Memphis Grizzlies

Officially, attendance was listed for the Los Angeles Clippers at Memphis Grizzlies game last night at 10,012.

The only way that number was over 10,000 is if you took every person in the arena, counted every person whose number was stored in their cell phone, and multiplied it by two.

Continue reading "The End of the Grizzlies? Let's Hope So."

Have you looked at the league leaders yet this season?

There are some familiar faces atop some of the big categories. Kobe leads the league in scoring. Nash leads the league in assists. Rondo leads the league in steals. 

Continue reading "New Era of NBA Bigs?"

I wrote a short blog last week about Allen Iverson being unhappy with his role in Memphis, and I predicted that by March 1st the Grizzlies would send him home.

I mean, it was obvious that it was a marriage that was doomed from the start.

Continue reading "Who is Allen Iverson?"

All signs point to a likely retirement for Allen Iverson, who left the Grizzlies for personal reasons following Friday's loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.  While he has made no definitive statement

Continue reading "Iverson likely to retire"

Allen Iverson has left the Memphis Grizzlies to deal with a "personal matter".  There is no telling what the "matter" is.  I can't in good conscience say he is lea

Continue reading "Iverson takes leave of absence"

Although it is usually a highlight of Lakers-Grizzlies meetings, the Gasol Brothers will not face off tonight when Pau's Lakers host Marc's Grizzlies.  Pau will miss tonight's game as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury, although by all accounts it seems to be completely healed.  As with Allen Iverson's situation, though, with a hamstring you can never be too careful.  Last season, Pau held a slight edge over his younger brother, averaging 16 ppg in the teams' four matchups, all Laker wins, while Marc averaged 13 ppg.  However, Marc outscored Pau in each of the last two meetings, 17-13 and 14-12, respectively.

Continue reading "Lakers loom as Grizz road trip nears end"

In order to be successful in basketball, a team has to protect the ball, play solid defense and make free throws, among other things.  The Grizzlies did none of those on Wednesday as they fell to Golden State.  Specifically, the Grizzlies need to figure out how to play from ahead.  They know plenty about playing from behind, but they can't seem to hold on to their lead.  This season they are getting off to good starts but allowing their opponents to chip away at their lead, and it happened again against the Warriors.

Continue reading "Warriors 113, Grizzlies 105"

e-this-coming-department, Allen Iverson is not happy with his role after his first game in with the Memphis Grizzlies.

After coming off the bench and playing just 18 minutes in the Grizzlies 127-116 overtime loss to the Sacramento Kings last night, Iverson dropped this gem to reporters after the game:

Continue reading "Allen Iverson Is Unhappy (again)"

I was wrong about Allen Iverson.  I gave him too much credit.  I bought into his offseason talk about just wanting to play somewhere for the love of the game.  When he signed here, I bought his statement that he would do whatever the team needed him to do.  His caveat, of course, was that the team had to win games.  Four games, and three losses, into the season, we have our first disgruntled Iverson outburst.  Iverson now says he is not a bench player, not a sixth man, and he doesn't want to change anything about himself.  I'm sure someone has videotape of him saying just the opposite at his introductory press conference, and I would love to see his reaction to viewing that.  But we knew this would happen eventually.  It's his nature.  I am just surprised it has happened so soon.  Iverson has played on bad teams before.  He just can't fit his ego around the fact that he is not the star in town. 

Continue reading "Grizzlies fall in OT; Iverson gripes"

I was wrong about Allen Iverson.  I gave him too much credit.  I bought into his offseason talk about just wanting to play somewhere for the love of the game.  When he signed here, I bought his statement that he would do whatever the team needed him to do.  His caveat, of course, was that the team had to win games.  Four games, and three losses, into the season, we have our first disgruntled Iverson outburst.  Iverson now says he is not a bench player, not a sixth man, and he doesn't want to change anything about himself.  I'm sure someone has videotape of him saying the opposite, and I would love to see his reaction to viewing that.  But we knew this would happen eventually.  It's his nature.  I am just surprised it has happened so soon.  Iverson has played on bad teams before.  He just can't fit his ego around the fact that he is not the star in town. 

Continue reading "Grizzlies fall in OT; Iverson gripes"

I was wrong about Allen Iverson.  I gave him too much credit.  I bought into his offseason talk about just wanting to play somewhere for the love of the game.  When he signed here, I bought his statement that he would do whatever the team needed him to do.  His caveat, of course, was that the team had to win games.  Four games, and three losses, into the season, we have our first disgruntled Iverson outburst.  Iverson now says he is not a bench player, not a sixth man, and he doesn't want to change anything about himself.  I'm sure someone has videotape of him saying the opposite, and I would love to see his reaction to viewing that.  But we knew this would happen eventually.  It's his nature.  I am just surprised it has happened so soon.  Iverson has played on bad teams before.  He just can't fit his ego around the fact that he is not the star in town. 

Continue reading "Grizzlies fall in OT; Iverson gripes"

Allen Iverson will make his Grizzlies regular season debut tonight in Sacramento, according to a post on Twitter.  His long-awaited appearance in a Grizzlies uniform should provide a spark to the

Continue reading "Iverson to play tonight"

There are no moral victories in the NBA.  Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins said so himself.  If there were, Sunday's 133-123 loss at Denver would have qualified.  The 10-point final margin is a bit misleading because the Grizzlies led by five after the opening quarter and hung around for much of the game.  The Grizzlies put up 40 points in the first quarter on 77 percent shooting, which at least ensured they would not start out flat on the road as they did so many times last season.  They shot the ball extremely well, finishing at 57.8% for the game.  Offense is not the problem.  What has hurt them in their first two losses is turnovers.  They gave the ball away 20 times on Sunday and 14 times in their opener against Detroit, robbing themselves of chances to build runs.  With the way they are shooting the ball right now, if they maximized their possessions, they could be undefeated or at least have played Detroit closer.  Against the Nuggets, the Grizzlies just didn't play enough defense to win.  The Nuggets weren't a whole lot better defensively, but the extra possessions they got allowed them to stay just far enough ahead of the Grizzlies to claim the win.

Continue reading "Nuggets hand Grizzlies frustrating loss"

In the NBA these days, it seems like there is a stat for everything. We’ve got PER, offensive efficiency ratings, defensive efficiency rating, and so on and so on.

It seems like every team in the league now employs their own stat guru. And while I’m not one to question the use of all these new statistics to evaluate NBA players (I actually kinda like them), I’m old school. 

Continue reading "Fun With Box Scores"

This just in : Zach Randolph is a beast.  Everyone who has said he would be a cancer and wouldn't play hard and is the same thug he was in Portland isn't looking very smart right now.  Randolph can single-handedly dominate the post for the Grizzlies this season.  He proved as much last night against the Toronto Raptors as the Grizz earned their first win of the season 115-107 on Friday.  Randolph led the Grizzlies with 30 points and seven rebounds.

Continue reading "Grizzlies 115, Raptors 107"

 It's basketball time again in the Bluff City as the Grizzlies opened the 2009-10 season by hosting the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday.

Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins is not mincing words after the team's opening-night loss to the Pistons.  Stressing defense and intensity over offense, Hollins called out Marc Gasol, who put up decent numbers, saying, "Well, he didn't block any shots.  He didn't guard anybody."  The man means business.  In his mind, basketball is a team game.  He is talking the talk and he expects his players to walk the walk.  A few individuals played well tonight, but until they come together as a unit, their coach will not be impressed.

Continue reading "Pistons 96, Grizzlies 74"

It's not surprising that Allen Iverson is going to dominate nearly every headline involving the Memphis Grizzlies this season.  Unfortunately, one of the first significant headlines about The Answer is that he is going to be sidelined for at least a couple of weeks after tearing a hamstring prior to the Grizzlies' win over Oklahoma City on Wednesday.

Continue reading "Tear Brings Ominous Atmosphere to ..."

It is on Twitter, so it must be official.  Allen Iverson has chosen to sign a one-year deal with the Grizzlies.  The 13-year veteran averaged 17.4 ppg last season between Detroit a

Continue reading "A.I. is a Grizzly"

Allen Iverson is expected to make his decision on the Memphis Grizzlies today.  Management says it is anyone's guess what that decision will be, saying there is a "50-50" chance

Continue reading ""The Answer" will come soon (or not)"

It's just about football season, which means it is officially not too early to talk basketball.  The biggest buzz around the Grizzlies this offseason that has effectively forced the national m

Continue reading "Iverson worth a shot"

Veteran center Adonal Foyle and guard Mike Wilks came over to the Grizzlies along with a first-round draft pick in Thursday's deadline deal that also sent Kyle Lowry to the Houston Rockets.

Lowry was traded because the Grizzlies have a lot invested in Marko Jaric, whose role has increased under Lionel Hollins.  Jaric will earn upwards of $7 million in each of the next two years, a figure that made him difficult to trade anyway.  The Grizzlies will now have two first-round draft picks and a second-round pick that should fall within the first ten selections of that round.

Continue reading "Grizzlies get pair as part of Lowry deal"

The Grizzlies shipped guard Kyle Lowry to the Houston Rockets minutes before the 2 p.m. trade deadline today as part of a three-way deal with the Orlando Magic.  As part of the deal, Houston sent guard Rafer Alston to Orlando, and the Magic sent a first-round draft pick to the Grizzlies and Brian Cook to the Rockets.

Continue reading "Grizz dish Lowry at buzzer"

Chris Mihm came over to the Grizzlies from the Los Angeles Lakers late Wednesday, less than 24 hours before the NBA's trade deadline, in exchange for a conditional second-round draft in 2013.

Continue reading "Grizzlies pick up 7-footer Mihm"

The Phoenix Suns made an offer to the Grizzlies Thursday involving their star forward Amare Stoudemire, whom they are actively shopping to anyone who will listen.  The Grizzlies were not considered by many to be in serious contention for a deal or even have interest in Stoudemire.  However, the Suns asked for basically the entire nucleus of the Grizzlies' team, namely Hakim Warrick, Rudy Gay and Mike Conley.

Continue reading "Grizzlies Nix Deal For Stoudemire"

It is becoming more and more apparent that the positive impact of Lionel Hollins' system on the Grizzlies can indeed be immediate.  The latest evidence is Monday's impressive 85-80 victory over the New Orleans Hornets, who have been among the West's best the past few years.

Continue reading "Grizzlies 85, Hornets 80"

The Grizzlies caught a break with the absence of Toronto's Chris Bosh on Saturday, and they took advantage of it by beating the Raptors 78-70.  The Grizzlies were shorthanded themselves, playing without three of their regulars.  Rudy Gay was a late scratch because of a sore hip, a sprained ankle sidelined Kyle Lowry, and Darrell Arthur missed his second straight game due to a family illness.  With those three out the win became even sweeter.

Continue reading "Grizzlies 78, Raptors 70"

A poor first quarter cut short any chance the Grizzlies had of exploiting a struggling L.A. Clippers team on Friday.  The Clippers entered the game riding a seven-game losing streak, but they jumped on the Grizzlies early and came away with a 126-105 win at FedEx Forum.

Continue reading "Clippers 126, Grizzlies 105"

The long losing streak is over, and it appears the Grizzlies are taking a turn for the better under Lionel Hollins.  The Grizzlies won their second straight game on Wednesday, surviving a late rally by Houston to hold on for a 104-93 win.  O.J. Mayo scored 32 against the Rockets, two nights after putting up 33 in a win at Washington.  The two wins are the first consecutive victories for the Grizzlies in nearly two months and the first consecutive double-digit triumphs in two years.

Continue reading "Grizzlies turnaround is possible"

The Grizzlies introduced once-and-current head coach Lionel Hollins at a press conference this afternoon, allowing him to get in a full day of practice with the team before Tuesday's game against Denver.  It is still unclear at this time who will serve as Hollins' assistant coaches.

Continue reading "Grizzlies fall to Nets, prepare for ..."

Lionel Hollins will sign a contract this weekend to become the full-time coach of the Memphis Grizzlies.  No doubt barraged by questions about this hasty and, well, questionable, decision, owner Michael Heisley said this one is all on him.  Heisley said this is the first coach he has ever selected himself, and he will take responsibility for the outcome of his decision.  On one hand, that seems awfully big of him.  At closer inspection, however, you have to ask : How much risk is Heisley himself actually taking?  His job can't be on the line if this pick doesn't pan out.  He's the owner.  Still, it brings up the possibility that he is tired of relying on his general manager to make such a critical decision for the franchise.  This may bring him one step closer to replacing Chris Wallace.  It's a mess.  There is no other way to describe it.  The Grizzlies franchise is in a state of chaos.  Any dreams of a three-year plan are now officially shot, not that such a plan ever really got off the ground to begin with.  We can only hope that somehow Hollins has improved as a coach since he was last here, or else Heisley is just wasting more time and money.

Continue reading "Grizzlies tab Hollins, fade against Knicks"

I have just read that Lionel Hollins is bringing Maurice Cheeks with him as an assistant coach, so Hollins may not end up being the full-time guy after all.  Cheeks was one of the first names to come up in rumors yesterday as a possible replacement for Marc Iavaroni.  Hollins hasn't signed a contract as of yet, so he isn't officially the new head coach.  All I am asking is that Michael Heisley and his front office staff put some consideration into this move.  The Grizzlies are struggling to get fans to come to their games, and they need to make a positive move now to show that they are committed to winning.  I guess I will get off Chris Wallace's back for now, but I still don't trust him not to screw this up somehow.

Continue reading "Coaching Update"

The Grizzlies fired Marc Iavaroni last night.  Good job, here's a cookie.  Unfortunately, they couldn't wait to screw it up.  They had to name Lionel Hollins as the permanent replacement to Iavaroni less than 12 hours later.  That was after announcing that there would be a league-wide search.  Hollins has been the interim coach before, and we all know how well that went.  This will be his third stint with the Grizzlies.  Apparently I forgot about one of them last night.  He is 18-46 in that time.

Continue reading "Grizzlies Front-Office Ineptitude Continues"

The Memphis Grizzlies fired head coach Marc Iavaroni Thursday night.  Thus continues the trend of professional sports owners giving their coaches the "kiss of death" vote of confidence.  Everytime an owner says a coach's job is safe, you know he is about to get the boot.  It's the same as when a coach says he's not interested in any job other than his current one.  Grizz owner Michael Heisley said earlier in the year that Iavaroni was safe, only to retract that statement prior to the New Year, when his tone changed to "The month of January will decide Iavaroni's fate." The Grizzlies are currently in the midst of a seven-game losing skid, among their longest of the season.  Their lone win this month came against Dallas, and they got thumped by the lowly Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday, 101-86.  That loss was the Grizzlies' second of the year at the hands of the Bobcats.

Continue reading "Iavaroni done as Grizzlies coach"

The more they lose, the less credible the Grizzlies become as an organization.  It's getting hard to buy even the players' comments anymore.  The team lost for the 13th time in its last 15 g

Continue reading "Jazz 101, Grizzlies 91"

The Memphis Grizzlies faced a short-handed Cleveland team on Tuesday, but the Cavs still had the only player they really needed.

LeBron James put up a triple-double with 30 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists as Cleveland breezed past the Grizzlies 102-87.

Continue reading "Cavaliers 106, Grizzlies 87"

The Grizzlies signed Darius Miles to another 10-day contract on Friday after the league assured its teams that it would disregard any attempt by Portland owner Larry Miller to prevent them from doing so.  Miller warned fellow owners via email that he would sue any team who signed Miles, believing that a team would sign him for the sole purpose of burdening Portland with his salary.  Miller wanted to protect his team's ability to pursue free agents next offseason, when high profile players such as LeBron James will be available.  In reality, the Blazers still would have had plenty of cap room even after taking on Miles' contract, so Miller's demand was unreasonable.  Several league owners responded angrily to Miller's email, taking it as a personal threat.

Continue reading "Grizzlies re-sign Miles, fall to Raptors"

The Grizzlies waived Darius Miles on Tuesday to avoid paying the rest of his salary for this season.  He didn't get much of a chance to play in the brief time he was with the team, mostly based on the clause that said if he played more than 10 total games this season, the Portland Trailblazers would have to claim his $18 million salary and would end up paying a luxury tax.  Miles is expected to clear waivers today, which would make him available to all 30 teams.  The Grizzlies could then re-sign him if they wanted.  The Trailblazers, however, have threatened to sue any team who signed Miles to a contract.  They claim that any team that signs him would be doing it for the sole purpose of putting his salary on the Blazers' payroll.  It seems to me that the Blazers are being very immature and really won't have a case if a team does sign him and it ends up in court.

Continue reading "Grizzlies head north in need of a win"

Enough was finally enough for the Memphis Grizzlies.  After 13 consecutive losses to the Dallas Mavericks, the Grizzlies outplayed them in every facet of the game on Sunday as they claimed a shocking 102-82 win.

Continue reading "Grizzlies 102, Mavericks 82"

It was a new year but a similar result for the Memphis Grizzlies as they hosted the San Antonio Spurs on Friday.  The Grizzlies faded in the second half of a 91-80 loss after putting up a fight for the first 24 minutes.

Continue reading "Spurs 91, Grizzlies 80"

easy to have a happy New Year when you drop your last three games heading into the holiday, and the Memphis Grizzlies are suffering from the effects of their struggles on the court.  What

Continue reading "Grizzlies grumbling as calendar turns"

The Grizzlies got the break they needed when Amare Stoudemire was ejected from Tuesday's game late in the first half.  Unfortunately, Stoudemire's Phoenix teammates used his dismissal as motivation and rallied to beat the Grizzlies 101-89.

Continue reading "Suns 101, Grizzlies 89"

Maybe it was the dizzying contrast in the grains of wood used to design the court at the Target Center, or possibly the psychological effect of knowing it was less than 20 degrees and snowing outside, but the Grizzlies' inability to come through on the road reared its ugly head yet again on Monday against Minnesota.

Continue reading "Timberwolves 108, Grizzlies 98 OT"

While the Grizzlies will try to pick themselves up and win after every loss this season, tonight's opportunity may be one that they see as a must-win.

After Saturday's tough loss at San Antonio, the Grizzlies know they have what it takes to compete with a playoff contender on the road.  They have made progress since the beginning of the season, especially when it comes to being physical and aggressive.  It's easy to back off when you are losing and you lack self-confidence.  These Grizzlies have plenty of self-confidence.  They just need to get to where they put it on display every night.  They are not necessarily a team that can be counted out when they are down 20 points to anyone.  Ideally, they wouldn't get themselves into situations like that very often, but they have shown that they can handle it despite their relative inexperience.

Continue reading "Confident Grizzlies Take On Toothless Wolves"

The Grizzlies suffered a pair of painful losses on Saturday.  They dropped a closely-contested game on the road to the Spurs that included a controversial non-call in the final seconds.  Additionally, they learned that Darko Milicic, who suffered a broken knuckle against Indiana on Friday, will miss 4-6 weeks with the injury.  Milicic recorded a season-high 14 points in that game and had been playing well in the past few weeks.  His absence will create problems for the Grizzlies inside, although they gave the Spurs all they could handle on Saturday.

Continue reading "Spurs 106, Grizzlies 103 2OT"

There was no holiday hangover on Friday as the Memphis Grizzlies snapped a four-game losing skid with a 108-105 victory over Indiana.  The Grizzlies (10-19) never surrendered the lead over the final five minutes of the game, but they had to survive a frantic final minute in which they turned the ball over three times.  O.J. Mayo then sank the clinching free throws with a second on the clock.

Continue reading "Grizzlies 108, Pacers 105"

The Memphis Grizzlies have probably had plenty to eat over the last couple of days.  Now, after a short break, they are ready to satisfy their hunger for a win against the Indiana Pacers.

Continue reading "Grizzlies hoping for holiday cheers"

Former Rookie of the Year Steve Francis will play for the Grizzlies after all.  The catch is that it will be in Memphis instead of Vancouver.

The Houston Rockets sent Francis, who infamously refused to play for the Vancouver Grizzlies after they drafted him in 1999, to Memphis on Wednesday in exchange for a conditional second-round draft pick in 2011.  The Grizzlies also get a 2009 second-round pick and cash in the deal. 

Continue reading "Grizzlies acquire formerly miffed Francis"

The Memphis Grizzlies must have been homesick Tuesday.  After spending a couple of weeks playing at home, they hit the road for Dallas and struggled mightily at the start in a 100-82 loss. 

Continue reading "Mavericks 100, Grizzlies 82"

The Memphis Grizzlies played up to the level of their stiff competition on Monday, but they came up short of an upset as the Los Angeles Lakers held on for a 105-96 win at FedEx Forum. 

Continue reading "Lakers 105, Grizzlies 96"

Tonight's game between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Los Angeles Lakers marks a homecoming for Lakers forward Pau Gasol, who makes his first return to Memphis since being traded away last February.  It will also be a family reunion of sorts for Pau and his brother, Grizzlies forward Marc, who played together on the Spanish Olympic team in Beijing.  The two Gasols have strikingly different playing styles due to different physical characteristics.  While Pau is taller and quicker than Marc, his brother brings more power and strength to the game.  Marc has provided the physical post presence the Grizzlies haven't had since Bryant Reeves retired.  While his offensive production has been lacking, Marc makes up for it with his defense and intelligent play.

Continue reading "Family Reunion"

As a rule, you don’t win many basketball games when your opponent shoots 70 percent from the floor.  The Grizzlies found that out the hard way, again, on Friday as the Charlotte Bobcats stormed out of the gate and thoroughly whipped them 112-83. 

Continue reading "Bobcats 112, Grizzlies 83"

The Grizzlies know their task tonight.  They must take advantage of a favorable matchup and defend their home court against the visiting Charlotte Bobcats, who are definitely beatable.  The Bobcats will have their top scorer, Gerald Wallace, back in the lineup as they try to win consecutive games for the second time this year.  Wallace, who is averaging 15.4 ppg, lost both his father and grandmother last week. 

Continue reading "Grizzlies hope to recover against weak Bobcats"

Just when the Grizzlies appeared to be rolling, they ran into the New Orleans Hornets again. The Hornets remain the only team to beat the Grizzlies in the past two weeks, handing them their first loss in five games on Tuesday 91-84.

Continue reading "Hornets 91, Grizzlies 84"

Dwyane who? 

That’s the attitude the Grizzlies’ O.J. Mayo took on Sunday as he suffocated Miami’s All-Star guard Dwyane Wade, the NBA’s top scorer.  Wade, who entered the game averaging 29.1 ppg, finished with 17 on 5-of-16 shooting as the Grizzlies won their fourth straight game, 102-86.  Mayo, on the other hand, backed up his stellar defensive effort by scoring 28 points in 40 minutes.  It was the first time this season that the Grizzlies have won a game in which Mayo led them in scoring. 

Continue reading "Grizzlies 102, Heat 86"

These days the Memphis Grizzlies seem to enjoy playing from behind. Never mind that they have really been doing it all season. With their bench playing better than ever, it’s been no big deal for the starters to have their struggles.

Continue reading "Grizzlies Spoil Return of Rose"

After laboring through a seven-game losing skid the Memphis Grizzlies suddenly find themselves on the verge of their third straight win as they host the Chicago Bulls tonight. If the Grizzlies are able to beat the Bulls they would have their longest win streak of the season and their first three-game win streak since the final three games of the 2006-07 season under interim coach Tony Barone.

Continue reading "Memphis welcomes familiar face in Bulls' Rose"

While the Grizzlies didn't get off to the start they envisioned for their payback game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, they were just setting themselves up to exact their revenge in a familiarly painful fashion. Only this time they would be the ones inflicting the pain.

Continue reading "Grizzlies get their revenge on Thunder"

In a development that seems to be straight from the "You Have Got to be Kidding Me" line of reasoning, the Grizzlies have reportedly agreed to send guard Javaris Crittendon to the Washington Wizards and a second-round draft pick to the New Orleans Hornets in exchange for a conditional first round draft pick they had sent to the Wizards last year.

Continue reading "Grizzlies involved in three-team ..."

With a lighter slate of opponents on the horizon, the Memphis Grizzlies came out eager to improve on their recent play and get back in the win column on Monday against Houston.  The result was their most complete game of the season and a 109-97 victory.  Their goal was to play better, play harder and play smarter.  Mission Accomplished.

Continue reading "Grizzlies 109, Rockets 97"

ESPN has reported today that the Grizzlies will have a new head coach in place sooner rather than later.  While Marc Iavaroni will lead the team in tonight's game against Houston, his future with

Continue reading "A Change is Coming"

The Grizzlies knew they had to play at their best to have a shot at upsetting the New Orleans Hornets on their home floor, but after an early blitz by the Hornets they never had a chance.

The big three of New Orleans, Chris Paul, Peja Stojakovic and David West, combined for one of their best collective performances, tallying 60 points on 21-of-30 shooting to put the pressure on the Grizz offense to find an answer.

Continue reading "Hornets 106, Grizzlies 87"

As it turns out, all that the Grizzlies needed to do to snap their losing streak was make some minor changes.  Kyle Lowry and Darko Milicic replaced Mike Conley and Marc Gasol in the starting lineup Friday night against the Los Angeles Clippers, and the result was an impressive 93-81 Grizzlies victory.

Continue reading "Grizzlies 93, Clippers 81"

There are only two teams in the Western Conference who have worse records than the Grizzlies at this point in the season.  One of them is Oklahoma City, which beat the Grizzlies last Saturday.  The other is the Los Angeles Clippers, the perennial Pacific Division doormat, who come to town tonight.  If the Grizzlies have any chance of putting an end to their misery, this is it.

Continue reading "Grizzlies seek win against lowly Clippers"

Two days of workouts that followed Saturday's loss to Oklahoma City didn't result in an end to what is now a seven-game losing streak for the Grizzlies as they lost to Atlanta on Wednesday 105-95.

Continue reading "Hawks 105, Grizzlies 95"

Grizzlies coach Marc Iavaroni may have a young roster to work with, but that may not be enough of an excuse to save his job.  Iavaroni tops FoxSports.com's list of the four NBA coaches most likely to be fired by the end of this season.  Like any other Grizzlies fan, I am frustrated that the team isn't making any progress this year, and I know the coach is the easiest fall guy.  I'm not sure that a midseason coaching change is always the wisest move, but this move may need to happen. It's not like this team is going to make a run to the playoffs in 2009. Iavaroni has a laid-back personality that isn't going to work in the long run for a rebuilding franchise.  More importantly, this is his first head coaching job.  A young team needs the direction of a veteran coach.  The Grizzlies had success under Hubie Brown, and if he had been in better health and not at the end of his career, he would have done wonders for them for several more years.  I am a firm believer that the Grizzlies' problems stem from the top.  Chris Wallace came to Memphis from Portland, which hasn't been a playoff team in a while.  Is this really the best guy Jerry West could recommend before he retired?  Although Portland appears to be turning around with Greg Oden and Brandon Roy as centerpieces, it was near rock bottom both on and off the court under Wallace.  That is more harmful than bad coaching.

Continue reading "Iavaroni's Seat Warming Up?"

their lead slip away in the second half of Saturday night's devastating loss to Oklahoma City, the Memphis Grizzlies face their toughest mental task of the season Wednesday in Atlanta. It may not be significant in the long run, but for the sake of the team's psyche, this game is huge. They let a golden opportunity get away from them against the Thunder, and they must come out tonight and show that they have put that performance behind them

Continue reading "Picking Up the Pieces"

The Grizzlies had their best chance to snap a five-game losing streak on Saturday with the relatively harmless Oklahoma City Thunder, losers of 14 straight, in town.  Unfortunately, the Grizzlies choked away a double-digit lead in the second half and suffered a humiliating 111-103 defeat instead.

Continue reading "Thunder 111, Grizzlies 103"

If the Memphis Grizzlies could put four quarters together they might finally end their losing streak.  They went a long way toward doing that Friday at San Antonio, but faded in the fourth quarter of a 109-98 loss.

Continue reading "Spurs 109, Grizzlies 98"

As if one game against Tim Duncan and his supporting cast isn't enough, the Memphis Grizzlies will face off against Duncan's San Antonio Spurs tonight for the second time in five days. The teams squared off Monday, with the Spurs using their bench to handle the Grizzlies 94-81.  After tonight, the Grizzlies won't have to deal with the Spurs until the end of December.  As the schedule worked out this season the teams will meet in San Antonio on Dec. 27 and in Memphis on Jan. 2 to close out the season series.  If the Grizzlies can make it through tonight's game, they have Oklahoma City (1-14) coming to town tomorrow.

Continue reading "Grizzlies Face Familiar Foe"

The Grizzlies had to be looking forward to a Thanksgiving break after running into a hot Utah team on Wednesday.  The Jazz, who had the services of guard Deron Williams for only the third time this season, put up their highest point total of the season in dispatching the Grizzlies 117-100.

Continue reading "Jazz 117, Grizzlies 100"

It seems that GM Chris Wallace is actively looking to add some offensive firepower to the Grizzlies' roster.  It's no secret that shooting woes have been mostly to blame for the team's dismal 4-10 record.  With one of the best scoring defenses in the league, the Grizzlies could easily have a winning record at this point if it weren't for shooting slumps that usually seem to strike in the third quarter.  While coach Marc Iavaroni has also said part of the problem with the offense is that the players often abandon the scripted play for one-on-one opportunities, the Grizzlies' perimeter shooting takes them out of games entirely once they fall behind.

Continue reading "Grizzlies making a move?"

O.J. Mayo took over down the stretch for the Memphis Grizzlies late in Monday's game against San Antonio, but it wasn't enough to lead the Grizzlies to victory as they fell 94-81.

Mayo scored 23 of his game-high 26 points in the second half, including his own 7-0 run in the fourth quarter, but the Grizzlies' deficit was too great to overcome.

Continue reading "Spurs 94, Grizzlies 81"

While the Memphis Grizzlies got the season off to a decent start, splitting their first six games, they now find themselves in the midst of a slump that can mostly be attributed to their youth.  As the youngest team in the NBA, the Grizzlies are making their share of mistakes, but more importantly, they are learning from them.  At least, that is what should come out of the disappointing outcomes of the last few games.

Continue reading "Grizzlies Face Critical Test Against Spurs"

Good defense was the difference in Saturday's game as the Memphis Grizzlies ran into a determined Utah Jazz squad that hounded them into mistake after mistake in a 103-94 loss.  The Jazz seemed to be a step quicker than the Grizzlies, who buckled under intense defensive pressure after opening the game with a 9-2 run.

Continue reading "Jazz 103, Grizzlies 94"

The Grizzlies got the defensive battle they expected against Dallas on Friday, but failed to get their offense going in a 91-76 loss.

The Grizzlies (4-8) shot only 37 percent from the floor and finished with their lowest point total since scoring 67 points in a loss last December.  The usual suspects contributed for the Grizzlies as O.J. Mayo led the way with 19 points and Mike Conley and Rudy Gay each chipped in 14.  Conley's output was his best of the season.

Continue reading "Mavericks 91, Grizzlies 76"

The Memphis Grizzlies enter tonight's game at Dallas with a rare opportunity to leapfrog the Mavericks in the Southwest Division standings.  The Mavericks, who have been one of the better teams in the West over the last few years, have started slowly under new head coach Rick Carlisle.  The two teams play similar styles built around tough defense, and the Mavs are in the midst of a stretch in which they have held opponents to 40 percent shooting in five straight games, the last three of which have been wins.  If the Grizzlies are on top of their defensive game tonight, neither team may reach 90 points.  I think whoever does get to that mark will win the game.

Continue reading "Game at Dallas offers road opportunity"

Like their pair of playoff seasons a few years ago, Memphis Grizzlies fans have to wonder if Tuesday's impressive showing against Sacramento was a glimpse of the positive potential of the organization or a stroke of youthful luck.

Continue reading "Turning the Corner?"

The Memphis Grizzlies could do no wrong on Tuesday night as they whipped the Sacramento Kings 109-94 to halt a four-game losing skid.  The Grizzlies led wire-to-wire and held advantages as large as 23 points en route to their fourth win of the season.

Continue reading "Grizzlies 109, Kings 94"

w days to reflect on their recent losses and what they have done well and struggled to do well, the Memphis Grizzlies will finally get back out on the court tonight when they host the Sacramento Kings at 7 p.m. at the FedEx Forum.

Continue reading "Back to Work"

Second-chance points have hurt the Memphis Grizzlies all season and Friday night wasn't any different as they fell to Milwaukee 101-96 in overtime.

The Bucks (5-5) dominated the boards by a 62-36 margin, grabbing 23 offensive rebounds, and outscored the Grizzlies 28-12 in second-chance points.  The Grizzlies failed to contain the Bucks' front line as Richard Jefferson, Luc Mbah a Moute and Andrew Bogut combined for 57 points and 42 rebounds. Only Hakim Warrick could manage double figure rebounds for the Grizzlies with 10.

Continue reading "Bucks 101, Grizzlies 96 (OT)"

If there is a positive the Grizzlies can take from their 132-103 loss to the New York Knicks on Wednesday, it's that they probably won't run into a team having that kind of hot streak again this season.

Continue reading "Grizz will bounce back"

If the Memphis Grizzlies thought coming home to face the usually-hapless New York Knicks was going to be a reprieve from a frustrating road trip, they were in for a rude awakening Wednesday night.

Continue reading "Knicks 132, Grizzlies 103"

erans' Day to recover from a challenging road trip that saw them drop 3-of-4 on the West Coast, the Memphis Grizzlies return home tonight when they face the New York Knicks at FedEx Forum.

The Grizzlies (3-5) are coming off one of their strongest performances of the season, although they came up short in the end. O.J. Mayo, who scored 33 points in Monday's game, became one of only five NBA rookies ever to score 30+ points in consecutive games this early in a season. He has proven himself to be one of the leaders, if not the main leader, of this young team.  In an ESPN.com ranking of the top 50  NBA rookies, Mayo ranks fourth, while teammates Marc Gasol and Darrell Arthur rank fifth and tenth, respectively.

Continue reading "Home Again"

The Grizzlies looked finished as the third quarter ended and the fourth quarter began on Monday night in Phoenix.  However, O.J. Mayo hadn't yet made his statement.

Mayo exploded for 19 points in the fourth, finishing the game with 33, to give Memphis (3-5) a chance to win the game before a final Phoenix push finished them off 107-100.

Continue reading "Suns 107, Grizzlies 100"

Tonight's game at Phoenix brings an end to the brutal four-game road trip the Grizzlies have endured over the past week.  While the games have been difficult and the two losses hard to swallow, a win tonight would earn the Grizzlies a very respectable split.

Continue reading "End of the Road (Trip)"

O.J. Mayo's uncanny first-half performance wasn't enough to save the Memphis Grizzlies from themselves as they dropped a 100-90 decision at Denver on Sunday.  It was their eighth loss in their last nine meetings with the Nuggets.

Continue reading "Nuggets 100, Grizzlies 90"

The Memphis Grizzlies should feel pretty good about what they accomplished Friday night.  They went on the road, where they hadn't yet won this season, against a team they knew they could beat, and played hard for four quarters for a win to even their record at 3-3.  They earned every basket they made and made enough of them to outscore a high-powered offense in Golden State.  Now that they have had a day to enjoy that win, they must translate what they did well in that game into tonight's matchup with the 2-3 Denver Nuggets. Denver is coming off a 108-105 win over Dallas on Friday.

Continue reading "Mile High Grizzlies"

It wasn't quite a complete, four-quarter effort, but the Memphis Grizzlies had their best showing away from FedEx Forum so far this season as they held off the Golden State Warriors on Friday, 109-104, to even their season record at 3-3.

Continue reading "Grizzlies 109, Warriors 104"

After showing signs of life late in Wednesday's game at Sacramento, the Memphis Grizzlies (2-3) will try to build on that strong finish and pick up their second win of the week against the Golden State Warriors (2-3) tonight in Oakland, a place where they have lost four straight.

Continue reading "Friday night preview"

Make it 1-25 for the Memphis Grizzlies in Sacramento.

Kevin Martin went off for 33 points as the Kings (1-4) led nearly wire-to-wire in a 100-95 win on Wednesday.

The Grizzlies (2-3) were fortunate to find themselves with a chance to win this game over the final few minutes after falling behind by as many as 18 points in the second half.  A furious 18-3 rally over the game's final five minutes made the final score respectable, but it was no representation of the struggles Memphis had in the rest of the game.  They opened the fourth quarter with three straight turnovers, including two shot-clock violations.  They ended numerous possessions throughout the game with awkward-looking shots or ill-advised passes that resulted in transition opportunities for the Kings.  Along with a solid defensive effort from the Kings, it looked like the Grizzlies had lost their identity. After sparkling in the team's first few games, Marc Gasol disappeared against the Kings, in part because of the Kings' physical defense.  He managed only a buzzer-beater in the first half and was never really a factor, finishing the game with five points, six rebounds and four turnovers.

Continue reading "Kings 100, Grizzlies 95"

The Grizzlies begin a four-game swing through the West tonight as they face the Sacramento Kings with a chance to push their season record above .500.  Memphis enters the game boasting one of the league's top scoring defenses, allowing only 85.3 points per game through four contests. That is a great improvement over Grizzlies teams of the past, who routinely struggled to hold opponents under 100 points.  This year's average is down from 106.9 just a year ago.  Even after only a few games, it is easy to see that this team is devoted to playing aggressive defense.  While the turnover numbers won't show it, the Grizzlies have shown a knack for attacking the ball and creating difficult shots for their opponents.  The result has been an opponents' shooting percentage of 37.5.

Continue reading "Early Road Trip Will Test Grizzlies"

The Memphis Grizzlies posted their first-ever 2-0 start at home by dominating the fourth quarter for a 90-79 win over the Golden State Warriors on Monday at the FedEx Forum. Second-year player Rudy Gay and rookies Marc Gasol and O.J. Mayo combined for 48 of the team's points.  Gay's production was one of the keys to the game coming in for the Grizz, who expected to need around 30 points from him in order to win.  The UCONN product nailed a couple of 3's early in the game but struggled in the second half.  However, just when it seemed that it might not be his night, Gay hit a driving layup and a pair of consecutive jumpers late in the third quarter to give the Grizz the lead for good.  The team closed the quarter on a 10-2 run to lead 73-67 entering the final frame. Gay finished with 14 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists.

Continue reading "Grizzlies 90, Warriors 79"

Another season has begun for the Memphis Grizzlies, who are now three years into a rebuilding phase that could be bringing them closer to playoff contention in the Western Conference. 

Continue reading "New Season for the Upstart Grizzlies"