Memphis Grizzlies Blogs

The Memphis Grizzlies will be hopeful that the NBA D-League lives up to its name after they sent 2009 No 2 draft pick Hasheem Thabeet down to the North Dakota Wizards and made just a little bit of history in the process.

Continue reading "Grizzlies give Thabeet some time"

Utah is trying to stay within their financial means and stay competitive at the same time. They traded Ronnie Brewer to Memphis for a future pick.  They have depth at that position and can absorb the loss.  Brewer is a restricted free agent and Utah may not be able to match any offers.  So, they gain a pick for him now.  Not bad I guess.

Continue reading "Utah is making financial moves"

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?"

Allen Iverson’s sometime glittering career in the NBA could just be over after he left the Memphis Grizzlies early into his tenure with the franchise.

Although Iverson was given permission ‘to leave to attend to personal business’ late last week, his time in Memphis had already started to become a sideshow with more talk about him being asked to come off the bench than anything else.

Continue reading ""

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?"

Continue reading "Iverson likely to retire"

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"

From the who-didn’t-see-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"

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 ..."

Continue reading "A.I. is a Grizzly"

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 media to talk about them is their flirtation with Allen Iverson.  I know I may be crazy, but I say if he wants to play here, let him play here.  It's not everyday the Grizzlies have a player on any talent level who comes knocking at the door.  Sure, he has character issues, but what pro athlete doesn't to an extent?  He is reaching the end of his career and he knows it.  I think that has tamed him somewhat.  He knows he is not going to be the focal point, and for a guy who refused to come off the bench in Denver, that shows some class and maturity.  The Grizz need established starpower.  Iverson may have lost a step but he can still be at least as consistent as the young guys who are still on a learning curve.  Plus, he has a lot he can teach them.  It's not a huge risk for the Grizzlies because Iverson isn't going to be around much longer.  They can sign him to a one-year deal and cut him loose if things don't work out.  We all know Michael Heisley hates spending his money, but what top-notch free agents are going to be looking at Memphis next summer?  Spend a little now and just see if we can't add a few wins to last season's total.  Sure, it is Allen Iverson and he could always blow up in your face, but he'll put fans in the seats.  That is what this team needs more than anything else.

Continue reading "Iverson worth a shot"

The Los Angelos Clippers sent Zach Randolph to the Memphis Grizzlies for Quentin Richardson.  A move that was needed after having a surplus of inside talent with newly drafted Blake Griffin.  Griffin has been sensastional in summer league and will likely start for the Clippers.  Using the Howard Sports winning system, Randolph earned 2 wins while Richardson earned 3.  So, it's a pretty even swap.  The Grizzlies acquired Richardson from the Knicks for Darko Milicic this summer.  So, Richardson never played a game for Memphis.

Continue reading "Clippers send Randolph to Memphis"

The Memphis Grizzlies had a huge draft, literally.  With the 2nd pick they selected 7-3 C from UConn, Hasheem Thabeet.  He will provide a lot of interior defense and rebounds.  He can alther shots and allow them to do things on defense that others can't. The draw back is that he is very limited on offense. That means defenses will get to do things to them when he is on the floor. At the 27th spot, they got DeMarre Carroll a 6-8 F from Missouri.  He is a high energy guy that can provide a spark off the bench. In the second round at 36, they got Sam Young from Pittsburgh.  This guy can play all over the floor and should have been a first round pick.  He is a 6-7 small forward who can really get at it. 

Continue reading "Grizzlies draft is HUGE"

The Los Angeles Clippers are expected to pick former Oklahoma Sooners star Blake Griffin Thursday with the first overall selection in the 2009 NBA Draft at the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. 

Continue reading "The 5 Best Second Overall Selections ..."

The Memphis Grizzlies are looking forward to this year's draft.  They have no were to go but up.  The question is, how far can they rise.  They have the 2nd, 27th, and 36th overall picks in the draft.  More than half of the mock draft boards out there have Hasheem Thabeet going to them.  He would provide an inside defensive presence for sure.  A few boards have Ricky Rubio going that way.  And the next pick listed is James Harden. They will be happy with who they take this year.  But, let's look at how these positions have fared over the past 14 years.

Continue reading "Memphis Grizzlies draft"

The objective for the last three seasons has been to take a 21-win, 61-loss Blazer team and rebuild them into the Playoff-bound, title-contending team we, the fans, want them to be.

Objective accomplished.

Continue reading "Completing the Puzzle Part 1: Off-Season Tasks"

I was at my day job when I first read it on my phone, Rockets deal Alston to Magic for Cook, Lowry. It took a moment to sink in. We traded Rafer? Not McGrady? Not Artest? Was this the move thats going to put us over the top? I didn't know what to think. I didn't know who to ask. I didn't even know who Cook and Lowry

Continue reading "Do Houston fans miss Rafer aka Skip to my Lou?"

Continue reading "The New Hope for Bad Teams"

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"

Okay, let's just be honest here.  Nate Robinson may not have fully deserved the 2006 NBA Slam Dunk Contest Title, but he sure earned it this year.  Nate battled the defending champion, Dwight Howard, in the Finals and one-upped the ultimate gamesman in the end.  Together they put on possibly the greatest show in the history of the contest since the days of Michael Jordan battling Dominique Wilkins.

Continue reading "Krypto-Nate Robinson Wins 2009 Slam ..."

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 Mavs finished the month of January 8-7 for the month. There were some surprising wins and losses that are equally surprising.

On 1/4, they lost by 20 points to the Memphis Grizzlies who are at the bottom of the Southwest. On 1/11, they lost to the Sacramento Kings who have been struggling the entire season. Then on 1/21, they lost to the Milwaulkee Bucks in a blowout by 34 points. Other blowout losses this month also include the 28 point loss to the Phoenix Suns on 1/9 and the 24 point loss to the Boston Celtics on 1/25.

Continue reading "Dallas Mavericks Inconsistent Through January"

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"

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"

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"

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"

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?"

After seeing 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"

After having a few 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"

"I haven't really been attacking, so I'm going to start attacking on the block," Bynum, a 7-foot center, explained after the Lakers' practice Sunday. "I haven't scored much off the block. ... I'm just not being aggressive. I need to assert myself on the block. I haven't done anything like that.

Continue reading "Why you shouldn't hate the Lakers"

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"

After taking Veterans' 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.

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"