November 20
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Despite being linked to a late round of negotiations with Allen Iverson, the Miami Heat denied a report in Thursday's New York Daily News that it had made a pitch for the recently released guard. "The Iverson rumors are just that, rumors," a team spokesman said. "There's nothing to it." . . . The Heat is listing power forward Udonis Haslem and small forward Quentin Richardson as "day-to-day" for Friday night's game against the Raptors."
November 19
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Grizzly newcomer Jamaal Tinsley made his debut Wednesday night, albeit a quiet one. Actually, the veteran guard signed to a one-year, free-agent contract Saturday received an ovation when he entered the game with 4:09 left in the first quarter. Tinsley's night was relatively quiet after that. He logged just six minutes and didn't score or hand out an assist. Griz coach Lionel Hollins said he just wanted to get Tinsley on the court after sitting out 11/2 years. "I wanted to give him a chance to play," Hollins said. "The game is really fast, you just have to get acclimated again." Tinsley picked up two quick fouls, but the veteran was limited mainly because of his unfamiliarity with the ..."
November 19
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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They locked themselves in a room. No coaches allowed. The Grizzlies players recently held a no-frills, private party with only a television, DVD player and plenty of burning issues to air out. That players-only film session is what the Grizzlies mostly credited Wednesday night for inspiring their first two-game winning streak this season as a result of a 106-91 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in FedExForum. Memphis led from start to finish thanks to their most thorough effort since a victory against Toronto nearly a month ago. Displaying dreamy ball movement on offense and improved effort defensively, the Griz suddenly are playing like they watch game reruns: Together. "The meeting ..."
November 18
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins engaged in some good-natured trash talk at the end of Tuesday's practice at FedExForum. After challenging Rudy Gay to an impromptu 3-point contest, Hollins finished him off with a 25-foot hook shot that banged through the basket. He laughed his way off the court. "What'd I tell you about messing with me, Rudy?" Hollins asked. "Don't mess with me." At about the same time, across the plaza from the practice court, an employee at The Grizzlies Store was taping a sign to a big rack of Allen Iverson merchandise. Everything was 50 percent off, all 90 remaining replica jerseys slashed from $170 to $85, though there was one important disclaimer: All sales are final! ..."
November 18
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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With Allen Iverson absent, so too was the controversy over him not starting. The Grizzlies held a peaceful yet spirited practice Tuesday with everyone on the same page and well aware of their individual roles. But that didn't mean third-year point guard Mike Conley could mute the footsteps just because Iverson -- by way of a mutually agreed divorce -- no longer charges with his strong personality and heavy demands. The Griz aim for their third win this season tonight when they host the Los Angeles Clippers with the point guard spot perceived to be the weakest link to a 2-8 record. Conley's inconsistent play and regression from his late emergence last season compelled the Griz to sign ..."
November 16
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley says Allen Iverson's time is up. Heisley told Iverson's agent, Leon Rose, that his client must decide soon whether he'll play or retire because the Grizzlies won't deal with the uncertainty beyond this week. Iverson, 34, has been away from the Grizzlies for the past 10 days on a personal leave of absence. "I've treated this like Allen told me it was – a personal leave," Heisley said. "But either he's retiring or coming back to play. I'm not upset with Allen. We'll be happy to accommodate Allen. If he retires, then he retires. If he wants to come back, we'll gladly accept him back. But I have personally made it clear that there's going to have to be a ..."
November 15
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace oversees a team that is shaky at the point and has little to no leadership in the locker room. The hope is that veteran floor general Jamaal Tinsley provides an upgrade in both of those areas. Wallace insisted Saturday that signing Tinsley to a one-year, veteran's minimum deal had nothing to do with Allen Iverson's weeklong leave of absence due to personal reasons. Either way, Iverson still isn't with the team and starting point guard Mike Conley entered Saturday's game against Minnesota as the weakest link to a 1-8 start to the season. "We just felt that (Tinsley's) experience and playmaking ability could be of benefit to us," Wallace said. "So we ..."
November 15
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The Grizzlies showed up for work with only one thing in mind: redemption. And no one had that word ingrained in his head more than second-year starting center Marc Gasol. The 7-footer sat in the visitor's locker room Wednesday and blamed himself for a loss at Houston. It was Gasol's worst and only bad performance so far this season. On Saturday night, the Minnesota Timberwolves were pummeled by some of Gasol's best work. The Spaniard finished with 17 points and 16 rebounds in helping the Griz end a seven-game losing streak with a 97-87 victory in FedExForum. "After Houston, I felt I didn't play good and I let my team down," Gasol said. "I just felt like I could have played better." Gasol ..."
November 14
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The Grizzlies will look the same when they take the court tonight for the opening tip. Once the ball starts bouncing is when they hope to wow a FedExForum audience with an extreme makeover. Griz coach Lionel Hollins is resisting the urge and will not shake up the starting lineup for their meeting with the Minnesota Timberwolves. But the regulars in his rotation have been put on notice. Memphis (1-8) is looking to snap a seven-game losing streak and detour off its worst start through nine games since the 2002-03 season. The Griz lost its first 13 games that season. "We're in a pit. It looks bad. But everybody has to believe it's not as bad and be willing to go out and work our way out of ..."
November 14
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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INSIDE THE NUMBERS The Grizzlies rank fourth in the league in rebounding (44.7). They are first in offensive rebounding (14 per game) and fifth in opponents' rebounds per game (38.9). Memphis' rebounding margin (plus-5.8) is the third-best in the NBA. ... Gay leads the NBA in total minutes played (358); Mayo ranks third (334). ... Randolph, who is averaging a career-high 10.8 rebounds, leads the NBA in offensive rebounding with five per game. He is also tied for the league lead in double-doubles with six and is on pace to double up 55 times this season, which would shatter the season franchise record of 41 set by Shareef Abdur-Rahim in 1999-2000. THE SKINNY Memphis is 15-39 all-time ..."
November 13
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle is 5-3 and sitting on top of the NBA's Southwest Division. Lionel Hollins owns a 1-8 record and his Grizzlies are sweeping the division's basement. So what could these coaches possibly have in common today as it relates to the current state of their basketball teams? Carlisle and Hollins are calling out their players for the same reason: a lack of effort. Dallas lost to a San Antonio squad that was missing two All-Stars in Tim Duncan and Tony Parker. Hollins & Co. got blown out the same night against a Houston team sans All-Stars Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming. "If you don't play hard enough, you're going to get your (butt) kicked," Carlisle told reporters. ..."
November 12
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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A week ago, the Grizzlies' schedule seemed unyielding with a long West Coast road trip and a defense that easily buckled. The team's troubles now have spread to offense — one that suddenly is handcuffed by the quality of opponent, yes, but also with the Grizzlies' penchant for becoming unglued for long stretches. This time, the Houston Rockets took advantage of the Grizzlies' overall dysfunction and sent them away with a 104-79 loss Wednesday night in the Toyota Center. For the second time in as many nights, the Griz couldn't overcome mistakes, poor execution and the listlessness to ring up their seventh straight defeat. The Grizzlies' final point total matched their scoring output in ..."
November 12
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Grizzlies rookie Hasheem Thabeet did not make the trip to Toyota Center, but he could return from injury as soon as Saturday. The rookie center appeared to suffer a broken jaw Tuesday after a collision with teammate Zach Randolph during a loss to Portland. But Griz coach Lionel Hollins described Thabeet's injury as a "fractured bone on the lower jaw along the teeth line." Thabeet will miss only a matter of days. "It's a hairline fracture," Hollins said. "They've got it wired. Obviously, it'll be a pain issue, but we'll see what happens." Hollins said the timing of the injury was bad, too. He'd decided to give the 7-footer consistent playing time. "I was going to give him that time ..."
November 11
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The Grizzlies returned home to FedExForum on Tuesday night after a tumultuous trip to the West Coast, where they took a beating in the press and in the Western Conference standings. Coach Lionel Hollins knew his team needed something good to happen against the Portland Trail Blazers. "It would be great," he said before the game, almost in a whisper, "to get a win." The franchise was fragile, his young players rattled - by five straight losses and by Hurricane A.I., who had left so much damage in his wake. Allen Iverson was hundreds of miles from the Grizzlies bench by the opening tip, at home in Atlanta mulling retirement. But his ghost haunted the place. The Blazers are a talented team ..."
November 11
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The Grizzlies returned home to FedExForum on Tuesday night after a tumultuous trip to the West Coast, where they took a beating in the press and in the Western Conference standings. Coach Lionel Hollins knew his team needed something good to happen against the Portland Trail Blazers. "It would be great," he said before the game, almost in a whisper, "to get a win." The franchise was fragile, his young players rattled — by five straight losses and by Hurricane A.I., who had left so much damage in his wake. Allen Iverson was hundreds of miles from the Grizzlies bench by the opening tip, at home in Atlanta mulling retirement. But his ghost haunted the place. The Blazers are a talented team ..."
November 10
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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As much as the Grizzlies are sympathetic toward Allen Iverson and are rooting for his return from a personal leave of absence, their last workout wasn't the first without him. The Griz had plenty of practice with Iverson away because of a hamstring injury during the preseason. Still, the team's time spent on the FedExForum practice court Monday was anything but a routine day at the office. The Griz return home to face the Portland Trail Blazers tonight with a five-game losing streak and a bit of controversy in tow. Iverson won't make his scheduled home debut in a Grizzlies uniform. Their defense is ranked last in the league. The Grizzlies' 1-6 record is the worst in the Western Conference. ..."
November 9
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Allen Iverson is contemplating retirement if he doesn't rejoin the Grizzlies, according to a source with knowledge of the veteran guard's situation. Iverson left the team Saturday after receiving permission from Griz owner Michael Heisley to deal with a personal matter. The stress associated with a family issue plus Iverson's frustration over playing a reserve role might spell the end of his 14-year NBA career, according to the source. Heisley said he's not been given any indication that Iverson might be leaning towards retirement, and still is holding out hope that the 10-time All-Star will return to Memphis. "I just think if he was going to retire, he'd tell me first," Heisley said. "I ..."
November 9
Memphis Commercial Appeal
columnist Geoff Calkins
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After three games with the Grizzlies, Iverson is contemplating retirement for "personal reasons." Mastering the comeback in their last three has gotten New Orleans off to its best start in the franchise's 43-year history. If one of those reasons doesn't involve Hollins nailing Iverson's personal butt to the bench, I have a blue and white Iverson jersey I'd like to sell you. Not as many as the team has, mind you. It's lined up 3,000 jerseys for Allen Iverson night on Dec. 4. Maybe they can change it to Hollins-is-the-boss night? Give out little figurines of Hollins sending Iverson to the bench? Iverson left the Grizzlies after playing 21 minutes against the Los Angeles Lakers last Friday ..."
November 8
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The Grizzlies' losing streak knows no boundaries. After learning earlier in the day that veteran guard Allen Iverson had left the team to deal with a personal issue, the Griz dropped their fifth straight game Saturday night with a 113-110 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers in Staples Center. Rudy Gay scored a game-high 33 points, but it wasn't enough to prevent the Griz from going winless on a five-game road trip. Much like they had done with or without Iverson, the Griz had no problem scoring. Stopping the Clippers was the problem, continuing the Grizzlies' defenseless ways that have plagued them since the start of the season. In dropping to 1-6 for the season, the Griz allowed the Clippers ..."
November 8
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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When Allen Iverson actually plays a game in FedExForum is anyone's guess. The disgruntled Iverson left the Grizzlies on Saturday after he asked for and was granted an indefinite leave of absence to deal with a personal matter, the team confirmed before its game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Instead of traveling to Staples Center, Iverson boarded a flight to Atlanta in the afternoon. Atlanta is where Iverson lives during the offseason. Griz owner Michael Heisley vehemently insisted that Iverson needed time off to handle an important family issue. A timetable for Iverson's return is unknown. The veteran guard did not ask for a trade or request to be waived. Heisley said the team knew ..."
November 7
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The Grizzlies still are in "serious negotiations" with NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to help coach their centers, according to team owner Michael Heisley. Abdul-Jabbar visited Memphis on Oct. 25 to attend a practice and meet with Griz players and management. Heisley said both sides are trying to iron out a working arrangement. "It's a matter of how much time Kareem will give to us," Heisley said. "We're trying to come to an understanding of how Kareem will work. I want to make sure we're getting somebody who will give attention to these kids and help them. He's got a lot of commitments." Abdul-Jabbar, 62, is under contract with the Los Angeles Lakers after having tutored Andrew Bynum ..."