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Even without Westbrook, Thunder are a dangerous foe, Lionel Hollins says

May 4, 2013 by Andre Johnson Leave a Comment

The Memphis Grizzlies won two of three meetings this year against the Oklahoma City Thunder with point guard Russell Westbrook in the lineup.

Though the three-time All-Star is less than two weeks removed from a season-ending knee injury he suffered in Game 2 of the Thunder’s opening-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets, Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins said he isn’t buying into the notion that his team has emerged as the favorite to knock off the Western Conference’s top-seeded team in a series that starts Sunday in Oklahoma City at 12 p.m. CST.

Marc Gasol and the Grizzlies will likely have their hands full trying to contain Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Kevin Durant (left), whose 28.1 points per game is second-best in the NBA. (Photo by Chris Evans)

“You know, you’ve got to go play,” Hollins said after the Grizzlies’ 118-105 closeout win in Game 6 over the Los Angeles Clippers Friday night in FedExForum. “That’s the thing everybody keep saying, ‘Oh you can beat them because he’s out.’ They just won a series with him out. They’re a good team.”

Like the Grizzlies, Oklahoma City needed six games to eliminate the Rockets in a series in which it seemed the Thunder would win easily before Westbrook’s injury. The Thunder, who own home court advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs, won Game 1 in a rout, 120-91, at Chesapeake Energy Arena, as Westbrook nearly registered a triple-double with 19 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds.

Then in the Thunder’s 105-102 win in Game 2, Westbrook and fellow star Kevin Durant each scored 29 points. A five-year veteran, Westbrook played 37 minutes in that game, but unfavorable news would follow for the Thunder although they had taken a 2-0 lead in the series. Team officials announced that Westbrook would miss the remainder of the playoffs because of a lateral meniscus tear in his right knee. Westbrook went down in the second quarter of Game 2 when Houston Rockets rookie Patrick Beverley went for a steal and ran into his knee.

Despite squandering a 26-point first-half lead in Game 3, the Thunder eventually prevailed and took a 3-0 lead against the Rockets behind Durant’s 41-point outburst. However, over the next two games, the Thunder appeared affected by the absence of Westbrook, the team’s second-leading scorer who averaged better than 23 points per game during the regular season. Also, the former UCLA star accounted for roughly a third of the possessions for a Thunder team that advanced to the NBA Finals last year.

Houston won the next two outings, including a 107-100 win at Oklahoma City in Game 5 before the Thunder ended the suspense with a 103-94 road win Friday night to close out the series.

Against the Grizzlies, one of the NBA’s best defensive teams that won a franchise-record 56 games during the regular season, Westbrook’s absence would provide Hollins with more resources to throw at Kevin Martin, Westbrook’s replacement. Still, he said upending a Thunder team that is the league’s second-most efficient offensive squad (110.2 points per 100 possessions) won’t come easily, considering Durant, the NBA’s second-leading scorer (28.1 ppg), is capable of catching fire at any given moment.

“They’re not just a one-man team,” Hollins said. “They’re a good team and we have to go play and earn whatever we get in this series. I feel good about our team simply because where we’re at mentally and physically we’re in good health. And we’ve been playing pretty decent. That’s why I feel pretty good about my team. I’m not worried about who they have or don’t have. We have to go out there and play according to our abilities.”

Andre Johnson covers the Grizzlies for MemphiSport. To reach Johnson, email him at andre@memphisport.net. Also, follow him on Twiter @AJ_Journalist.

Filed Under: Grizzlies, NBA, The Big Features Tagged With: Daily Oklahoman, ESPN.COM, FoxSports.com, Kevin Durant, Lionel Hollins, Memphis Commercial Appeal, Memphis Grizzlies, NBA.COM, NBATV, Oklahoma City Thunder, Russell Westbrook, Western Conference Playoffs, Yahoo.com

Grizzlies hope Randolph’s assertive play is sign of things to come against Thunder

May 4, 2013 by Andre Johnson Leave a Comment

SHOWING OFF — The Los Angeles Clippers couldn’t find any answers for Zach Randolph (left), who led the Grizzlies to an opening-round playoff series win over the Clippers. Memphis, after dropping the first two games, reeled off four straight wins to take the series, 4-2. (Photo by Justin Ford

The Staples Center will be closed for business on Sunday.

Zach Randolph had much to do with it.

Randolph, the Memphis Grizzlies’ leading scorer and go-to player throughout their opening-round Western Conference playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers, continued to demonstrate why he is considered one of the NBA’s elite power forwards.

The 12-year veteran showed why earning his second All-Star appearance in February wasn’t a fortuity one year after battling back from a torn medial collateral ligament and witnessing his effectiveness significantly reduced in Memphis’ opening-round defeat to the Clippers.

The 6-foot-9 Randolph, to his credit, proved why many media pundits believe he’s still essentially in the prime of his career, considering his remarkable performance against the Clippers was reminiscent of his memorable postseason display two seasons ago.

So with Game 6 effectively out of reach with 1:57 remaining in the fourth quarter Friday night in FedExForum, Randolph, who had been involved in physical confrontations with Clippers power forward Blake Griffin throughout a majority of the series, was hit with his second technical foul for taunting, which resulted in his subsequent ejection.

“It felt good especially from last year until what happened to this year, so it felt good,” Randolph, exhibiting a smile, said when asked about his rare disqualification. “Like I said, it is over with. We won the series. Now we have to get back focused.”

Randolph, who staged yet another exuberant performance in what turned out to be a closeout game for Memphis, didn’t seemed bewildered that he was sent to the showers before game’s end. While walking off the court, Randolph removed his signature headband, hurled it into the stands behind the Grizzlies’ bench, then skipped through the tunnel as the raucous FedExForum sellout crowd cheered in wonderment.

For the first time in two years, the Grizzlies are headed back to the Western Conference semifinals, where they will face the Oklahoma City Thunder starting Sunday at 12 p.m. CST in a rematch of their 2011 postseason meeting. The Grizzlies, despite losing the first two games of the series against the Clippers, exhibited a wealth of poise and resilience in rallying to eliminate an L. A. team that won three of four meetings against them during the regular season.

The Grizzlies, in fact, ended the series with four consecutive wins, largely because the Clippers couldn’t find any answers for Randolph, who averaged 20.4 points and 8.6 rebounds in the opening round and scored virtually at will against the opposition’s post players. Memphis’ 118-105 win Friday not only erased the memory of last year’s playoff loss to the Clippers in seven games, but it denied L. A. a chance to host a decisive Game 7.

Yes, Staples Center will be closed for business on Sunday, and Randolph had much to do with it.

Randolph and Clippers power forward Blake Griffin had to be seperated after they were involved in a scuffled near the midway point of the third quarter Friday night. (Photo by Justin Ford)

“After the first game, we had to figure out that we were going to have to change where he was (on the floor),” Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins said. “They were doing a good job on double-teaming him. We showed him film, moved him to different spots, moved him to the elbow, moved him to the wing, and when he put the ball on the floor, he was able to see where they were coming from and that took the pressure off of him.”

That Hollins adjusted his offense after Memphis had fallen into an 0-2 hole in an attempt to get the 31-year-old Randolph more engaged ultimately proved perplexing to the Clippers’ post players. Such was the case Friday when Randolph and Griffin were involved in a third-quarter skirmish on a box-out underneath the basket with inside of seven minutes remaining. Griffin, who didn’t start and played less than 14 minutes because of an ankle injury coach Vinny Del Negro said was the “size of a grapefruit,” had a hand in Randolph’s face on the box-out, causing both players to become off-balanced. Randolph consequently broke the fall by hooking Griffin to the ground, but Griffin drove his elbow into Randolph’s throat before the players were separated.

The incident resulted in Randolph’s first of two technical fouls on the night. Still, the 260-pound Randolph admittedly welcomes the physicality, given he believes the Grizzlies will encounter similar rough play against Thunder, who ended Memphis’ postseason run two years ago.

“I don’t even know what happened,” said Randolph, when asked about his latest run-in with Griffin. “He was going down and tried to pull me down and I just tried to brace myself. (The Thunder) are a physical team. We’re just going to go out and play Grizzlies basketball and focus on ourselves and try not get into any altercations.”

If, by chance, Randolph and Co. find themselves quarreling with opposing players come Sunday, it won’t be in Staples Center, which will be closed for business.

The Grizzlies are moving on and Randolph had much to do with it.

Andre Johnson covers the Grizzlies for MemphiSport. To reach Johnson, email him at andre@memphisport.net. Also, follow him on Twiter @AJ_Journalist.

Chris Webber says Grizzlies-Clippers winner could be favorite to beat Thunder

April 28, 2013 by Andre Johnson Leave a Comment

BLOCK PARTY — If Tayshaun Prince (left) and Grizzlies advance to the semifinals of the Western Conference playoffs, TNT analyst Chris Webber believes Memphis could emerge as the favorite to upset Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are without point guard Russell Westbrook for the remainder of the postseason due to a knee injury (Photo by Chris Evans)

The season-ending injury to Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook has changed virtually the entire landscape of the NBA playoffs, most notably the series between the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies.

At least that is how TNT analyst Chris Webber on Saturday assessed the injury of Westbrook, a three-time All-Star and one of the league’s premiere point guards.

The Thunder entered the postseason as the top-seeded team in the Western Conference and heavy favorites to make their second consecutive NBA Finals appearance. Such talks seem to have dwindled since team officials on Friday announced that Westbrook would be out for the remainder of the playoffs after a lateral meniscus tear in his right knee he sustained in Game 2. Westbrook went down in the second quarter of that game when Houston Rockets rookie Patrick Beverley went for a steal and collided into his knee.

The winner of the Clippers-Grizzlies series, which resume Tuesday night with Game 5 in the Staples Center at 9:30 CST, will play the winner of the Rockets-Thunder matchup. If Oklahoma City, which took a 3-0 lead in their best-of-7 series opening-round series, eliminates Houston, Webber said he wouldn’t be surprised if the Thunder become underdogs to advance to the Western Conference finals now that Westbrook is done for the season.

“You’ve still got to earn it, whether it’s San Antonio,” Webber said. “I do think that in the back of your mind, you’ve got to think you want to get out of this (Clippers-Grizzlies) series because you can believe you’re the favorite. It’s understandable. I mean, you had one of the best records in the league. And now you lose your point guard, so what you’re going to do?”

While the Thunder, who owned the league’s second-best record behind the Miami Heat, still boast the depth to make a run at the NBA Finals, Webber said it would certainly take some doing, given Oklahoma City is without Westbrook, its second-leading scorer who averaged 23.2 points during the regular season. The league’s sixth-leading scorer, the 24-year-old Westbrook had never missed a game during his five-year professional career, a streak that spanned 439 games before his injury.

“Yeah, it has brought more meaning to every series,” said Webber, who played 15 NBA seasons before retiring in March 2008. “When you lose one of the best point guards in the game, you’re going to have trouble shooting, scoring, facilitating, and doing a lot of things. So I feel bad personally for Westbrook, No. 1. But OKC is definitely going to be affected by it. How? It’s up to them to decide and make that point. When you lose a guy like Westbrook, you can’t be as good.”

In Saturday’s Game 3 at Houston, the Thunder didn’t appear affected by Westbrook’s absence until the third quarter. Behind Kevin

Chris Webber

Durant’s game-high 41 points, Oklahoma City led by as many as 26 points in the second quarter, but had to withstand a furious second-half rally by the Rockets before escaping, 104-101, to assume a three games to none lead.

The biggest concern at this point, Webber said, is whether Durant’s offensive prowess can be sustained without Westbrook in the fold.

“They’re going to have to figure out a way to get some scoring possessions,” Webber said. “I mean, (Westbrook averages) over 23 points. So how do you just find that? You can’t just say OKC is left for dead, but they’re nowhere near the explosive team they were when they had Westbrook.”

Zach Randolph (left) and Blake Griffin have been involved in a slugfest, of sorts, through four games of the Clippers-Grizzlies best-of-7 playoff series. Whichever team prevails could likely be the favorite to upend Oklahoma City following the season-ending knee injury to Westbrook. (Photo by Justin Ford)

Clippers veteran guard Chauncey Billups, meanwhile, contends the winner of the Clippers-Grizzlies series won’t necessarily have a clear-cut path to the conference finals. As Billups tells it, such talks are premature, given the Clippers and Grizzlies are deadlocked at two games apiece.

“(Westbrook’s injury) really has nothing to do with this series…nothing whatsoever,” Billups said. “I mean, I’m pretty sure if Russell was playing, whatever team gets through this (series) is going to fight just as harder. So that really doesn’t come to play in this series. When we get there, then we’ll talk about it. They’re obviously a different team without him. But we’ve got to worry about Game 5 to be honest with you.”

Andre Johnson covers the Grizzlies for MemphiSport. To reach Johnson, email him at andre@memphisport.net. Also, follow him on Twiter @AJ_Journalist.

Filed Under: Grizzlies, NBA, The Big Features Tagged With: BLAKE GRIFFIN, CHRIS PAUL, Chris Webber, ESPN LOS ANGELES, ESPN.COM, FoxSports.com, Houston Chronicle, Houston Rockets, Kevin Durant, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Times, Los Angles Daily News, Memphis Commercial Appeal, Memphis Grizzlies, NBA Finals, NBA Playoffs, NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE, Oklahoma City Thunder, Russell Westbrook, TNT Sports, Zach Randolph

Former Celtic Tony Allen among those affected by Boston Marathon bombings

April 18, 2013 by Andre Johnson 1 Comment

Grizzlies shooting guard Tony Allen (left) defends Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce during a March 25 game in FedExForum. Having spent his first six NBA seasons with the Celtics, Allen was among those affected by Monday’s Boston Marathon bombings. (Photo by Justin Ford)

Memphis Grizzlies shooting guard Tony Allen admittedly will always have a place in his heart for the city of Boston, largely because that is where he found his soulmate.

That’s why after learning of the Monday’s horrific explosions at the Boston Marathon, Allen, who spent his first six NBA seasons with the Boston Celtics, was among those affected by the deadly blasts that left three dead and more than 170 injured.

“First thing’s first, I instantly called my fiancée to make sure her people were cool because her family is from Boston,” said Allen, when asked what was his initial response after hearing of the explosions. “Secondly, I sent a prayer out via Twitter, and then I said a prayer to myself for the people who were lost and hurt. And I looked at the situation like tragic and very unfortunate. It was devastating. Whoever did it strategically did it and I hope they’re punished for it. It’s a rotten act.”

So disastrous were the two explosions, which occurred near the finish line at the Boston Marathon four hours after the start of the race, that they prompted Allen to assess just how precious, but fragile life is. Still, he was quick to say that his grandest event since he helped steer the Celtics to the NBA title in 2008 at TD Bank Garden will take place in Boston later this year.

“I’m having my wedding in Boston,” Allen said. “That’s something big that happened. It could have been not just on Patriot’s Day. It could have been the day I got married. It could happen at any time. So you’ve definitely got to take every day in stride and just thank God.”

While Allen wouldn’t say when his wedding to his longtime girlfriend will take place, he said the venue where they will exchange their nuptials is in close proximity of the site of the tragedy that affected not just Bostonians, but the local sports landscape.

One day after the explosions authorities deemed a “coordinated” terror attack, the NBA expressed sympathy to the victims by canceling Tuesday’s game between the Celtics and Indiana Pacers at TD Bank Garden. Also, the National Hockey League postponed Monday night’s game between the Ottawa Senators and Boston Bruins hours after the bombings. That game has since been rescheduled for April 28, one day after the league’s condensed, 48-game regular season was expected to conclude.

“Being an athlete who played in that city…I mean, if you look at all the events in the different venues in that city, it could have

Allen (left), sitting alongside Celtics star Rajon Rondo, was a member of the Celtic team that defeated the Los Angeles Lakers to win the 2008 NBA championship. (Photo by Dave Roback)

happened at one of my basketball games,” Allen said as his eyes began to tear up. “Somebody could have thrown (a bomb) in that stadium (Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots), it doesn’t matter. You’ve just got to be cautious and not take life for granted.”

After learning Monday afternoon his future in-laws weren’t in harm’s way, Allen then reached out to several of his former Celtic teammates.

“I called Paul Pierce,” he said. “I got his number. I texted him to see was everything cool. He was taken aback. He said it was wild up there. He said he never would have expected that to happen, but everything’s cool on his end. I prayed for everybody else.”

In the meantime, while Allen and the Grizzlies are preparing for their opening-round playoff series rematch against the Los Angeles Clippers, he and his fiancée also are going to great lengths to aid those affected by the Boston Marathon bombings. Boston on Wednesday was declared a public health emergency by local officials.

“I’m trying to set up something now where I can reach out and help the victims,”Allen said. “I’m in research right now of that with my fiancé. So definitely, I look forward to contributing in some type of way.”

Andre Johnson covers the Grizzlies for MemphiSport. To reach Johnson, email him at andre@memphisport.net. Follow him @AJ_Journalist.

Former Memphis Central star Danielle Ballard relishes Sweet Sixteen appearance for LSU

March 28, 2013 by Andre Johnson 1 Comment

LSU point guard Danielle Ballard is a big reason the Lady Tigers are back in the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in five years. The former Memphis Central High star scored 16 points on 6-of-9 field goals in LSU’s NCAA tournament opening-round win over Green Bay. (Photo courtesy of Louisiana State University)

Moments after the LSU women’s basketball team had shocked Penn State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament Tuesday night, Lady Tiger point guard Danielle Ballard wasted little time updating her Facebook status.

Said Ballard, a former Memphis Central High star: “Winning this game was the best moment in my life. Can’t no one take that feeling away from me. Good WIN tonight!! Nobody believed in us, not even the president (of the United States Barack Obama).”

After LSU’s 71-53 loss to nationally-ranked Georgia in the quarterfinals of the Southeastern Conference tournament, the Lady Tigers essentially were on the outside of the NCAA tournament bubble looking in. But after earning an at-large berth to the field of 64 when the brackets were revealed last weekend, all the sixth-seeded Lady Tigers have done was make their presence felt during what undoubtedly has been a memorable freshman campaign for Ballard.

Playing in familiar territory in the Maravich Assembly Center, LSU built an 18-point second-half lead and withstood a furious late rally by No. 11 seed Green Bay in the opening round before hanging on for a 75-71 win behind Ballard’s 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting. Then against No. 3 seed Penn State in the second round, senior guard Adrienne Webb’s career-best 29-point outburst helped propel the underdog Lady Tigers to an emotional 71-66 win and a spot in the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2008.

LSU (22-11) advanced to play No. 2 seed California (30-3) Saturday night at 10:30 p.m. CDT in the Spokane Region in Spokane, Wash. The LSU-Cal winner will play the winner of No. 4 seed Georgia versus top-seeded Stanford Monday night in the Elite Eight with a berth in the Final Four at stake.

According to Ballard, LSU’s win over perennial power Penn State erased the memory of Tennessee’s Bashaara Graves edging her in being dubbed SEC Freshman of the Year. Ballard, in fact, has publicly said in recent weeks that she believes she should have walked away with conference Freshman of the Year honors, given her assortment of accolades that includes being ranked second among SEC freshmen in scoring, rebounding, and field goal percentage. Additionally, the 5-foot-7 Ballard led the league in steals and became LSU’s all-time leader in steals in a regular season with 99.

“Yeah, it just shows I should have been Freshman of the Year, Ballard said earlier this week in telephone interview from Baton Rouge, La. “But going to the NCAA tournament, people are really getting a chance to look at me and have a second guess about me.”

Ballard, the Lady Tigers’ third-leading scorer, admittedly welcomes the challenge of playing on college basketball’s grandest stage. Among the reasons is that her entire high school career was spent starting for a Memphis Central team that was a fixture in the national rankings. Rated as the 25^th overall prospect and No. 7-ranked point guard nationally by ESPN HoopGurlz for the class of 2012, Ballard guided the Lady Warriors to the Tennessee Class AAA state championship as a junior.

If LSU and Georgia prevail Saturday in the Sweet Sixteen, Monday's Elite Eight matchup will feature Ballard facing former Bartlett High star Jasmine James (left) of the Lady Bulldogs.

If LSU and Georgia prevail Saturday in the Sweet Sixteen, Monday’s Elite Eight matchup in the Spokane Region will feature Ballard facing former Bartlett High star Jasmine James (left) of the Lady Bulldogs.

Fortunately for LSU, Ballard has been as good as advertised, given her contributions enabled her to rank among a number of key statistical categories this year for the Lady Tigers, most notably steals (first), rebounds (second), assists (third), and minutes played (third).

“She’s really stepped up this year,” Webb, LSU’s second-leading scorer, said of Ballard. “She didn’t play like a freshman this year. She’s been playing like she’s been playing college basketball for a few years now. She has come in and showed so much of what we haven’t seen in a while from a point guard. She plays on both ends of the floor. She has played a very big role. Without her, we wouldn’t be in this position.”

Now that LSU has reached the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in five years, Ballard is convinced anything can happen this weekend in the Pacific Northwest.

“Yes, definitely the sky’s the limit for this team,” Ballard said. “We have nothing to lose. We have to lay it all on the line.”

Even if the leader of the free world doesn’t give them a chance.

Andre Johnson is a senior writer for MemphiSport. To reach Johnson, email him at andre@memphisport.net. Follow him @AJ_Journalist.

Filed Under: Basketball, Other News, The Big Features Tagged With: Cal Golden Bears, DANIELLE BALLARD, ESPN.COM, FoxSports.com, Georgia Bulldogs, LSU TIGERS, LSU.edu, NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament, Pac 12 Basketball, SEC BASKETBALL, Spokane Region, Stanford Cardinal, WNBA, Yahoo.com

Miami Heat star LeBron James says he isn’t fazed by Michael Jordan’s recent comments

February 15, 2013 by Andre Johnson Leave a Comment

LeBron James, who led the Miami Heat to their second NBA title last year, said during Friday’s All-Star Media Day he isn’t fazed by Michael Jordan’s recent comments in which he said Kobe Bryant is more successful than James, given Bryant’s multiple championships. (Photo by Chris Evans)

HOUSTON — LeBron James on Friday said he is aware of Michael Jordan’s recent comments in which the NBA Hall of Famer and six-time world champion said he deems Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant as a more successful player, in large part because Bryant has won more NBA titles than the Miami Heat star.

However, James, in addressing reporters during the Media Day sessions in preparation for Sunday’s All-Star Game in the Toyota Center, contends he isn’t fazed by Jordan’s comments and that winning championships doesn’t necessarily supersede a player’s body of work during the course of his career.

Jordan, the Charlotte Bobcats’ majority owner and chairman who played 16 seasons in the NBA between 1984 and 2003, told the South Florida Sun Sentinel newspaper recently that, “If you had to pick between the two, that would be a tough choice, but five beats one every time I look at it.”

Jordan was referring to the five world championships Bryant has won during his 17-year career with the Lakers. James, now with his second team in ten seasons, won his first NBA title in three tries last year when the Heat beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games of their NBA Finals best-of-7 series.

“Yeah, I heard them,” James said of Jordan’s comments. “I heard them. You know, I don’t have a take on them. He said he’d take Kobe over me because five rings are better than one and the last time he checked, five is better than one. But that’s his opinion. At the end of the day, rings don’t always define someone’s career. If that’s the case, I would sit up and here and say (Bill) Russell over Jordan. But I wouldn’t. I wouldn’t take Russell over Jordan. Russell has 11 rings and Jordan has six. Or I would take, I don’t know, Robert Horry (seven-time NBA champion) over Kobe. I wouldn’t do that. But it’s your own opinion.

“Jud Buechler (three-time NBA champion with the Bulls from 1996-1998) has multiple rings. Charles Barkley doesn’t have one ring. He’s not better than Charles Barkley. Rings don’t define a person’s career. Rings don’t define a person’s career. Patrick Ewing is one of the greatest of all time. Reggie Miller is one of the greatest of all time. You know, sometimes, it’s the situation that you’re in and the team that you’re in, but it’s also about timing as well.”

While Bryant, who will be making his 14^th consecutive All-Star appearance (15^th overall), said the conversations surrounding Jordan’s comments involving him and James are mostly media-driven, he said he understands why Jordan had drawn such a comparison.

Bryant (right) said Friday he doesn't believe Jordan's recent remarks regarding James has inspired his inspired his record-setting play of late. "I think he just goes out and plays his game and plays to his strengths," Bryant said of James. (Photo by Chris Evans)

Bryant (right) said Friday he doesn’t believe Jordan’s recent remarks regarding James has inspired his record-setting play of late. “I think he just goes out and plays his game and plays to his strengths,” Bryant said of James. (Photo by Chris Evans)

“I think the message is winning is above everything else,” said Bryant, when asked to assess Jordan’s statements. “I think we all know that. LeBron knows that, and that’s what drives him, to win as many championships as possible…same thing that drives me and the same thing that drives me now, to win as many as you can, and it’s that simple.”

Whether Jordan’s comparisons of James and Bryant have fueled James’ record-setting play of late is up for debate. That’s because the three-time league MVP has manufactured the best offensive efficiency in NBA history during a seven-game stretch (at least 30 points and 60 percent shooting) for a Heat team that has won a league-best seven straight and boasts the league’s third-best record (36-14) following Thursday night’s decisive 110-100 win at the Thunder.

“I don’t think it inspired him over the last seven games,” Bryant said of James, last year’s reining NBA Finals MVP. “I think he just goes out and plays his game and plays to his strengths. I mean, you hit one of those patterns where the hard work and the physical talent all kind of come together and you just hit one of those hot streaks. Some of us have been there before. It’s just no feeling like it.”

Chris Bosh, James’ teammate for the past three seasons, believes all of the talk this week surrounding the Bryant-James comparisons is being blown out of proportion.

“You know, everybody has an opinion,” said Bosh, who will be making his eighth All-Star appearance. “You know, (Jordan) takes (Bryant) and that’s fine. I don’t think it really means that much to LeBron. I mean, there’s inspiration all around us. I think, of course, he can use that specifically as inspiration any way he wants to.”

Asked if Jordan’s recent remarks will serve as bulletin board material, James said, “What I need bulletin board material for? My inspiration is the game I love. I don’t play the game to try to define who I am over what guys say or how they feel about me. I go out and I play for my family. I play for my teammates. I play for my coaching staff and I play for my fans.”

Andre Johnson covers the NBA for MemphiSport. To reach Johnson, email him at andre@memphisport.com. Follow him @AJ_Journalist.

Filed Under: NBA, The Big Features Tagged With: cbssports.com, Charles Barkley, Chris Bosh, ESPN First Take, ESPN.COM, ESPNDallas.com, ESPNLA.com, ESPNNewYork.com, FoxSports.com, Houston Chronicle, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Los Angeles Daily News, los angeles lakers, Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, Michael Jordan, Mike and Mike In The Morning, NBA All-Star Game, NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE, NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE, NBA.COM, Patrick Ewing, Shaquille O'Neal, South Florida Sun Sentinel, TNT Sports, Toyota Center

Lakers star Pau Gasol remains optimistic despite losing starting position

January 25, 2013 by Andre Johnson Leave a Comment

Moments after Wednesday’s morning shootaround, Los Angeles Lakers’ Pau Gasol emerged from the visitors’ locker room,

Former Grizzlies center Pau Gasol (left) was traded in 2008 to the Lakers for his younger brother, Marc Gasol. This year has been arguably the worse for Pau, who's averaging a career-low 12.7 points a game and was benched earlier this week for the first time in his career. (Photo by Chris Evans)

Former Grizzlies star Pau Gasol (left) was traded in 2008 to the Lakers for his younger brother, Marc Gasol. This year has been arguably the worst for Pau, who’s averaging a career-low 12.7 points a game and was benched earlier this week for the first time in his career. (Photo by Chris Evans)

then greeted several Memphis-area media members, many of whom covered the 7-foot Spaniard during his seven-year stint with the Memphis Grizzlies from 2001-2008.

Gazing into the FedExForum rafters, Gasol, displaying a slight grin, paused briefly to reminiscence about his days in Memphis, a tenure that was comprised of a number of accolades, most notably NBA Rookie of the Year.

Even after being traded prior to the February 2008 deadline to the Lakers in favor of his younger brother, Grizzlies star Marc Gasol, Pau Gasol embarked upon what seemingly was a more harmonious situation in L. A., given his stellar career ultimately was upgraded with consecutive world titles in 2009-2010.

“He’s one of the best centers in the league,” Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni said of Pau Gasol.

That hardly hasn’t been the case of late for the four-time All-Star who, given his poor offensive production coupled with the Lakers’ continuous free fall, was demoted to the bench following Monday’s loss at Chicago and replaced by Earl Clark. The sudden lineup change, which was implemented by Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni, came as a rare occurrence for the 32-year-old Pau Gasol who, despite averaging a career-low 12.7 points per game, had never been benched since he entered the NBA after playing three seasons with FC Barcelona.

Hired by the Lakers five games into the season November 12 following the firing of Mike Brown, D’Antoni said among the reasons for the necessary lineup change is that he felt the Lakers could exemplify more speed and athleticism after spending a majority of the season playing with what essentially was two centers. The unlikely change, D’Antoni said, will provide the Pau Gasol with the golden opportunity of being the team’s primary or secondary scoring option off the bench, a move he contends would also benefit the Lakers, particularly when opposing teams go with smaller lineups.

While Pau Gasol has publicly expressed his displeasure in having been reduced to a reserve role, he said it is imperative that he suppress his ill feelings and do whatever is necessary to help the underachieving Lakers escape what has been a disastrous campaign.

Having dropped their fourth straight in a 106-93 loss at Memphis on Wednesday, the Lakers (17-25) currently are tied with Orlando for the NBA’s second-longest losing streak. What’s even worse for a team that acquired Dwight Howard and Steve Nash in the offseason is that it has gone from being a legitimate title contender to one that is almost certain to be fighting for its playoff lives after the All-Star break. The Lakers currently are four games behind Portland for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West. Despite a closed-door meeting that reportedly took place before Wednesday’s shootaround in which players voiced their grievances, Gasol and Co. are convinced that time has yet to run out on Lakers to salvage their season.

The Lakers play Utah Friday night in the Staple’s Center, the first of a three-game homestand.

“The meeting was a team thing,” Gasol said. “It was intended to stay that way. So I’m not going to talk about what was said and what wasn’t said. I think it’s enough for us to talk about it for us not to get into it. I don’t how that got out, but when we have meetings, we should deal with our stuff as a family, as a group, and our family should be tight. And if it’s not tight and it cracks and the situation keeps getting worse, at some point it will explode.”

Though Gasol said he was only being forthright when he said he didn’t thoroughly buy into D’Antoni’s decision to bench him, Bryant appeared pleased at how Gasol handled the situation.

“He’s honest about it,” Bryant said after Wednesday’s shootaround. “He said he doesn’t agree with it. But you don’t see him (expletive) and complaining about it and moping about it. I mean, he went to Chicago and played his (expletive) off. That’s the kind of spirit we need to have. The identity we have is going out there and playing for each other. There is a sense of urgency. There was a sense of urgency last month. We just haven’t been winning. I mean, if we continue to lose, everybody’s going to look like (expletive).”

Andre Johnson covers the NBA for MemphiSport. To reach Johnson, email him at andre@memphisport.com. Follow him @AJ_Journalist.

Filed Under: NBA, The Big Features Tagged With: cbssports.com, Dwight Howard, ESPN LOS ANGELES, ESPN.COM, FoxSports.com, Kobe Bryant, los angeles lakers, marc gasol, Memphis Grizzlies, MIKE D'ANTONI, NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE, nbcsports.com, pau gasol, Yahoo.com

Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace: ‘We’re very happy with Rudy here’

January 23, 2013 by Andre Johnson Leave a Comment

Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace on Wednesday hinted that team will not make any additional roster changes before the Feb. 21 trade deadline. That means franchise player Rudy Gay (right) will likely finish his seventh NBA season in Memphis. (Photo by Justin Ford)

Although Memphis Grizzlies small forward Rudy Gay on Wednesday wouldn’t say whether he believes he will remain with the franchise through the remainder of the season, it certainly appears likely he will complete his seventh year with the team now that management has made the necessary payroll adjustments to land the organization under the luxury tax threshold.

The Grizzlies on Tuesday traded power forward Marreese Speights, reserve shooting guards Wayne Ellington and Josh Selby, and a future first-round draft pick to Cleveland, a development that trimmed payroll by more than $6 million and, most importantly, placed the franchise under the league’s tax line.

“Obviously, there are financial ramifications for the deal,” Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace said while addressing reporters on Wednesday for the first time since the trade. “The luxury tax territory is not something teams take lightly once you get into it, and every year as a tax payer, there is a repeater tax down the road. So you want to get out of it when you can.”

Following the Grizzlies’ hour-long shootaround Wednesday morning, Gay said that while the latest trades involving three key players — two of whom had played significant minutes off the bench — has provided the Grizzlies with a new look weeks before the All-Star break, he doesn’t feel the moves will disrupt the chemistry of a team that is considered among the NBA’s elite.

“I’m not going to talk about our trades,” Gay told reporters. “But what has happened, obviously, those guys were a big part of our team. Mo (Speights) was a big part of our playoff run last year and started for us. And obviously with the addition of the other guys, we started off great. But, you know, that was a business decision management made. It doesn’t matter what they think about us. It’s about what’s in the locker room. We’ve got to stay committed to play.”

Over the past few weeks, most notably after the Grizzlies had struggled to a 7-7 mark last month, Gay had become the subject of constant trade rumors. Despite leading the Grizzlies in scoring at 17.8 points per game, Gay has been inconsistent offensively of late for Memphis, which has dropped four of its last six outings. The Grizzlies, who hosted the Los Angeles Lakers Wednesday in what was the second of a four-game homestand, currently occupies the fourth spot in the Western Conference standings with less than four weeks before the league’s trade deadline.

Still, Gay a seven-year veteran who has demonstrated to be among the NBA’s most efficient perimeter players in recent years despite a severe shoulder injury that sidelined him for much of the 2010-11 season, has emerged as one of the most sought-after players who could possibly be available for a possible trade in the coming weeks.

However, given Grizzlies’ front office has devised ways to reduce salary in other areas without trading away its franchise player, Gay said his primary focus in the meantime is to help steer Memphis to its third consecutive postseason berth.

Asked if he’s confident he will remain with the Grizzlies through season’s end now that the team has resolved its luxury tax issues, Gay said, “I don’t know…I don’t know. I don’t have a comment on that. As you can see across the way (the Lakers), they thought something different than what’s going on now. We’re still a great team. We’ve been a great team for what…four years now?”

While Wallace appeared to have hinted that the trade deadline will pass without Memphis making any additional changes to its roster, he was quick to point out that Gay is pivotal part of the success the Grizzlies aim to acquire in the foreseeable future.

“Rudy is still here with us here today,” Wallace said. “We’re not necessarily going out to try to get offers for certain players. We value him. He’s one of the elite scoring small forwards in the league. This is the franchise that gave him the current contract he’s with. We’re very happy with Rudy here.”

Andre Johnson covers the Grizzlies for MemphiSport. To reach Johnson, email him at andre@memphisport.com. Also, follow him @AJ_Journalist.

Filed Under: Grizzlies, The Big Features Tagged With: cbssports.com, Chris Wallace, Dwight Howard, ESPN.COM, ESPNLA.com, FoxSports.com, Kobe Bryant, Memphis Grizzlies, Metta World Peace, Mike Conley, NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE, nbcsports.com, Rudy Gay, Sports 56 WHBQ, SportsCenter, Tony Allen, Yahoo.com

Chris Paul: Grizzlies would be ‘crazy’ to trade star Rudy Gay before season’s end

January 15, 2013 by Andre Johnson Leave a Comment

Chris Paul, who missed Monday's game at the Grizzlies because of a knee injury, said Memphis would be "crazy" if it trades Rudy Gay before next month's trade deadline. (Photo by Justin Ford)

Clippers point guard Chris Paul, who missed Monday’s game at the Grizzlies because of a knee injury, said Memphis would be “crazy” if it trades Rudy Gay before next month’s trade deadline. (Photo by Justin Ford)

Chris Paul and Rudy Gay go way back.

Never mind the two were involved in a rather intense opening-round playoffs series last year.

When asked Monday during the Los Angeles Clippers’ shootaround in FedExForum to assess the latest rumors surrounding a possible trade involving Gay before the February 21 deadline, Paul, as he customarily is with the media, was forthright about the subject.

“Rudy is one of my closet friends,” Paul said. “Rudy was at my wedding. His fiancé and my wife talk every day. So they’d be crazy to get rid of Rudy.”

Gay, now in his seventh seasons with the Grizzlies, missed Monday’s game against the Clippers to attend the funeral of his grandmother in his native hometown of Baltimore but is expected to return for Wednesday’s game at San Antonio. If nothing else, Memphis certainly appeared affected by Gay’s absence, given it shot a season-worst 30 percent from the field and suffered its worst home loss of the season, 99-73, against a Clippers team that boasts the NBA’s second-best record.

In dropping their second straight, the Grizzlies (24-12) also produced their lowest scoring output of the season, in large part because they couldn’t exhibit enough energy to atone for Gay’s team-leading 17.8 points per game.

During the Grizzlies’ recent struggles, particularly in December when they generated a 7-7 mark, talks surrounding a possible trade involving Gay increased. Team officials reportedly began talks with other franchises that Gay could be available via trade prior to next month’s deadline. And, according to various reports last week, the Phoenix Suns have shown serious interest in acquiring the 26-year-old small forward, whose drafts rights were acquired by Memphis from Houston in July 2006.

Though the Grizzlies have faced continuous luxury tax issues in recent years — the team reportedly is more than $4 million over the league’s tax line — Paul said moving Gay at this stage in the season could prove ruinous in the coming months for a team that is considered a threat to come out of the West.

“Rudy is a big piece to that team,” said Paul, who is listed as day-to-day after sitting out Monday’s game because of contusion to his right knee he sustained in Saturday’s loss to Orlando. “Without him, they definitely have to make adjustments. You can’t replace Rudy with any one person in their locker room. They’d be crazy to trade Rudy.”

Clippers shooting guard Jamal Crawford, who was the catalyst of Monday’s win with a team-high 16 points off the bench, said while trading Gay would be a premature move by the Grizzlies, his presence elsewhere would be a considerable upgrade for whichever team lands him.

“It happens,” Crawford said. “I mean, it happened to me and Zach (Grizzlies power forward Randolph) in New York. I mean, I’m not in their business like that, so I don’t know why they would do it. Rudy is a heck of a player and anybody would be glad to have him.”

Andre Johnson covers the Grizzlies for MemphiSport. To reach Johnson, email him at andre@memphisport.com. Also, follow him on Twitter @AJ_Journalist.

Filed Under: Grizzlies, The Big Features Tagged With: cbssports.com, CHRIS PAUL, ESPN.COM, FoxSports.com, Jamal Crawford, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE, nbcsports.com, phoenix suns, Rudy Gay, San Antonio Spurs, Sports 56 WHBQ, Yahoo.com, Zach Randolph

Grizzlies players respond to trade rumors surrounding teammate Rudy Gay

January 11, 2013 by Andre Johnson 3 Comments

Memphis Grizzlies power forward Zach Randolph isn’t a stranger to trade talks.

Grizzlies star Rudy Gay (right) is guarded by LeBron James of the Miami Heat during a November 11 game in FedExForum. That the seven-year has been the subject of trade rumors of late hasn't fazed the Grizzlies, winners of three straight. (Photo by Chris Evans)

Grizzlies star Rudy Gay (right) is guarded by LeBron James of the Miami Heat during a November 11 game in FedExForum. Though the seven-year veteran has been the subject of constant trade rumors of late, such talks haven’t fazed the Grizzlies, winners of three straight. (Photo by Chris Evans)

The 31-year-old veteran, in fact, has changed teams three times during his 12-year stint in the NBA.

So when asked during the team’s shootaround Friday morning to assess the latest trade rumors surrounding teammate Rudy Gay, Randolph was quick to concede that such ongoing discussions have provided the streaking Grizzlies with a renewed sense of morale, something that was seemingly nonexistent for a majority of the month of December when the team generated a 7-7 mark.

The Grizzlies, who play the San Antonio Spurs Friday night in FedExForum, enjoyed their best road trip of the season, winning each of their three games on the West Coast this week, including a resounding 113-81 win at Sacramento Monday night. During those three games, Gay, the team’s leading scorer, averaged 15.1 points, including eight points against the Kings. It was the third time this season that the Grizzlies’ franchise player was limited to single digits in scoring.

Still, Memphis, which boasts the NBA’s third-best record, didn’t appear affected this week by increasing speculations involving a possible trade for Gay as the February 21 trade deadline looms, producing their longest winning streak since mid-December.

“It’s not a distraction,” Randolph said of constant trade discussions. “It’s part of the business. It’s nothing new. (Gay) is no rookie. He’s a seven or eight-year veteran in this league. So he understands that’s how it be sometimes.”

Contrary to various media reports that mentioned the Grizzlies were in preliminary talks with other teams that Gay could be available as early as the before the trade deadline and that the Phoenix Suns were heavily pursuing the 26-year-old small forward, Randolph said he strongly believes the former UConn star and Baltimore native will complete his seventh full season in Memphis.

“I definitely do,” said Randolph who, before joining the Grizzlies in 2009, played for Portland, New York, and the Los Angeles Clippers. “I do. I mean, he’s been here. He’s one of the best small forwards in the NBA.”

Gay, who averages 17.8 points per game, attended the 90-minute shootaround session Friday, then remained on the FedExForum court for about a half an hour afterward to take part in free throw drills with teammates Jerryrd Bayless and Hamed Haddadi.

Prior to the team’s three-game road trip last week, Gay said among the reasons he is considered an “easy target” for a possible midseason trade is that the Grizzlies have been struggling with luxury tax issues for some time. Currently, the team reportedly is over the tax line by more than $4 million, and trading Gay — who, in July 2010, signed a five-year, $82 million extention — would provide the team with much flexibility to upgrade its roster in the future.

Like Randolph, center Marc Gasol believes such evolving talks regarding a possible Gay-for-trade sweepstakes have only enhanced the camaraderie among the Grizzlies, especially during what undoubtedly will be a pivotal stretch in their schedule leading to the All-Star break.

“It was good for us because we won games,” said Gasol, alluding to Memphis’ three road wins this week. “We played better basketball. We were consistent. It doesn’t get any easier. I like playing in front of my home crowd, but it’s always good to go to somebody’s place and get a win. It’s a great feeling.”

What is equally gratifying said Gasol, at least since he was traded by the Los Angeles Lakers to the Grizzlies in 2008, is having the chance to play alongside Gay. However, whether they will remain teammates beyond the trade deadline remains unclear.

“It’s nothing within our control,” said Gasol, when asked if he believes Gay will finish the season with the Grizzlies. “We have to do what we have to do and that’s do our job on the court. Whatever happens off the court is not under our control. He’s a great guy. He’s a great player, a unique talent, and I’ve been with him the whole way. He’s a guy I consider my friend and probably my family.”

Andre Johnson covers the Grizzlies for MemphiSport. To reach Johnson, email him atandre@memphisport.com. Also, follow him on Twitter @AJ_Journalist.