Thoughts the Morning After

1) First of all, I want to say how much I love the Blazers / Rose Garden. Portland is a small-market city with only one professional franchise that avidly supports the Blazers. A step ahead of the Grizz as far as young talent, Portland gives me hope as a Grizzlies fan...

2) What a game. The Grizzlies probably didn't deserve to win (21-34 FT), but did just enough down the stretch to come away with the victory.

3) If OJ Mayo is Juice, than it's freaking cold juice, because the kid has ice water in his veins. Watching Gay and Mayo on the court last night down the stretch showed just how mature this kid is in just his second year. Gay is so volatile, easily rattled when his shots aren't falling, leading to stupid frustration fouls, etc. Mayo? Just ice. He knows where he needs to be at all times, finds way to change the game on the defensive end, and has an incredible knack for putting himself in position to make big plays.

4) The Mayo steal on Roy might turn out to be OJ's Moment We Will Look Back On. It's one of those surreal, slow motion, "I can't believe he just did that" plays. You're sitting watching this game, and you're thinking, "Okay OJ, don't reach in and pick up a cheap foul, and just play solid D until Roy drives and hopefully we'll get help from Marc or Rudy." But Mayo is fearless, and I love it. (Note: this was a steal on Brandon Roy. On his own home court. Where he has single-handedly controlled fourth quarters, with the ball in his hands at all times, for the last three seasons)Who cares if he only made one of the free throws? It put Portland down one, and they had the pressure and had to force shots for the remainder.

5) Gasol + Z-Bo= Gazebo.
Special thanks to Jay Edwards for coining this phrase to describe the Grizz interior monster. From now on, Marc and Zach will be collectively known as Gazebo.

6) Lionel Hollins
This was a night where the Grizzlies came out anything but sharp. They lacked energy defensively, and were sloppy on the offensive end for most of the first half. But Hollins kept after them, using timeouts in timely situations and never letting the game get out of hand. I can't get over how well he handles this young team. And is there a better-dressed coach in the NBA? So cool, so calm, so PSJ.

7) We still need depth. Seeing Marc Gasol go down, the whole season flashed before my eyes. So far, we've been fortunate to have no serious injuries to the starters. Now, go knock on every piece of wood in your house until we make a move to add depth.

Round Town.

Trade Talk

As reported in today's Commercial Appeal, Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace is actively pursuing a trade for a scoring spark off the bench. Wallace is picky in his interests, though. He is only after a player that a) is in the final year of his contract, b) "will provide offensive firepower," and c) is willing to come off the bench.

What can the Grizz offer to grab that sort of player? First, Memphis is willing to offer one of its lesser-used players, mainly center Stephen Hunter or guard Marcus Williams. Second, Wallace is using two of the Grizzlies' 2010 late-first-round draft picks (the picks acquired from Denver and Los Angeles) as trade bait. The Grizzlies have already tried this strategy with Portland's Travis Outlaw and New York's Nate Robinson, but both trades fizzled. With the February 18 trade deadline looming, Wallace has made the trade a top priority as the Grizzlies try to put together a playoff run.

That said, I have come up with a list of 10 players the Grizzlies should pursue that would meet Wallace's checklist. This list only consists of guards, and that is simply because the Grizzlies already have a deep frontcourt (9 of the 13 players are either forwards or centers) and the insertion of a big man would hurt the maturation of rookie forwards Hasheem Thabeet and DeMarre Carroll. Without further ado, here are my suggestions (in no particular order):

1. JJ Redick, SG, Orlando Magic. Redick is averaging 9 points for the Magic this year while playing just 22 minutes. Additionally, he is shooting 45% from the floor, 43% from downtown (10th in the NBA), and 79% from the free throw line. Redick would be a great fit for the Grizz because he is unselfish and is a phenomenal shooter. He would be a great spell for OJ or Rudy and would mesh well with the Grizzlies' other backup guard, Sam Young.

2. Luther Head, SG, Indiana Pacers. Head is averaging just under 9 points per game this season, but has shown that he has the talent to produce more than that. After playing sparingly for the Pacers early in the season, he has taken on a greater role in the offense as of late due to the absence of All-Star SF Danny Granger. In his last 6 games, he has averaged 17.8 points and shot 50% from the field. Against the Grizzlies on December 30, he exploded for 30 points and 7 rebounds. Like Redick, he would mesh well with the Grizzlies' established lineup.

3. CJ Watson, PG, Golden State Warriors. Watson is averaging 9 points and 2.5 assists while shooting a red- hot 48.3% (8th best among NBA PGs). He has both started and come off the bench for the Warriors this season, which would bring valuable experience to the Grizz locker room. He could be just as effective at the point as Conley or Tinsley and with his 3-point shooting (39%), he could even be effective at the shooting guard spot.

4. Ronnie Brewer, SG, Utah Jazz. Although horrendous from beyond the arc (24%), Brewer makes up for it by lighting it up from inside the arc (52% from 2-point range.) His 50% FG is tops in the NBA among shooting guards. However, he is a horrid free throw shooter (61%). Although his resume has its ups and downs, Brewer would be a great fit for the Grizzlies for two reasons. First, he averages 2.3 assists per game (17th among NBA SGs) and constantly looks to feed teammates the rock. Second, he played his college ball at Arkansas and would be an attractive local draw.

5. Anthony Morrow, SG, Golden State Warriors. Morrow has averaged 12 points as a starter/6th man for the Warriors this season while averaging 48% from the field (3rd among SGs), 44 % from downtown (2nd among SGs), and 88% from the charity stripe. He has also showcased his explosiveness, scoring 20+ points six times. He is an exceptional ball handler, averaging only 2 turnovers per 48 minutes. That, coupled with his shooting ability, would be a major asset for the Grizzlies in close games.

6. Willie Green, SG, Philadeplhia 76ers. Green is a crafty veteran who has had to share time with a petulant Allen Iverson this season. He had a phenomenal December, averaging 11.3 points, 30 minutes, 49.5% FG (4th in the NBA for SG's who played 10+ games), 46% 3-point, and 83% FT before spraining his left ankle. Although obtaining him wouldn't be cheap (almost $3,700,000 salary in 2010), he would bring loads of experience to a young team. His 201 career starts is bested by only three Grizzlies (Randolph, Tinsley, and Gay).

7. Rasual Butler, SG, Los Angeles Clippers. Like Green, Butler would bring 5+ years of NBA experience to the youthful Grizzlies. Although his shooting percentages are not particularly mind-blowing, one stat in particular stands out. Among NBA shooting guards, his 1.3 turnovers per 48 minutes ranks first. Again like Green, he doesn't come cheap (a $3,945,000 salary in 2010), but would be a great addition to the Griz den.

8. Devin Brown, SG, New Orleans Hornets. One of New Orleans' two options at shooting guard, Brown has averaged just under 11 points this season. After a slow start, he has put up 14.7 points and shot 50% from 3-point range in his last nine games. Additionally, Brown has gained a reputation as "a tough kid and hard-nosed defender," said T-Wolves President David Kahn, whose team tried unsuccessfully to trade for Brown last week. Brown would bring great 3-point shooting, defensive prowess, and experience to Memphis.

9. Jordan Farmar, PG, Los Angeles Lakers. Over the past three years, Farmar has developed into one of the NBA's better role players while going to two Finals with the Lakers. His experience with an elite team would be an asset for a team like the Grizzlies, who are seeking their first playoff appearance since 2005-2006. His 2.1 assist- to-turnover ratio is good but not great. He would be a good fit with Conley and Tinsley and would take some pressure off of them during games.

10. Roger Mason, SG, San Antonio Spurs. Although Mason is averaging just under 8 points per game this season, he has become lost in San Antonio's shuffle. He is the third shooting guard on the depth chart (behind Keith Bogans and Manu Ginobili) despite having the best FG% of his career (45%). Additionally, his 2.2 assists- per-game are also a career high. A move to Memphis would breathe new life into his career.

There you have it, Chris Wallace (if you're reading). I agree with your trade aspirations since an injury to one of our starters would likely destroy the chemistry we've developed, and a bench player with some offensive spark would be a nice insurance policy. I'm interested to see what happens with the Grizzlies through this trade and hopefully we will emerge a stronger team heading into the second half of the season.

Owen

Hollins named Western Conference Coach of the Month

Our fearless leader, coach Lionel Hollins, was named the Western Conference Coach of the Month for December, the NBA announced today. This announcement comes on the heels of a franchise-best December that saw the Grizzlies go 9-4 and vanquish three division-leaders (Dallas, Cleveland, and Denver) while nearing the .500 mark. Congrats, coach!

Grizzlies 128, Suns 103

No, that's not a typo. The Memphis Grizzlies really did beat the mighty Phoenix Suns by 25 points last night. In a game that wasn't even that close, the Grizz shot a sizzling 53% (including 53% from downtown) and simply out-rebounded, out-hustled, and out-played Phoenix to pick up the victory. Although there are many things that can be said about last night's game, I have but three.

• With the win, the Grizzlies are now owners of a .500 record (16-16). For most things in life, 50% usually isn't very good. A 50% mark in academics means failure. Sports teams don't go into games proclaiming to "give 50% out there." Win 50% of your games in the MLB and you can forget about the postseason. Win 50% of your games in the NFL and you might slip into the playoffs if you're lucky. For the Memphis Grizzlies, however, 50% is an accomplishment. The Grizz haven't been at or above .500 this late in the season since the playoff run of 2005-2006. How did this happen? After a 1-8 start, the Grizzlies have won 15 of 23 and have moved ahead of New Orleans for the 10th spot in the Western Conference. To make the playoffs, the Grizz will have to move their way up to the 8th spot in the West. Compared to teams that stand in their way (Oklahoma City, Utah, Houston), the Grizzlies have the best record over the last 10 games. If they can keep these winning ways alive, the words of Coach Jim Mora ("Playoffs?!?! Don't talk about playoffs! You kiddin' me? Playoffs?!?!") don't seem so farfetched.
• In putting up 125 points against the Suns, the Grizzlies moved into 5th place in the NBA in total offense. Averaging just over 104 points per game, the Grizzlies have developed into an exciting, fast-paced team. Just last season, the Grizz averaged an NBA-second-to-last 93.9 points per game. The more sobering statistic: in giving up 103 points, the Grizzlies are now the 25th-best defensive team in the NBA and give up an average of 104.7 points. As good as the offense is, Coach Hollins must tighten up the defense if he wants this pattern of winning to continue.
• Finally, I would like to share two quotations. The first is from Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins: "We've come together as a team. We believe in each other. We've developed great chemistry. Nobody would have thought we could come back from 1-8." The second is from ESPN.com's recap of the game: "Suddenly, the Memphis Grizzlies are a team to be reckoned with." As a Grizz fan, those two statements have me thinking big.

Happy Holidays! Happy New Year! Go Grizz!

Owen

Greetings, Grizz Nation

Today is Friday, January 1, 2010.
It is the start of a new decade, and the end of an old one. For the Memphis Grizzlies, the 2000s were mostly forgettable--with the move to Memphis and the 3-year playoff run being the lone exceptions. But since it is a new year, and a new beginning for our young little bears, I am at my most optimistic (somewhere, Robert Hoehn is cringing...)So, without further ado, I will peer into my crystal ball and make fearless predictions for the following years.

2010: Best-case scenario: Zach Randolph continues his one-dunk-per-half-season, "Are you kidding me?" play, characterized by perfectly timed rebounding, banks off of every square inch of the glass, and "Welcome to the league, Tyler Hansborough" swagger. (I agree, Mr. Mercer, he is playing as well as any Grizzly, ever.)Along with Randolph, Mike Conley Jr. continues developing. He gets more agressive, he drives the lane with both hands, he creates. Tim Legler shocks Grizz Nation by calling Conley "the next Rajon Rondo". O.J. Mayo remains content with his reduced role in the offense, which often includes only 2 or 3 touches in a whole quarter, while at the same time working on getting into the paint and getting to the line. (The difference in Gay's 21 pts a game and Mayo's 17 is largely free-throw attempts). Speaking of Gay, well, he doesn't lose sight of the fact that it's a contract year, and that he has to play defense--even if it's what Stephen Marbur-I mean Maroda would call "fake hustle". Personally, I would like to see Gay drive and kick the ball out more. I feel like most of the time it's either a) Rudy without the ball or b) Rudy with the ball, no one else is even on the court, 5% chance anyone else takes a shot on this possession besides Gay. But, I guess when you don't have a shooter, kicking the ball out doesn't do much good. On to the bench: Sam Young learns how to not travel when he pump fakes, remembers that he is a rookie (and the sixth option offensively) and that his main role on the team right now is to provide energy, hustle points, and rest for the starters. "Junkyard dog" Carroll develops something closely resembling a jump shot, and more than anything, eats up minutes. Hasheem "the Dream" makes Grizzlies fans forget about Tyreke Evans or Brandon Jennings, continues to learn the game of basketball, and develops the ability to catch an entry pass and make a strong move to the basket. I believe in the Tanzanian, I really do. Finally, Arthur gets healthy and adds minutes without disrupting the chemistry.
The Grizzlies continue their improved play, and make the playoffs as the 8 seed in the West with a 44-38 record.

Worst-case scenario: Randolph gets selfish and unruly, disrupts team chemistry, and instigates a resounding "I told you so" from pessimistic, half-hearted Grizzly fans. Too many shot attempts and a lack of energy on the court, as the Grizz lose their inside advantage. Oj becomes discontent with his role, and is quoted in the Commercial Appeal as saying, "Man, it's just tough. I've been the number one guy all my life. 6 years in high school, at USC, everywhere. You just can't tell me I'm not a go-to guy in this league." Stat lines start looking like this: Mayo- 12 points, 5-17 from the field, 1-7 from behind the arc. Rudy starts sucking up to contenders, lobbying for a move out of Memphis and mediocrity. He kindly allows Kobe or Carmelo to put up their 40 night in and night out. Marc Gasol reverts to his Lausanne ways. (Nothing else needs to be said.)Conley loses his aggressiveness and any kind of outside shot, Young stops driving baseline, and Thabeet's only contibution offensively continues to be underwhelming picks for Conley at the top of the key. The Grizzlies stop playing for Hollins, start playing for their contracts, and slowly regress back to the Barone era. (Paul, forgive me...)Final record: 29-53, 12th in the Western Conference.

In the future...
Best-case: Heisley and Wallace are SMART with their handling of Rudy Gay. Whether that means trading or re-signing, they wait until the trade deadline (instead of 3 weeks before a la the Pau Donation) to make a move. This will maximize Gay's trade value...and besides, at the end of the day, if we want Gay, we get him. The Grizzlies use 2 of their 3 first-round draft picks to trade up in the draft, hopefully landing a shooter or trading for an already-proven one. (I like the thought of getting J.J. from the Magic.) Mayo spends more than 4 years in Memphis, and the city begins to rally behind the Grizzlies as the Tigers rebuild. A local ownership group emerges, and Heisley sells the Grizzlies in 2 years. Grizzlies fans are assured that there will be professional basketball in Memphis long after the initial lease on the FedExForum is up.

Worst-case: Grizzlies trade Gay for a washed-up veteran and expiring contracts, Mayo wants out, Heisley the Martyr continues to save his money. Grizzlies' attendance remains at the bottom of the league, and half the concession stands in the Terrace Level remain closed for every game except Cleveland and the Lake Show. The Grizzlies' lone national TV appearance happens on MLK day for the next 3 years, and the team moves to Las Vegas or Cape Town or New Zealand in 2013.

But for today, I am optimistic. Viva los Underdogs, and viva the GrizzLife.