave the Grizzlies a lead they would not relinquish the rest of the way. Mayo finished with 18 points, while Gasol had 19 points and seven rebounds and Gay added 17 points and nine rebounds to the winning effort. Mike Conley also bounced back to fill up the box score with 10 points, 10 assists and six rebounds, with Head Coach Lionel Hollins crediting his improvement to the fact that Conley has now recovered from an ankle sprain that was still bothering him during the team’s first game. Jose Calderon had 15 points for the Raptors, with Hedo Turkoglu chipping in 14 points. The Grizzlies finished the game with 24 assists and 17 turnovers, which was a vast improvement from the team’s first game, when they had 10 assists and 14 turnovers.

Grizzlies look to bounce back against Raptors tonight, by Matt Tumbleson

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:56 GMT

When the schedule came out, the Grizzlies first two opponents at home seemed to be very beatable Eastern Conference foes, but tonight’s matchup against the Raptors looks a little tougher now after their defeat of the might Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night. The Raptors are a very talented team, who should push for a playoff spot. They disappointed a lot of people last year, but if their opening night contest against the Cavaliers is any indication, they might have turned things around this year. The Raptors organization is operating with a sense of urgency with the hopes of proving to Chris Bosh that the organization is worth re-signing with when he becomes a free agent this summer. The Grizzlies dominated the post on Wednesday night, but they’ll be hard pressed to do the same tonight against a talented Raptors frontline that includes Bosh, Andrea Bargnani and Hedo Turkoglu, so their backcourt duo of O.J. Mayo and Mike Conley will have to step up if the Grizzlies hope to even their record after tonight at 1-1. Here are a few things to watch for in tonight’s game… Take two: Its hard to put to much pressure on the second game of what is always a marathon NBA season, but if there was a time, tonight’s contest against the Toronto Raptors could be just that. The team struggled in their opener and is about to embark on a five game west coast road swing, and a little confidence from a win tonight could go a long way towards making that trip a little easier on the young Grizzlies team. A win tonight will erase the memory of Wednesday’s struggles, and remind every Grizzlies fan in the Mid-South the promise and hope that the team had when they walked on the floor in their new shimmery Beale Street Blue uniform. If the team struggles again tonight, and drops to 0-2, the road trip becomes that much more daunting, as the games that on paper are very winnable to the team, against the Kings and Clippers, come on the second end of a back-to-back against last year’s Western Conference finalists. As crazy as it might seem this early in the season, the Grizzlies need to show a sense of urgency tonight, because if they don’t, there is a chance that they will be digging themselves out of a pretty big hole by the time they return to Memphis over ten days from now. Turnover turnaround: One key to the Grizzlies bouncing back tonight will be protecting the basketball and improving their assist to turnover ratio. On Wednesday against the Pistons the Grizzlies dished out 10 assists and committed 14 turnovers. Good teams are typically near at 2:1 assist to turnover ratio, and if the Grizzlies don’t at least flip those two numbers around tonight against the Raptors they will struggle again. A little more Juice please: Expect a big night from O.J. Mayo against the Toronto Raptors as he attempts to bounce back from an disappointing performance on Wednesday. Mayo’s play was not up to his very high standards, but don’t expect a competitor like Mayo to have another sub-part game tonight. Last year Mayo scored in single digits six times, and bounced back in three of the games following to have 20+ points nights. Last year Mayo averaged 18.0 points in contest after finishing in single digits. Stat of the night: Marc Gasol’s 21 points and 15 rebounds on Wednesday night marked his third career 20-15 game. Matchup of the night: With the possible exception of Tim Duncan and maybe Amare Stoudemire, Zach Randolph won’t have many tougher matchups this season than the one he is about to enter into tonight against Chris Bosh. As one of the top power forwards in the game, it’s no wonder there is so much attention being paid to where Bosh will land after this season. Randolph is bulkier than Bosh, so he has a chance of neutralizing him on the block. Randolph will have his work cut out for him tonight. DeMarre Carroll will probably spend time defending Bosh tonight as well.

Grizzlies look to bounce back against Raptors tonight, by Matt Tumbleson

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:56 GMT

Live twittering from Grizzlies-Raptors Oct. 30 game, by Chris Avis

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:00 GMT

I'll be doing live tweets from tonight's Grizz-Raptors game at FedExForum. You can follow me on twitter at the following link, or you can see my most recent tweet on the right side of this page. I'll also be trying out the twitpic feature tonight so maybe you'll catch a few pictures throughout the night.

Reality Check, by Pete Pranica

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:40 GMT

I had the chance to spend a fair amount of time in the company of Lou Holtz when he was coaching at Notre Dame. He was fond of saying, “Things are neither as good as they seem nor as bad as they seem. Reality lies somewhere in between.” On October 17th, the Grizzlies dusted the Detroit Pistons 115-94. On October 28th, the Pistons returned the favor 96-74. On October 17th, the Grizzlies never trailed, scored 25 fast-break points and shot 53%. On October 28th, the Grizzlies led briefly, had 7 fast-break points and shot 36%. On October 17th, the Grizzlies forced 20 turnovers and rang up 25 assists. On October 28th, the Grizzlies forced just 9 turnovers and rang up only 10 assists. See what I'm getting at? Sure, one game was in pre-season and the other opening night so that factors in a little bit, but—as Rob Fischer would say— really? The Grizzlies will work long and hard today to get the awful taste out of their mouths in preparation for the Toronto Raptors on Friday night. There are positives upon which to build, including Marc Gasol's 21-point, 15-rebound effort and a +10 rebounding margin. Zach Randolph played well in his debut with 9 rebounds (5 offensive) and Rudy Gay willed himself to 16 points despite only one free throw attempt. And you know that Mike Conley and O.J. Mayo (a combined 3 for 16) will bounce back with a vengeance. Opening Night was one game. Unfortunately, it was a very bad night at the office against a hot team that came in with a chip on its shoulder, trying to prove that it still belongs among the Eastern elite. A good demonstration for the Grizzlies to emulate Friday against Toronto.

The good, the bad and the ugly from the Grizzlies loss to the Pistons, by Chris Avis

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:24 GMT

Maybe it was first-game jitters. Maybe it was the pressure of the packed house, Triple 6 Mafia and Jabbarwockeez. I’m hoping it was some combination of all three that happened to the new look Grizz tonight, because it wasn’t at all what I was expecting, and it wasn’t what this team is capable of. Here’s the good, bad and ugly from tonight’s 96-76 loss to the Pistons. The Good I like the high-low game of Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. Early in the game Gasol threw 2 lobs down low to Z-Bo. One of them resulted in an easy layup and another layup was prevented only by a Charlie-V. foul. (Since we abbreviate things like J-Will, I’m going with Charlie-V. to save the trouble of ever having to look up how to spell Villanueva again. Starting now.) The Grizz outrebounded the Pistons by 10, including grabbing 17 offensive boards. (See “The Bad” for more on this). Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph are scorers. Gay shot 7-12 for 16 points. The Pistons were making him work too. Rudy was hitting turnaround fadeaways over Tayshaun Prince and nailing baseline jumpers. It was an impressive 16 points. And Z-Bo can just flat out score. He has soft touch on his jumpers and knows how to use his wide body in the paint. I like how sometimes he’ll miss a shot on purpose just to setup an easy offensive rebound and putback. That’s known in my pickup game as the Chris Avis Tuesday Night Special. Marc Gasol with 21 points and 15 rebounds, plus he looked like Tim Duncan on defense, calling out picks and switches all game long. It didn’t pan out tonight, but it’s another intangible to add to his growing list. BBQ nachos. That would go under the category of awesome actually. Trey Gilder shot 100%. I didn’t see that coming. The Bad I’m not saying that the refs were the reason that the Grizz lost. I’ll simply call it a very choppy game with 52 total fouls called. I had great seats, almost courtside. My favorite part was seeing Will Bynum knock a ball out of bounds and immediately say to the ref, “I didn’t touch it. I SWEAR!” Did Will Bynum think that “swearing” he didn’t touch the ball would suddenly cause the ref to change his mind and award the ball to the Pistons, as if the ref is thinking, “Well, if Will Bynum swears he didn’t touch the ball, it’s obvious that I should believe him and change my original call.” Memphis got a lot of offensive rebounds, as mentioned above, but part of that has to do with the fact that the Grizz missed 46 shots. Ugh. And the Pistons were able to grab 10 offensive boards even though they only missed 25 shots. O.J. Mayo shot 2-12. Mike Conley shot 1-4. They combined for 5 assists. This isn’t going to cut it from our starting backcourt. They need to shoot about 45% and dish out 10+ assists between the two of them. The Ugly Ben Wallace airballed a layup so bad that the refs felt compelled to call a foul to save him.

Grizzlies fall to Pistons on Opening Night, by Matt Tumbleson

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:24 GMT

Amid a great deal of hope and expectation, the Grizzlies frontcourt played brilliantly, combining for 51 points but their effort was matched by the Pistons guards, specifically Richard Hamilton and Ben Gordon, who combined for 47 points to lead the Pistons to an Opening Night win. The evening started on a high note, with Memphis’s own Three 6 Mafia and the JabbaWockeez coming together for a player introduction that will be remembered for a long time by the Grizzlies fans who were lucky enough to make it to FedExForum for the first ever “Beale Street Blue Out” of the arena. Once the smoke cleared and basketball was ready to be played the Grizzlies showed positive signs of what may be to come this season. Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol connected on a handful of high-low sets establishing the middle for the Grizzlies, while Rudy Gay added a spark of his own, committing himself to getting to the rim to the tune of nine first quarter points. When Tayshaun Prince took a DeMarre Carroll-like leap into the first row for a ball, everyone in the arena, players, coaches and fans included, knew that the regular season was now in full swing. Trailing 24-20 to start the second quarter the Grizzlies had no counter to the Pistons bench production, or more specifically, the play of offseason free agent acquisition, sixth man extraordinaire, Ben Gordon. Gordon scored nine points in the quarter to help the Pistons push their lead to double digits by the seven minute mark in the second. His backcourt mate Richard Hamilton did equal damage, scoring 17 first half points to give the Pistons a 53-41 lead at the break. While the Pistons backcourt was hitting on all cylinders in the first half, part of the reason for the Grizzlies inability to keep up was the fact that their own backcourt struggled out of the gates of the 2009-10 season. O.J. Mayo and Mike Conley only combined to go 3-of-10 in the first half with three assists total. The Pistons would not let Memphis back into the contest in the third, preventing the Grizzlies from cutting the lead to single digits in the quarter. The Grizzlies tried a lot of different looks to get things going, playing Gay at the power forward spot, bringing in Hamed Haddadi for his first stint of the regular season, but nothing worked for the home squad, who were turnover prone and did not move the ball enough, as evident by 12 turnovers and only eight assists through three quarters. The Grizzlies entered the fourth quarter down 71-57, hoping to crawl back into the contest with a lineup of Mike Conley, Marcus Williams, Hamed Haddadi, DeMarre Carroll and Sam Young to start the final stanza. Gordon delivered the knockout blow early, however, connecting on a pair of threes to start the quarter that put the Grizzlies in their largest hole of the contest, from which they would not recover. Marc Gasol led the Grizzlies with 21 points and 15 rebounds, while Gay added 16 points. Hamilton led all scorers with 25 points while Gordon chipped in with 22 points of his own. The Grizzlies won the battle on the boards, 49-39, which is a good indicator, but finished with 14 turnovers compared to 10 assists, something the team will have to improve on when they face off against the Toronto Raptors on Friday night at FedExForum.

Grizzlies set for Opening Night against Pistons, by Matt Tumbleson

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:29 GMT

Both the Grizzlies and Pistons made significant moves in the offseason to do what their front office thought was necessary to improve their rosters. The Grizzlies added Zach Randolph and Allen Iverson, while the Pistons used the cap space that was created by the departures of Iverson and Rasheed Wallace (who is now sporting green with the Celtics) to woo Ben Gordon and Charlie Villlanueva to the Motor City. Each team’s moves were met with some consternation by the media, but that is the beauty of the start of the regular season, as there is no more conjecture about what the additions will mean to the team. No more wondering how Randolph will coexist with young stars like Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo. The questions about how Gordon will fit alongside Richard Hamilton are about to come to an end, because the wait is over. What looks good on paper will now have to prove it on the floor over the next 82 games. Here are a few things to watch for in tonight’s contest: Set the tone at home: The Memphis Grizzlies have big aspirations for the upcoming season right now. Are 40 wins out of the realm of possibility? Can the Grizzlies make a push for the postseason? Quite possibly, but they will need to set the tone tonight for what they are going to be as a team this season. As a team that is still very young , the Grizzlies need to be over .500 at home, because the road is typically tougher for a team that is still growing. Getting a win tonight and rolling that momentum into Friday would be a good start in that category. With their first long trip of the season looming next week, the Grizzlies need to come to play right from jump and protect their home court to take some pressure off of themselves. Matchup of the night: Two to watch tonight will be Rudy Gay and Tayshaun Prince at the small forward spot. After a tireless offseason in the gym, both bulking up and working on basketball skills, Gay now has a chance to show off everything that he has been working on against one of the best defenders at the position in Prince. Prince is best disrupting opportunities on the ball, so Gay’s new back to the basket fade should come in as a handy option tonight on offense. If Rudy can get going early it will set the tone for the Grizzlies and disrupt a lot of what the Pistons are trying to do. If Gay can get to the line consistently tonight, and this season for that matter, the Grizzlies will be in good shape. Injury concerns: The Grizzlies were a very healthy team last year as none of their top players missed any significant time. There are warning signs that the team might not be so lucky this year, as the injury bug has crept onto the team. First it was Allen Iverson. Then Darrell Arthur. Mike Conley picked up a minor ankle injury and now Sam Young is on the shelf as well. The talent is there for the Grizzlies, but a lot of things are going to have to break in the right direction if they are going to truly turn some heads this season. Hopefully the start of the regular season will buck the injury trend that the Grizzlies had during the preseason. Got the Beale Street Blues: Grizzlies star forward Rudy Gay did his part to help the Grizzlies movement by purchasing and giving away 600 tickets yesterday afternoon at FedExForum’s Grand Lobby, with his only caveat being that anyone who came to get a ticket had to also wear Beale Street Blue to the game to participate in the first ever “Beale Street Blue Out” of FedExForum. Its one thing for the folks in the Grizzlies home offices to encourage the “Beale Street Blue Out,” but when one of the young stars and most electrifying players in the game makes the call to action, its probably wise to dig some blue out of your closet, or be one of the first 10,000 fans in attendance to receive a free “Beale Street Blue” t-shirt, courtesy of First Tennessee. The team will be doing their part, as they plan to wear their new third alternate “Beale Street Blue” uniforms for the first time in tonight’s contest. So there’s a basketball game too?: Grizzlies fans at FedExForum might be thinking just that after the pregame entertainment is finished, as Three 6 Mafia, the JabbaWockeez and Lil Rounds are all set to perform before the Grizzlies even hit the floor to take on the Pistons tonight. With three top-flight performances coming to 191 Beale Street it might be easy to forget that there will be a much-anticipated basketball game to follow as well. The opening with Memphis’s own Three 6 Mafia joining with the JabbaWockeez might be worth the price of admission alone.

Grizzlies.com Fantasy Basketball League Underway, by Chris Avis

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:03 GMT

The first annual Grizzlies.com fantasy basketball league draft took place tonight. The participants were yours truly, Grizzlies play-by-play TV announcer Pete Pranica, Grizzlies play-by-play radio announcer Eric Hasseltine, Grizzlies PA announcer Rick Trotter, Grizz, former Grizzlies media relations guru Ryan Deady, Grizzlies intern Kyle Nibblett, Memphis Flyer Grizzlies reporter Chris Herrington, Mike Conley fan club president Chris Vernon, grizzfans.com blogger Chris Wilson and fans Michael Wyrick and Parker Griffith. If the NBA season is a marathon, the fantasy basketball season is a sprint. Get off to a fast start and leave other teams scrounging the waiver wire faster than you can say Tracy McGrady microfracture surgery. Here’s a recap of each team. 100% Pure OJ (Eric Hasseltine) PG Gilbert Arenas, Was PG SG Ben Gordon, Det SG SF Carmelo Anthony, Den SF PF Dirk Nowitzki, Dal PF C Jermaine O'Neal, Mia C G D.J. Augustin, Cha PG F Anderson Varejao, Cle PF UTIL Zach Randolph, Mem PF UTIL Rodney Stuckey, Det PG UTIL Lou Williams, Phi PG, SG Bench Rashard Lewis*, Orl SF, PF Bench Stephen Curry, GS PG, SG Bench Corey Maggette, GS SF Eric has some star power in Dirk and ‘Melo, but he has to be more than concerned about Arenas and Jermaine O’Neal holding up all year. Plus, Rashard Lewis is out for 10 games to start the season. Zach Randolph is a double-double machine, but I doubt that will cancel out having 2 Pistons and 2 Warriors. 6th place is yours Eric! Team Mascot Grizz PG Jose Calderon, Tor PG SG Andre Iguodala, Phi SG, SF SF Danny Granger, Ind SF PF Al Harrington, NY PF C Chris Kaman, LAC C G John Salmons, Chi SG, SF F Caron Butler, Was SF UTIL Tyrus Thomas, Chi PF UTIL Paul Millsap, Uta PF UTIL Mike Bibby, Atl PG Bench Greg Oden, Por C Bench Randy Foye, Was PG, SG Bench Larry Hughes, NY SG Grizz was hibernating during draft time and let autodraft pick for him. He’s got good wings in Iguodala, Granger, Butler and Salmons, but not enough assists or rebounds. Grizz might want to stay in his den this year since he’ll be 12th place. Florida Fight Jarics (Kyle Nibblett) PG Jameer Nelson, Orl PG SG Michael Redd, Mil SG SF Thaddeus Young, Phi SF PF Amare Stoudemire, Pho PF, C C Al Jefferson, Min C G Jamal Crawford, Atl PG, SG F Troy Murphy, Ind PF, C UTIL Carlos Boozer, Uta PF UTIL Shawn Marion, Dal SF, PF UTIL Spencer Hawes, Sac C Bench Ronnie Brewer, Uta SG Bench Kendrick Perkins, Bos C Bench Rudy Fernandez, Por SG The Fighting Jarics showed up just in time for their last draft pick. Something tells me that the intern didn’t know the draft was at 8:30 p.m. EST. That’s why you’re an intern. (I’ve been there). Luckily, ESPN.com did a good job giving him Jefferson, Stoudemire, Boozer, and Troy Murphy. They’ll take you to 9th place. Cash Considerations (Chris Herrington) PG Rajon Rondo, Bos PG SG Dwyane Wade, Mia SG SF Rudy Gay, Mem SF PF Andrea Bargnani, Tor PF, C C Andris Biedrins, GS C G Devin Harris, NJ PG F Al Horford, Atl PF, C UTIL J.R. Smith, Den SG UTIL Joakim Noah, Chi PF, C UTIL Leandro Barbosa, Pho SG Bench Tracy McGrady*, Hou SG Bench Brandon Jennings, Mil PG Bench Ryan Gomes, Min SF, PF Herrington made a bold move early taking Wade over Kobe. It’ll pan out if D-Wade stays healthy. I doubt it. Rondo is destined to regress this year with all the offseason drama. Grizzlies forward Gay has the talent but might see his fantasy numbers dip since he’ll have more skilled players to share with. I like Devin Harris. Well done. This roster looks like 3rd place material. God Choose Memphis (Chris Vernon) PG Russell Westbrook, OKC PG SG Kobe Bryant, LAL SG SF Andrei Kirilenko, Uta SF, PF PF David West, Nor PF C Luis Scola, Hou PF, C G Tony Parker, SA PG F Josh Smith, Atl SF, PF UTIL Blake Griffin, LAC PF UTIL Aaron Brooks, Hou PG UTIL Shane Battier, Hou SF Bench Tyreke Evans, Sac PG Bench Ronny Turiaf, GS PF, C Bench Tyler Hansbrough*, Ind PF The loudest player in the league (Kobe) goes to the loudest fantasy owner. David West and Scola are both going to get enough minutes to produce. Verno stole two picks that I wanted in Parker and Evans. I’m guessing Hansbrough is Verno’s fantasy version of Mark Madsen, the towel waver. I see this team finishing 4th. Beale Street Pistol Pete (Pete Pranica) PG Derrick Rose, Chi PG SG O.J. Mayo, Mem SG SF LeBron James, Cle SF PF Kevin Garnett, Bos PF C Mehmet Okur, Uta C G Raymond Felton, Cha PG F Charlie Villanueva, Det SF, PF UTIL Trevor Ariza, Hou SF UTIL Ramon Sessions, Min PG UTIL Courtney Lee, NJ SG Bench Samuel Dalembert, Phi C Bench Brandon Bass, Orl PF Bench Peja Stojakovic, Nor SF I’d love to see Rose, Mayo and King James on the same team. But KG cancels that fun out with his incessant barking from the bench. Ariza and Courtney Lee should both breakout this year. Too bad the rest of the roster is lacking (Felton, Villaneuva, Dalembert, etc.). Pete takes 2nd on the strength on LBJ. Casey Jacobsen All Stars (Chris Wilson) PG Deron Williams, Uta PG SG Ray Allen, Bos SG SF Gerald Wallace, Cha SF, PF PF LaMarcus Aldridge, Por PF C Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Cle C G Monta Ellis, GS PG, SG F Anthony Randolph, GS SF, PF UTIL Manu Ginobili*, SA SG UTIL Nate Robinson, NY PG, SG UTIL Richard Jefferson, SA SF Bench Tim Duncan, SA PF, C Bench Tyson Chandler, Cha C Bench Anthony Morrow, GS SG Let’s keep this simple. Williams good, Allen old, Wallace injured, Aldridge average, Z backup, Ellis moped, Randolph sleeper, Ginobili recovering, Nate chucker, Jefferson decent, Duncan solid, Chandler broken, Morrow maybe. This roster is 7th. Hoop Family (Michael Wyrick) PG Steve Nash, Pho PG SG Kevin Martin, Sac SG SF Hedo Turkoglu, Tor SF PF Chris Bosh, Tor PF, C C Andrew Bynum, LAL C G Jason Terry, Dal PG, SG F Antawn Jamison*, Was PF UTIL Richard Hamilton, Det SG UTIL Lamar Odom, LAL SF, PF UTIL Kirk Hinrich, Chi PG, SG Bench Brad Miller, Chi C Bench Nick Collison, OKC PF, C Bench Andres Nocioni, Sac SF, PF Nash is awesome until proven otherwise. Martin is a good player on a bad team. Turkoglu is overpaid, even in fantasy. The rest of the roster is suspect with Jamison hurt and Collison and Miller too under-the-rim for my liking. The Hoop Family won’t like finishing 8th. Tryin’ Put Me In a Rockin’ Chair (Rick Trotter) PG Chris Paul, Nor PG SG Eric Gordon, LAC SG SF Paul Pierce, Bos SG, SF PF Elton Brand, Phi PF C Marcus Camby, LAC PF, C G Jason Richardson, Pho SG, SF F Luol Deng, Chi SF UTIL Emeka Okafor, Nor C UTIL T.J. Ford, Ind PG UTIL Jonny Flynn, Min PG Bench Mike Dunleavy*, Ind SG, SF Bench Hakim Warrick, Mil PF Bench Chris Andersen, Den PF, C It’s hard to go wrong with Chris Paul and Paul Pierce, but Trotter did a good job, grabbing oft injured Brand, Camby and Dunleavy to go with underachievers Deng and TJ Ford. 11th place might break Trotter’s rocking chair. Team Deady (Ryan Deady) PG Chauncey Billups, Den PG SG Kevin Durant, OKC SG, SF SF Stephen Jackson, GS SG, SF PF Kevin Love*, Min PF C Nene, Den PF, C G Jason Kidd, Dal PG F Ron Artest, LAL SF UTIL Andre Miller, Por PG UTIL Mike Conley, Mem PG UTIL Grant Hill, Pho SF Bench Rasheed Wallace, Bos PF, C Bench Marvin Williams, Atl SF Bench Drew Gooden, Dal PF, C Deady was another no-show, and his roster lets you know it. Stephen Jackson is in the dog house. Kevin Love is hurt. Andre Miller is benched. Ron Artest is Ron Artest. He’s also got one too many point guards with Conley, Miller, Kidd and Billups. 10th place for Team Deady. Texas Seccesionists (Parker Griffith) PG Baron Davis, LAC PG SG Joe Johnson, Atl SG, SF SF Jeff Green, OKC SF, PF PF Pau Gasol*, LAL PF, C C Brook Lopez, NJ C G Allen Iverson*, Mem PG, SG F Josh Howard, Dal SG, SF UTIL Shaquille O'Neal, Cle C UTIL Tayshaun Prince*, Det SF UTIL Michael Beasley, Mia SF, PF Bench Al Thornton, LAC SF Bench Marc Gasol, Mem C Bench Kelenna Azubuike, GS SG, SF The only place you’ll see the Gasol Brothers on the same roster. Gotta love fantasy hoops. Here’s to hoping Iverson does well for Texas, cause it’ll bode well for the Grizz too. I see this roster competing, even with Shaq. Texas finishes 5th. Bucker’s Bricklayers (Chris Avis) PG Mo Williams, Cle PG SG Brandon Roy, Por SG SF Wilson Chandler, NY SF PF David Lee, NY PF, C C Dwight Howard, Orl C G Vince Carter, Orl SG, SF F Boris Diaw, Cha SF, PF UTIL Andrew Bogut, Mil C UTIL Mario Chalmers, Mia PG UTIL Jason Thompson, Sac PF Bench Mike Miller, Was SG, SF Bench Chris Duhon, NY PG Bench Carl Landry, Hou PF This team looks amazing! Howard and Lee eat rebounds like Shaq eats 4th meal. Mo Williams and Roy hit 3s and get assists. Vince Carter should put up sick stats in Orlando. Jason Thompson is my sleeper pick out in Sacramento. Chalmers and Duhon are decent backup fantasy point guards and surely Boris Diaw or Wilson Chandler will duplicate last year’s numbers. I wouldn’t want to face this team, and I don’t have to. First place is all Bricklayers.