The Season that Could Save Memphis

David Aldridge of TNT recently wrote an article in which he argued that the Memphis Grizzlies should be moved to Seattle for the 2010-2011 season. Among other considerations, he noted the superior Seattle fan base, as well as the departure of John Calipari leading to a loss of money in the Grizz-Tigers partnership.

While we all know that Memphis has a lease with the FedExForum that does not run out for a couple more years--and would require a massive buyout by anyone wanting to buy and move the team--it is time for us to face the fact that long-term basketball in Memphis is not a given.

That being said, i believe that the 2009-2010 season could be the year that saved professional basketball in Memphis.

The paid attendance at the Forum today was 18,119. For anyone who does not avidly follow the team, that denotes a sell-out. Now, there is no telling how many of those tickets were given away, but it's a start.

And this year in Memphis could be the start of something special.

John Calipari leaves? I see the fact that the Tigers being down gives people a chance to proactively support the Grizzlies.

Bottom 5 in attendance? There's nowhere to go but up, and more fans are coming to the Forum every game. Sorry, concession worker in Section 227, you actually need to work today...

Poor front office? I can't remember the last time the Grizzlies made a draft pick/ signing/ trade that I did not approve of (with the only possible exception being DeMarre "Dude, Where's My Jump-shot?" Carroll).

Irrelevant? Anyone who listened to TNT today knows that that is no longer true.

Laughing-stock? I don't think the Suns or the Spurs are laughing right now. Give the Grizz another month, and those teams may be looking up to Memphis in the standings.

Now, one win is one win. But one more win also puts the Grizzlies within one game of matching their win-total from all of last season.

And if we are on a 3-year plan, than the improvement is only starting.

This team knows how to win, and they know how to win in a variety of ways. Take the recent 4-game homestand. Comeback victory? Check. Outscore a team? Check. Win a defensive struggle? Yep. Go toe-to-toe for an entire second half against one of the best in the west on national tv? Believe it.

Two more years of player development, attendance improvement, and sound front office moves, and I believe that we will look back on 2010-2011 as the year the Grizzlies saved professional sports in Memphis.

Sorry, David, call the Seattle City Bureau and tell them they overestimated Heisley's hospitality.