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Takeaways from the 2012-13 Memphis Grizzlies’ Season

May 31, 2013 by Warner Russell Leave a Comment

Photo by Michael Cardwell

The Memphis Grizzlies’ season is over. That is unfortunate. But man it was some kind of a ride. New owners, a a dismantling of the Miami Heat, being the talk of the NBA for the entire first month of the season,a blockbuster trade, Marc Gasol cursing in a postgame interview, uncharted playoff territory, a physical assault of Baby Blake Griffin, and “Whooping That Trick” are a just a few examples of what made this season, the best in the franchise’s young history, so magical.

Now that everything is said in done for the 2012-13 Memphis Grizzlies, here are a few main takeaways from the past season.

5) The Security of the New Ownership:

Robert Pera and Co. certainly made their presence known this year. Jason Levien, Pera’s man in charge, came in and immediately started shaking up the franchise. His hiring of ESPN’s John Hollinger, the foremost expert on basketball analytics and advanced statistics, told the NBA that the way the team was handled was going to change. His trade of Rudy Gay showed the world that he wasn’t afraid to take risks and make unpopular decisions if he genuinely thought it was the best thing for the franchise. His handling of Lionel Hollins’ contract situation has made it clear that the front office isn’t going to make hasty decisions when they aren’t 100% behind them.

Michael Heisley was a fine owner, but so often he made choices that were either short term decisions that could cause long term problems or he made decisions because he was the owner and it was his right. Pera, Levien, Hollinger, and the rest of the new regime have made it abundantly clear that the decisions they make are going to be well thought out, deeply researched, and ultimately ones that they think are going to make us a championship contender. The city and the fans may not always agree with the new owners, but I believe we should rest easy knowing that they are trying to make the Grizzlies the best team that they can possibly be.

Side note: I hope the Grizzlies can keep Chris Wallace as he has been invaluable to the team’s recent success, but I fear that he may indeed leave to go to a place where he can have the same amount of say he had here before the new ownership came in.

4) The National Attention:

In the midst of our first run to the Western Conference Finals it was commonplace to have multiple internet/magazine/newspaper articles, TV segments, and pregame promos dedicated to the Memphis Grizzlies. It was exciting to know that every day you could read 100s of pieces on the internet discussing how great the Grizz were playing or how they were the new favorites of the West. It was such a nice change to see folks on Sportscenter, PTI, and Around the Horn talking about ZBO and Marc and Mike for more than 30 seconds at a time. It was like a dream knowing that Magic Johnson, Bill Simmons, Mike Wilbon, and Jalen Rose were eating in local restaurants and walking down Beale Street and telling the world how great Memphis is. For once, the Memphis Grizzlies were media darlings and not the laughingstock of the NBA. This was our time in the sun and the team, the city, and the fans absolutely relished in it. Memphis has never looked better or shone brighter. We deserved this.

The hope, of course, is that the extended coverage the Bluff City and the Grizzlies got over the past six weeks will translate into more national broadcasts next season, more fans being made from outside of the Memphis area, and more people looking at Memphis as a great destination city instead of simply the place where Elvis lived.

3) The All-Around Emergence of Quincy Pondexter:

Shane Battier’s crown as Memphis’ favorite adopted son is in danger of being taken by Quincy Pondexter. After an

Photo by Justin Ford

up and down season and a semi-serious injury, he solidified himself in the playoffs as a primary scoring option and athletic defender off the bench. His ability to hit a corner three is something the Grizz need badly, but aside from his playing ability, he offers so much to this city. Q-Pon is constantly involved in community events, spent some of his time off as the result of his injury as part of the SportSouth broadcast team for local games, and even recently scored a date with Miss Tennessee. He is quickly proving to be a real asset to the community and a great role player for a playoff team. If you ask me, I think he breaks into the starting rotation next season. Expect to see an uptick in Pondexter jerseys represented at FedExForum in the very near future.

2) The Love Shared and Commonality between City and Team:

It’s no secret that Memphis loves the Grizzlies. All you had to do was walk around downtown during the playoffs to see how much support our hometown team was getting. Even the national media devoted plenty of pieces to how much Memphis and the Grizzlies fed off of one another. Memphis might not be flashy or ritzy. The Grizzlies might not love acrobatic dunks or beautiful shooting strokes. But both the team and the city sure know how to play the hand they’ve been dealt. The city embraces its roots and its history. It’s not afraid to address its checkered past and point to how that is shaped what it has become now. The Grizzlies aren’t going to try to be something they aren’t. They’re going to play tough, hardnosed basketball. They’re going to beat you up and wear you out. The team knows their identity. The city knows its identity too. That is why the union of Memphis and the Grizzlies is a perfect one.

Photo by Justin Ford

I heard a radio broadcast this week that pointed out how great it was for the Grizz fans to stay until the final buzzer sounded in our last game against the Spurs, one they knew was lost with about a minute and a half left, just to let the Grizzlies know how proud they were of them. The person on the radio said that something like that would never happen in Boston or New York or Chicago or Miami; that those fans would have bolted for the exits. He said those cities try to act like they have everything in common with their teams, but in fact have very little. He went on to say that Memphis is one of the few pro towns where the team and the city mirror each other almost identically. And that is something Memphians should be extremely proud of.

Zach Randolph addressed the relationship between city and himself after wearing out the Spurs in Game 6 of the 2011 playoffs. It can easily translate into describing the city and the entire team as well. You’ve probably heard it, but it can’t be stressed how true it really is. He said:

I love this city, man, they love me back, you know what I’m saying? So it’s good — it’s a blue-collar town and I’m a blue-collar player, I’m a hard worker and this is a hard-workin’ town, ain’t nothin’ been given easy to me, ain’t nothin’ easy been given to this town, so it’s a fit!

1) It’s Mike and Marc’s Team Now:

Over the past three seasons, the Memphis Grizzlies have been Zach Randolph’s and Tony Allen’s team (Never Rudy

Photo by Justin Ford

Gay’s), and that worked well for us as the regular season and post season success can attest to. But after the Rudy Gay trade this year, two players were forced to step up in ways that had not been asked of them before. Mike Conley and Marc Gasol had to show the rest of the team and the NBA that the Grizzlies was their team now. Marc continued blossoming into the best big man in the NBA and Mike, especially during the first two series of the playoffs, showed he was a premier NBA point guard. They became the leaders. Going forward it’s clear that this is their team now.

Zach and Tony brought us relevance. They carried us out of the mud, or really, other teams into the mud. They were the primary reasons we morphed into an NBA contender. But Zach is getting older and Tony is a free agent. The new ownership could very well trade Zach and let Tony walk away. That would be a shame, but the fans have to realize that it’s a viable option that could make us better in the long run. I’m not advocating either move, but the reality is that either or both could happen. If we let Lionel Hollins leave as well, then the entire style of the franchise could change in a big way. I don’t think the Grizz will leave the grit ‘n’ grind style behind, but I do think that you see them try to step up and be a more offensive oriented team. It’s a known fact that the NBA Champions over the past decade have been great defensively AND offensively, and unfortunately, the Grizzlies can only claim to be great in one of those ways. Luckily Marc and Mike are great defensively and offensively. They are perfectly capable of changing games on both ends of the court, and that should be very encouraging to Grizzlies’ fans as we head into the next chapter of the team’s history.

Photo by Justin Ford

I’m not implying that the Grizzlies are going to change coaches and try to completely alter who they are as they move forward. I’m not saying that Zach and Tony, if they stay, won’t help form the team’s identity in the future. I’m simply saying that Mike and Marc are the new faces of this team. They are the ones that will determine our level of success. It’s scary to think that the team is moving in a new direction, but having seen how capable Mike and Marc are of leading the team, I think that the Memphis Grizzlies are in a wonderful position to continue being successful and will be contending for NBA Championships for the next several seasons.

Warner Russell is a regular contributor for MemphiSport and The Wise Guise. Read his non-sports stuff here. Follow him @uncle_warny.

Mike Conley following the Western Conference Finals: ‘We will be back’

May 28, 2013 by Terry Davis 1 Comment

Photo by Justin Ford

The historic run by the Memphis Grizzlies came to end after the San Antonio Spurs swept the Grizzlies 4 games to none. Some people will make jokes about how the Grizzlies got swept, but that is not how most of the Grizzlies players and fans are looking at it.

When Lionel Hollins arrived as the head coach, he had to change the attitude and chemistry of the team. This off season will dictate the immediate future of the franchise. The two building blocks of Mike Conley and Marc Gasol will be back on the team next season. However, there are still questions about Tony Allen and Zack Randolph.

Here are the Grizzlies in their own words:

Tony Allen: “I BLEED BLUE”

If you are not back here next year, how do you see the transition for next year?

“It is all in God’s hands, I bleed blue. One thing I have done is, I’ve made a name for myself a lot of teams around the league know who I am. I am focused on being here. I have built relationships with the guys. I mean real bond with the guys. I’ve showed the guys what that grit and grind is all about. It will be hard to leave the city, where they have shown me so much love.”

How special has this year been for you?

“It has been great one. We lost “Double D” (Dana Davis) and I know he was looking down on us. I think everything that took off for us. I am happy with the season we had. There is no reason to hold our heads down. We fought hard. We showed the city what winning is all about. It is just unfortunate to lose four in a row.”

On the Grizzlies fans:

“They are the best sixth man of the year. They have been with us from day one every since I got here. The fans have always shown us love and we would not have been here without them. Salute to the fans.”

Did you get a cut from all of the growl towel slogans you suggested?

“I really did not care about money or nothing like that. I just felt like my presence and laying down the foundation on how to win games on the defensive end. The Grit and Grind should forever live forward in the Grindhouse aka the FedExForum. I’ve got to thank Chris Wallace in showing to give me that vision.”

Mike Conley: “WE WILL BE BACK!!!”

Describe the love that this city gave you and you give them.

“This city has been great. They have to endure the good and the bad and they have stuck with us. They are loyal. They have been there for us. It means the world to us. I am proud of them for being there to push us through and supporting us when we were not good. It is tough on us on letting them down. We will be back.”

This team is known for their defense, why were you not able to contain Tony Parker?

“He was in a zone they play so well together. Any adjustment we made they made another one. We played well for 18 seconds on the shot clock and he would make a play. That is why he is one of the best and they are heading to the finals.”

Zack Randolph, “I WANT TO RETIRE A GRIZZLY”

How does it feel to know that it is over?

“It is difficult. I don’t know what to say they beat us. The two overtime games could have went either way. It could have easily being tied up. We gave it 110 percent. You have got to take your hats off to the Spurs they have a great team from their bench to their starting five.”

“The city has been great. This ride has been great I hate that it ended like this, but we got to keep our heads up for the things we accomplished for the city and the organization. Hopefully this core will stay in place and we are able to add a few more pieces some shooters and some depth.”

Marc Gasol: “TOMORROW WILL BE A BETTER DAY!”

What were the Spurs doing to keep you from cutting their lead?

“They were getting stops and they were executing well offensively. They made some tough stops and ran when they had to.”

What can you take from this series?

“Tomorrow will be a better than it is right now. We wanted to win and play another game. We were not able to put it out. We played and hustled, but we did not have enough to get over the hump. They taught us a lesson on how to execute. We are going to create habits that will work for us”

Coach Lionel Hollins

Question: When you came here came here you were able to put your stamp on this team?

“Every coach tries to establish an identity with a team and try to get a team to buy into it. What I am proud of is I was blessed to have a group that wanted to win. They did not know how, because they were young. They did not know how to work hard, because they have never had to. I tried to show them the way and to put them in an environment that they could be successful. They did not come smiling saying that great, this is great they came they were kicking and scratching not to do it, because it is easier to do it in a manner which is easier. They could have chosen to quit and rebel as well, but they choose to fight and they are reaping the rewards for us right now.”

Terry Davis is a regular contributor for MemphiSport. Follow him @terryd515.

5 reasons to believe the Grizzlies can beat the Clippers this postseason

April 19, 2013 by C.J. Hurt Leave a Comment

Mike Conley has to play better than he did in game seven against the Clippers last year for Memphis to have a chance to win this year’s series. He was just 2-13 from the field and 0-2 from three in the decisive game seven last year. Photo by Justin Ford

It is hard to believe that the once lowly Los Angeles Clippers are despised villains in any NBA city, but that is what they have become in Memphis. Another loss to them in the NBA playoffs might make some Grizzlies fans consider Grizzicide (the act of switching allegiance from the hometown Grizzlies to another playoff team, basically a bandwagoner).

The teams are basically the same this year as they were last year. Sure the Grizzlies are without Rudy Gay, OJ Mayo and Marreese Speights, but the Clippers are without Kenyon Martin and Reggie Evans (perhaps the most despised Clipper from last year’s series).

With the teams compiled of most of the same players from last year’s playoffs why should anyone expect a different result in this year’s series? Here are five reasons to believe there will be a different result for Memphis in this year’s playoff matchup with the Clippers.

1. No Rudy Gay
Now to pin the entire fact that Memphis lost last season’s first round matchup to the Clipper’s entirely on Gay would be unfair to him, and too easy. After all, OJ Mayo also struggled (averaged nine points in the playoffs, which was well less than his 12.6 points per game during the regular season), Zach Randolph was less than 100 percent, and the bench was outperformed for most of the series. However, shooting 21 percent from three and taking ill-advised shot after ill-advised shot during the series only adds fuel to the arguments of the Gay detractors. While Gay is an adequate offensive option, Coach Hollins relied on him too often to bail the team out as the shot clock expired, and ran too many isolation plays for him during last year’s playoffs. As the focal point of the offense during last year’s series Gay led the team in scoring four times. The Grizzlies record with Gay as the leading scorer was 1-3. Now that there is no Gay the offense will have to flow thru the two bigs for the Grizzlies, which is the best option for them this year, and was the best option last year. In the three Memphis wins last year Gasol and Randolph averaged 35 points per game, while in the four losses they averaged just 24 points.

2. Improved defense
It might be hard to believe, but the Grizzlies defense has improved on their 93 points allowed per game from last season. This year’s squad is allowing a league best 89.3 points per game, and is as tenacious a defense as you will find in the NBA. They are in the top three of the NBA in opponent’s field goal and three point percentage, and fourth in the association in steals. The acquisition of Tayshaun Prince gives Memphis a nice boost on the defensive end as well. Points are already hard to come by in a playoff series, and when you add to this the fact Memphis has one of the stingiest defenses in the NBA, L.A. may find themselves struggling to get points more in this year’s playoff matchup than they did last year.

3. More playoff experience
With this being the Grizzlies third consecutive year in the playoffs, the newness of it all should be gone. Sure Mayo, Gay, and Hamed Haddadi (which random unathletic big will Hollins put in with the game on the line now?) are no longer on the team, but five players who contribute significant minutes are back from last year’s brief run, and four of them (Mike Conley, Tony Allen, Randolph, and Gasol) were also on the team during the Grizzlies epic run two years ago. Adding to the playoff experience is Prince, who was an integral piece to the puzzle during the Detroit Pistons run of the early 2000’s. With all of this experience Memphis should remain poised during the highs and lows of the series. They have experienced enough during their playoff tenures that they should know what to do whether they are up 27 points (as was the case during game one against the Clippers last year) or down 27 (like they were against Oklahoma City during game five two years ago).

4. Healthy Zach Randolph
It is no secret that Z-Bo was significantly less than 100 percent during last year’s playoffs. His knee injury seriously limited his effectiveness which was evident by his 13.6 points and 9.9 rebounds per game during last season’s playoffs. While he almost averaged a double-double last year in the playoffs, his numbers pale in comparison to his 2011 playoff run, which saw Mr. Don’t Bluff average 22.2 points and 10.8 rebounds. This year Randolph is not only at 100 percent, but he looks like he is in the best shape of his career and ready to do some serious damage in the playoffs. He averaged 14.8 points and 12 rebounds in four regular season games against the Clippers this year, but you can expect him to turn it up a notch and resemble 2011 Z-Bo during this playoff series.

5. Possible home game six on Music Fest Friday
Some of you may be wondering why this matters, and honestly when I found out about it I wondered the same thing. For those of you who are thinking it is just another game in the series, you could not be more wrong. This year’s possible game six will be on the same day, at the same place as game six in 2011, which saw Memphis close out the Spurs and win the franchise’s first ever playoff series. Fate could be on the Grizzlies side this season. Let’s hope so, because Chris Paul and the Clippers will not be.

CJ Hurt covers NBA basketball for MemphiSport. Follow him @churtj09 for live tweets from games.

Grizzlies hope to improve playoff seeding by ending years of frustration in Houston

April 11, 2013 by Andre Johnson 1 Comment

MEMPHIS MELTDOWN: Houston Rockets guard Jeremy Lin (left) drives past Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley during a December 22 game in the Toyota Center. Memphis hasn’t won in Houston since 2006, a streak that spans 13 games. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

HOUSTON — Grizzlies shooting guard Tony Allen on Thursday couldn’t begin to assess precisely what transpired in Memphis’ latest outing here against the Houston Rockets.

“I really can’t pinpoint,” Allen said. “I’ll have to watch the film and tell you what happened the last time.”

Grizz Center Marc Gasol, however, recalls all too well Memphis’ last visit to Houston, a 121-96 debacle against the Rockets that resulted in the Grizzlies’ 13^th consecutive defeat in the Toyota Center.

“It wasn’t a good game,” Gasol said. “We didn’t make anything good out of it, so I flushed that one down the toilet.”

The general consensus among the Grizzlies is that they have acquired what coach Lionel Hollins hopes is “selective amnesia” as visiting Memphis prepares to face the Rockets Friday night at 7 CDT. Among the reasons is that Friday’s game, which is the fourth and final regular-season meeting between these teams this year — both have clinched playoff berths — features serious playoff implications, especially for the Grizzlies, who are aiming to improve their seeding with four regular-season games remaining.

Memphis (53-25) is currently in fifth place in the Western Conference standings, one game back of the Los Angeles Clippers for the pivotal fourth spot. Houston (44-34), on the other hand, occupies the seventh spot in the West and will begin the postseason on the road regardless of how it fares over its final four regular-season contests.

Although the Grizzlies have won two of three meetings this year against the Rockets — both in FedExForum — their latest visit to the Toyota Center was the center of conversation following Thursday’s hour-long practice, a lopsided affair they found difficult to stomach, in large part because it continued a losing streak in Houston that’s on the brink of reaching seven years.

Memphis hasn’t won in the Toyota Center since April 15, 2006.

“Every time we’ve gone in there, we played with the mentality to win the game even though we got our butts kicked every time we went in there,” Gasol said.

The Rockets, by all accounts, controlled virtually every facet of the game against the Grizzlies when the teams met here December 22 in a game that was effectively out of reach by the end of the third quarter. Though both teams shot 53 percent from the field for the game, the high-octane Rockets managed to steamroll past Memphis, courtesy of its three-point barrage and highpowered transition offense.

Houston made 12-of-28 3-point baskets and registered 31 fastbreak points, while limiting the Grizzlies to just 2-of-13 shots from beyond the arc. It also didn’t help that Memphis couldn’t find any answers for guard James Harden, whose game-high 31 points on 9-of-13 field goals paced seven Rockets in double figures.

“That came into my mind,” Hollins said of Memphis’ last setback in Houston that snapped the Grizzlies’ four-game winning streak. “We had gone into that game and gotten blown out. I mean, we haven’t even had a competitive game in Houston in a while, so that has crossed my mind…not how many times we’ve lost or anything like that. I just remember the last few times, we haven’t kept it close.”

If the Grizzlies are to extend their undefeated streak to three games Friday and, most importantly, stay on the Clippers’ heels for the

The Grizzlies had no answers for Rockets guard James Harden when the teams last met in Houston. Harden registered a game-high 31 points to lead seven Rockets in double figures as they routed Memphis, 121-96. (Photo by Scott Hallerman)

The Grizzlies simply had no answers for Rockets guard James Harden when the teams last met in Houston. Harden registered a game-high 31 points to lead seven Rockets in double figures as they routed Memphis, 121-96. (Photo by Scott Hallerman/Getty Images)

race for fourth in the West, they must devise ways to slow down Harden and guard Jeremy Lin. Traded in the offseason after a memorable campaign with the New York Knicks last season, Lin seemed to have adjusted comfortably to his new role with the Rockets after scoring 15 points in 34-plus minutes against the Grizzlies when the teams last met here.

Having labeled their latest visit to the Toyota Center a “distant memory,” Allen is convinced the Grizzlies — given the assortment of midseason trades — have established a new identity since being dealt their worst road loss of the season, a correlation they hope will give way to a favorable outcome Friday night, especially with the Clippers awaiting Memphis in FedExForum on Saturday.

“What I can say now is the focus I see in this group is a lot different,” Allen said. “You can see it from guys coming in the locker room, to watching film, and practice (Thursday) was pretty intense for a game like this. It’s huge. We play the Clippers after that, so both games are much needed.”

Especially with home court in the playoffs’ opening round hanging in the balance.

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

Grizzlies star Mike Conley having more of a vocal presence as postseason looms

March 24, 2013 by Andre Johnson Leave a Comment

As the longest-tenured player on the Grizzzlies' roster, point guard Mike Conley (right) has become more of a vocal presence of late, something that has benefited the team mightily since the All-Star break, coach Lionel Hollin said. (Photo by Justin Ford)

TAKING CONTROL: As the longest-tenured player on the Grizzlies’ roster, point guard Mike Conley (right) has become more of a vocal presence of late, something that has benefited the team mightily since the All-Star break, coach Lionel Hollins said. (Photo by Justin Ford)

When Mike Conley starts talking, his teammates make certain to listen.

Such was the case during the Memphis Grizzlies’ game Friday night at the New Orleans Hornets.

Conley, the Grizzlies’ point guard who, early in his professional career, had developed a reputation as one of the quietest players on the roster, surprisingly called out shooting guard Tony Allen during a pivotal stretch Allen described as a “shooting zone” for the five-year veteran.

“He told me to get my bleep (expletive) back,” Allen said.

When asked how he responded to Conley’s unorthodox command, Allen, displaying a smile, said, “Nothing…I got back. That kind of surprised me coming from Mike Conley. That goes to show he’s growing as a point guard and taking control of the team. I just like the feistiness he’s brought and I just want him to keep bringing it, man.”

Fortunately for the Grizzlies, Conley’s keen desire to refrain from remaining tight-lipped has proven beneficial to a Memphis team many essentially had written off before the All-Star break, given an assortment of midseason transactions that included trading former franchise player Rudy Gay to Toronto.

The 25-year-old Conley has since emerged as the catalyst of a Grizzlies squad that has generated an 18-7 mark, has twice gone from fourth to third place in the Western Conference standings and, in February, matched its season-best eight-game undefeated streak since the organization dealt Gay on January 30. His surge in recent weeks includes a season-high 24 points on 9-of-21 field goals in last week’s 90-89 home win against Oklahoma City.

“I think this is his best season,” Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins said of Conley. “He’s grown in so many ways, as has our team. It’s just a normal maturation process that comes for good players. Every player doesn’t come in and become a Kobe Bryant or LeBron James. Some just have a nice career. You keep getting better and helping your team win. That’s what the NBA is about.”

The longest-tenured Grizzly, Conley, the team’s third-leading scorer, also has assumed a more assertive approach offensively. Since returning from the All-Star break, the former Ohio State star has managed to score in double figures in all except one outing (season-low five points on 2-of-13 field goals against Dallas Feb. 27) and has witnessed his scoring average increase to 13.9 points per game.

Add to the fact that Conley is second in the NBA behind Los Angeles Clippers star Chris Paul in steals (2.3 steals per game), and it’s no wonder he’s starting to earn mentions among the elite point guards in the league.

“In my eyes,” he’s a boarder-line All-Star,” Boston Celtics veteran forward Paul Pierce said of Conley following Saturday night’s 110-106 loss to Memphis in FedExForum. “He’s one of the most solid players in the league. He’s matured over the years and he’s shown he could be a leader of a ball club. It’s showing out there on the floor.”

Unlike in recent years, when Conley’s roles were comprised mostly of orchestrating the pick at roll offense and distributing the ball to the post players, the Fayetteville, Ark. native remains adamant his time has finally come to have more of an all-around impact for a Grizzlies team that clinched its third consecutive postseason berth with Utah’s loss at Dallas Sunday night.

“I think with the trades and everything that happened,” my roles changed,” Conley said after registering 12 points on 4-of-13 shooting in 37-plus minutes Saturday against the Celtics. “And I had to be a little bit more aggressive offensively. I have a little more responsibilities, a little more freedom. I had to become more confident and aggressive and so far, it’s working.”

Conley, Memphis' third-leading scorer, was one of seven Grizzlies players to register double figures in Saturday night's 110-106 win against the Boston Celtics in FedExForum. (Photo by Justin Ford)

Conley, Memphis’ third-leading scorer, was one of seven Grizzly players to register double figures in Saturday night’s 110-106 win against the Boston Celtics in FedExForum. (Photo by Justin Ford)

As Conley tells it, no one had to inspire him to assume the proverbial “marquee player” intellect.

“I kind of looked around (after the midseason trades) and I said, ‘Who’s going to do it?’ Conley said. “I knew JB (Grizzlies backup point guard Jerryd Bayless) has the talent to do it. I know I can do it, and I think as guards of this team, we have to pick it up in our backcourt and help the big guys out. I’ve been here the longest, so I feel like I’ve invested more to this team than anybody. You know, I speak my mind a lot more than I used to do.”

Allen, more than any other Grizzly, admittedly welcomes Conley’s newfound vocal approach. So much, in fact, that he hopes to see more of it as the postseason looms.

“Mike Conley has proven he’s in the discussion as one of the elite point guards in the league,” Allen said. “When you get through talking about (Chicago Bulls Derrick) Roses, (Brooklyn Nets) Deron Williams, Chris Paul, (Oklahoma City Russell) Westbrook, you’ve got to throw Mike Conley in there. I just like the fact that he has more of a sense of urgency, that he’s more of a vocal leader, more of a distributor and scorer.

“When he came back from the All-Star break, he was more of a dominant player guy. He was more in control, I believe, distributing the ball, getting Zach (Randolph) and Marc (Gasol) involved, g0t me involved. He’s talking on the bench. He’s vocal in the huddle. The quiet Mike that we once knew isn’t quiet anymore.”

Given his stellar all-around play of late coupled with his willingness to sound off, don’t expect Conley to revert back to mute anytime soon.

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

VIDEO: Marc Gasol says a bad word on TV after Grizzlies beat Thunder

March 21, 2013 by Kevin Cerrito Leave a Comment

Just days after getting national attention for using his shoe to foul Derrick Favors, Marc Gasol once again has Grizzlies fans buzzing after his game-winning tip against the Thunder and his postgame comments that followed.

Watch Gasol’s game winner vs. Thunder:

Now, watch Gasol’s infamous postgame comments:

**WARNING: Explicit Language**

Email: kevin@memphisport.com
Twitter: @cerrito

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Filed Under: Grizzlies, The Big Features, Video Tagged With: bad word, Grizzlies, marc gasol, Memphis, NBA, The Grindhouse, Thunder, tip in, win

VIDEO: Marc Gasol uses his shoe to foul Derrick Favors

March 17, 2013 by Kevin Cerrito 1 Comment

Watch Grizzlies star Marc Gasol lose his shoe and then use it to commit a foul on Jazz player Derrick Favors during Saturday’s game in Utah:

Email: kevin@memphisport.com
Twitter: @cerrito

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Filed Under: Grizzlies, The Big Features, Video Tagged With: Derrick Favors, Foul, marc gasol, Memphs Grizzlies, shoe, utah jazz

Veteran Tayshaun Prince exercising faith on and off the court for Grizzlies

February 11, 2013 by Andre Johnson Leave a Comment

For a majority of his NBA career, Tayshaun Prince has become a fixture when it comes to meeting with the chaplain before games.

Sunday afternoon was no exception.

Tayshaun Prince, acquired the Grizzlies January 30, enjoyed a breakout game for Memphis in Sunday’s 105-88 win against Minnesota. The 11-year veteran tied a franchise record after making each of his eight shots against the Timberwolves. (Photo by Justin Ford)

After partaking in the pregame shootaround, Prince, the recently-acquired Memphis Grizzlies small forward, found his way to the room reserved for coach Lionel Hollins’ postgame news conference to meet with chaplain Donald Johnson, where he had the privilege of absorbing some spiritual wisdom and guidance.

“I do that everywhere I go,” Prince said. “As busy as our schedule is, we don’t get to visit church on Sunday. What a prime opportunity to spend 15 minutes and share some experiences with Donald and just communicate and opening our minds and putting faith where it should be. But I’m going to do it no matter what. I’m going to continue to give thanks and try to be the best man I can be. And when I don’t do things right, I’ll try my best to get back on track.”

Prince’s unrelenting faith seemingly has benefited him mightily during a professional career that spans 10-plus seasons. After 10 profitable seasons in Detroit that included the Compton, Calif. native having assumed a pivotal role during the Pistons’ unlikely NBA title run in 2004, Prince is hopeful to have a similar impact for a revamped Grizzlies team that boast championship aspirations.

Known primarily for his defensive prowess, given he was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive Second Team for four consecutive seasons dating from 2005-2008, Prince has often demonstrated to have been equally efficacious offensively. Such was the case in Sunday’s contest against the Minnesota Timberwolves when Prince enjoyed arguably his best outing in his brief time with his new team.

In leading the Grizzlies to a decisive 105-88 win in FedExForum, the 6-foot-9 veteran finished with a team-high 18 points and tied a franchise-record by connecting on each of his eight field goal attempts, a feat that coincidentally was manufactured by shooting guard Tony Allen against the Timberwolves in January of last year.

The 32-year-old Prince was especially efficient throughout a pivotal third quarter in which the Grizzlies witnessed a ten-point halftime advantage swell to as many as 21. Prince, by all accounts, was the catalyst of the Grizzlies’ second-half surge, scoring 11 points during a key 15-4 spurt in the third against a short-handed Timberwolves squad to help propel Memphis to its second consecutive win.

Hollins seemed intrigued by Prince’s display, considering he took a moment to joke during his postgame news conference that he contemplated sending Prince back in the game for defensive purposes, most notably at the 3:38 mark of the fourth when Minnesota’s Chris Johnson’s alley-oop dunk off a lob from Alexey Shved trimmed Grizzlies’ margin to 13.

“Zach (Randolph) didn’t want me to put (Prince) back out there,” Hollins said with a grin.

Still, on a night in which Grizz center Marc Gasol, the team’s second-leading scorer, struggled to match his energy from the previous game against Golden State when the 7-foot-1 Spaniard registered 20 points on 9-of-14 field goals, it was Prince’s breakout game for Memphis that essentially enabled the Grizzlies to regain sole possession of fourth place in the Western Conference standings heading into this week’s All-Star break.

“I’ve just been in the gym getting extra shots up, just trying to get in a good rhythm,” Prince said in assessing his performance against Minnesota. “I’ve known since I got here my legs have been a little heavy, so I’m just trying to take care of my body off the court and hopefully that way, knock some shots down. Obviously, by any means, I don’t expect to have games like that, but I just had a good rhythm and good flow. And the best thing about that is guys will keep looking for you.”

Traded on January 30 to the Grizzlies in a three-team deal that included bringing fellow Pistons teammate Austin Daye to Memphis and sending Rudy Gay and Hamed Haddadi to Toronto, Prince admittedly sensed that coming in he would inherit a situation in which his game would often draw comparisons to that of Gay who, like Prince, is savvy a small forward who’s armed with the ability to create his own shot from the perimeter.

Prince (right), who was a member of the Detroit Pistons’ 2004 NBA championship team, routinely meets with a chaplain before each game for spiritual support. (Photo by Justin Ford)

“You know what, I can’t control that,” said Prince, who averages 11.5 points for Memphis. “I’m not going to control that. The only thing I can try to worry about is to help this team and try to show these guys in the locker room my support and what I can bring to this and the coaching staff. I’m not concerned with trying to show people that I can replace somebody. That’s something that I can’t do. What I can do is be me.

“There will be some games where I will score the basketball,” continued Prince, “and then there will be some games where I’ll do some other things. I’m not that 20-point scorer that Rudy Gay had shown and what his capabilities are. We’re two different basketball players.”

Regardless, the Grizzlies have benefited immensely from Gay and Prince’s contrasting roles. While Gay, for instance, had proven to be an occasional game-changer during his 6 ½-year tenure with the team, Prince has gone to great lengths in recent days to spread his spiritual wealth around the Grizzlies’ locker room.

“Yeah, I’ll hold conversations with these guys,” Prince said. “A few guys who have seen me walk in and out (to meet with the chaplain) they know where I’m going, and I’ll bring with me a few passages back with me back show those guys. Obviously, that’s been apart of my pregame ritual where I’ll go out and shoot then go to the chapel and then do some other things. That’s what I do on a daily basis.”

If nothing else, his relentless faith seemingly gave way to his prayers being answered in a rather perfect way on Sunday.

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

Filed Under: Grizzlies, The Big Features Tagged With: All-Star break, Austin Daye, cbssports.com, Detroit Pistons, ESPN.COM, foxsport, Lionel Hollins, marc gasol, Memphis Grizzlies, minnesota timberwolves, NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE, NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE, NBA.COM, nbcsports.com, Rudy Gay, Sports 56 WHBQ, Tayshaun Prince, Yahoo.com, Zach Randolph

Zach Randolph on recent trade rumors: ‘I’m a Grizzly for life’

February 9, 2013 by Andre Johnson Leave a Comment

Grizzlies power forward Zach Randolph slams two of his 18 points in a November 11 game against the Miami Heat. Despite being the subject of trade rumors of late, the two-time All-Star on Friday said he wants to retire in a Grizzlies uniform (Photo by Chris Evans)

Grizzlies power forward Zach Randolph slams home two of his 18 points in a November 11 game against the Miami Heat. Despite being the subject of trade rumors of late, the two-time All-Star on Friday said he wants to retire in a Grizzlies uniform (Photo by Chris Evans)

Saying he would like to retire as a member of the Memphis Grizzlies, Zach Randolph on Friday said he expects to remain with the team at least through the end of the season.

Randolph was responding for the first time since team officials said they would not trade the 12-year veteran power forward before season’s end. Grizzlies CEO Jason Levien and Randolph met on Thursday in what Randolph described as a “brief discussion” regarding his future with the team.

While the 31-year-old Randolph said he came away from the meeting with Levien convinced that he will finish out his fourth full season with the Grizzlies, he was quick to point out he’s fully aware that things could change before the February 21 deadline.

“I can’t say nothing to squash the rumors,” Randolph said before Friday’s game against Golden State. “But I tell you what, this is my city. If they trade me tomorrow, I’d still be here. I got a new house here. I’m going to continue to do what I do here in the summer with the camps. So this will continue to be my city.”

Randolph’s comments surrounding trade rumors came nine days after the Grizzlies traded franchise player Rudy Gay to Toronto in a three-team, six-player deal. Like Randolph, Gay, who led Memphis in scoring for the past two seasons, had become the subject of constant trade talks, particularly when the Grizzlies’ struggled to a 7-7 mark in January.

And, in recent weeks, team officials said they have spoken with a number of teams inquiring about Randolph, who will be making his second All-Star appearance next week in Houston. However, after his latest meeting with Levien, whom Randolph said assured him he would not be dealt before the end of this season, the Marion, Indiana native said he expects such talks to go away in the coming weeks.

Randolph currently is in the second of a four-year deal worth a reported $71 million ($66 million guaranteed).

““I talked with Jason and I told him ‘I’m a Grizzly for life’,” said Randolph, whose career also includes stints with Portland, New York, and the Los Angeles Clippers. “But if he traded me tomorrow, I’m going to be a Grizzly for life. This is where I want to finish my career. You know, I have came in and seen changes, and we started being a winning franchise. So this is where I’d like to retire. But I also understand this is a business, so I’m not overwhelmed by the (trade) rumors. I’ve been traded before. I’m used to it. I’m used to the rumors.”

In addressing the media before Friday’s game, Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins admitted that while he wasn’t in agreement with management’s decision to trade Gay, he’s still a “team player” in that he must devise ways to get the most out of his current roster. Prior to dealing Gay, the Grizzlies on January 22 traded reserves Marreese Speights, Wayne Ellington, Josh Selby, and a future first-round draft pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Jon Leuer.

“Both trades that were made, they kept me abreast with what was going on,” Hollins said. “And I voiced my opinion and they went with what they had. But my responsibility is to coach the team with the players we have, and that’s what I try to do and that’s what I will continue to try to do.”

After the trade involving Gay, Randolph, whose 30 double-doubles is second-best in the NBA, now leads the Grizzlies in scoring, averaging 15.7 points per game. However, the 6-foot-9 Randolph has been inconsistent of late for Memphis, which is 2-3 and has dropped one spot to fifth place in the Western Conference standings since dealing the seven-year veteran to the Raptors.

When asked if such ongoing trade talks have been a distraction for the Grizzlies, Randolph said, “Probably in the beginning. But we’ve got to understand this is a business. I’ve been in the NBA for 12 years. So this is no different than hearing my name in rumors.”

Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins on Friday said although he admittedly didn’t agree with the team trading Rudy Gay on Jan. 30, his primary focus is to get the most out of his current roster. (Photo by Justin Ford)

Grizzlies center Marc Gasol, meanwhile, isn’t buying into the notion that the team’s roster changes in recent weeks may have affected its chemistry.

“I leave that for you guys,” Gasol said after Memphis snapped a two-game winless streak Friday with a 99-93 win against the Warriors. “Coach (Grizzlies Lionel Hollins) has addressed it. I think it’s over with. Did that affect us? I don’t think that was the issue here, so I refuse to accept that. I don’t believe rumors. I really don’t. It doesn’t take away from the fact that you’ve got to play basketball and bring it every night.

“I think every player in this locker room, if you ask the GM or CEO, they’ll tell you they got people asking about every player in here,” Gasol continued. But this is the NBA…where amazing happens, so you can’t worry about that stuff. When you hide behind rumors, those are excuses, and we can not allow excuses.”

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

Filed Under: Grizzlies, NBA, The Big Features Tagged With: abcsports.com, cbssports.com, ESPN.COM, foxsports, Golden State Warriors, Lionel Hollins, marc gasol, Memphis Grizzlies, minnesota timberwolves, NBA All-Star Game, NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE, nbcspors, Sacramento Kings, Sports 56 WHBQ, Z-Bo, Zach Randolph

Whitehaven football team honored at Grizzlies game

January 28, 2013 by Andre Johnson 1 Comment

Whitehaven High football coach Rodney Saulsberry and his wife, Alicia, sat in Section 113 in FedExForum on Sunday.

Whitehaven football coach Rodney Saulsberry and his players were honored during halftime of Sunday’s Grizzlies-Hornets game after seizing the Tennessee Class 6A crown with a 15-0 mark.

The seat next to them was occupied by the Tigers’ TSSAA Class 6A championship trophy.

During halftime of the Grizzlies-Hornets game, Saulsberry and his team made their way to midcourt, where they were acknowledged by the announced crowd of 16,277. As the public address announcer paid homage to Whitehaven on winning its elusive state title, footage of the Tigers’ dramatic 36-35 overtime victory over perennial power Maryville last month in Cookeville, Tenn. was shown on the jumbo screen above the court. The Tigers, who finished the 2012 season with a 15-0 record, were met by a rousing ovation by fans, several of whom were Whitehaven alumni.

“It was a great feeling just being able to get that appreciation from the Memphis Grizzlies,” said Saulsberry, whose team atoned for last year’s Class 6A championship defeat to Maryville. “Being out there on the court, it was great to see the love the city showed us. I told my guys, ‘You didn’t win for yourselves; this was for our community and all the athletes that played and wore that jersey before you.’ It was a great feeling of accomplishing the goal we set forth in 1979 when coach (former Whitehaven Stan) Collins took over the reins. Whitehaven has a great tradition.”

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