March 13
Memphis Commercial Appeal
columnist Scott Cacciola
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Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins watched Thursday's practice from a folding chair, and he seemed about as relaxed as he gets. Wearing loafers and jeans, he was chatting with general manager Chris Wallace during a scrimmage when he noticed something that bothered him. So he spoke up. "Marcus!" he barked. "That's two plays in a row where you faked a pass to Ronnie and then kept dribbling. Make the easy play!" Perhaps realizing his tone was harsh, Hollins paused and softened his critique. "Because you're good at it!" he added. There is an understanding shared by many of the team's reserves, and that includes backup point guard Marcus Williams: If Hollins stops yelling, it means he has stopped ..."
March 13
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Since the NBA's trade deadline passed in February, Rudy Gay has been asked the same question from beat writers who are following teams that are expected to big players in free agency. Would you be willing to play for (insert team here)? Gay, a restricted free agent this summer, has mostly been accommodating with his answers. "It's just part of the business," Gay said. "Like I've said, I'd like to be here. But, you know, this is the NBA. It's a business." There are at least eight teams that will have significant money to spend on free agents in the offseason. So far Gay has answered questions dealing with free agency from media in New York, where articles have speculated that Gay could be ..."
March 13
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The New York Knicks brought their helter-skelter, seemingly undisciplined brand of basketball to town, and proved they are never out of a game. It's also a style that made the Grizzlies look like the Harlem Globetrotters long enough to build a 29-point lead. At times, though, the Griz might as well have been the Washington Generals. PollDo you think the Memphis Grizzlies will make the playoffs?Yes No See the results » View previous polls » Grizzlies vs. Knicks - March 12, 2010 See all 18 photos at full sizeThat would basically sum up the fourth quarter. Before finally securing a 119-112 victory Friday, the Grizzlies needed to make clutch free throws in the final two minutes to fend ..."
March 12
Memphis Commercial Appeal
columnist Ronald Tillery
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Like a picture in a frame, the Western Conference playoff scene has remained the same for the past two weeks. That is to say the Grizzlies would be the first team out of the postseason, going by the current standings. Going into Thursday night's games, Memphis was 31/2 games behind Portland for the eighth and final slot. The Griz were 41/2 games back from seventh-place San Antonio. But are the Grizzlies completely out of the running to earn their fourth playoff berth with 17 games remaining, including tonight's meeting with the New York Knicks in FedExForum? Mathematically, the answer is no. Memphis still has an outside chance. However, it remains to be seen if a team can make up such ..."
March 12
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Hollins puts halt to playoff talk The dry-erase board outlining the Western Conference standings is still prominently displayed in the Grizzlies' locker room. But coach Lionel Hollins said he doesn't talk about the team's playoff potential. Memphis entered Wednesday night four games out of the eighth and final postseason slot. Hollins, though, is imploring his players to stay focused on winning with their preseason goals in mind. "I'm not even looking at those (playoff) chances," Hollins said. "We've been trying to establish a goal of being better than what we've been and not worrying about the playoffs. We want to look at the standings because we want to be aware of where we are. ..."
March 11
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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For a solid month, the Grizzlies rode a bumpy, win-one-lose-one track that never allowed them to find consistency and confidence. Suddenly, though, they look smoother, and the Boston Celtics emphatically found out just how finely tuned the Grizzlies can be when they are focused. Grizzlies at Celtics - March 10, 2010 See all 7 photos at full sizeBox scoreGriz 111, Celtics 91 Memphis strutted into TD Garden and rolled over Boston for a 111-91 victory Wednesday night in a performance as dominant as it was stunning. The Griz (34-31) played nearly flawless basketball in every aspect of the game, which arguably went down as their most complete victory of the season. In extending their ..."
March 9
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The night began with Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins delivering sort of a public service announcement. He cautioned that the New Jersey Nets' status as the NBA's worst team record-wise didn't make them a collection of misfits whose spirit could be easily broken. The Nets have played better of late, making themselves anything but an easy out. Hollins -- and perhaps he was the only one among the 10,317 in FedExForum -- didn't look too surprised after the game extended beyond its halfway point. The Grizzlies' 21-point lead had all but evaporated. By the end of their 107-101 victory Monday night, the Griz had simply escaped the energetic Nets. "It would have been a really bad loss if it ..."
March 9
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The Grizzlies played musical chairs before their game against the New Jersey Nets. After recalling rookie Hasheem Thabeet from the NBA Development League early Monday, the Griz learned just before tip-off that forward Zach Randolph would be unavailable due to a stiff lower back. Randolph missed his first game this season after averaging 20.8 points and 11.8 rebounds in 63 starts. Second-year forward Darrell Arthur made his first start. Randolph was not on the bench, but Thabeet joined his teammates for the first time in nearly two weeks. The 7-3 center returned from a six-game stint with the Dakota Wizards, the Grizzlies' D-League affiliate. The No. 2 overall pick averaged 13.8 points, ..."
March 9
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The Grizzlies recalled center Hasheem Thabeet from the Dakota Wizards, the team's NBA Development League affiliate, general manager Chris Wallace announced today. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, Thabeet averaged a double-double with 13.8 points and 11.2 rebounds along with 3.2 blocks in six games (four starts) with Dakota."
March 8
Memphis Commercial Appeal
columnist Geoff Calkins
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Heisley said he would like to see more Griz fans take advantage of $5 tickets and also put to rest constant rumors that the team is moving: "There is a contract that holds the Grizzlies into Memphis for 17 years. People should get off of this." Mike Heisley is charming, accessible and wonderfully blunt. But he doesn't get it. He doesn't know how to build a successful NBA franchise in this town. I take no pleasure in writing this, by the way. Some of you think I get a kick out of criticizing Heisley. You couldn't be more wrong. The guy has always treated me remarkably well. It didn't matter if I was defending him -- as I did during the team's early years here, especially in connection with ..."
March 7
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The Grizzlies are still working toward a contract extension for coach Lionel Hollins, two months after team owner Michael Heisley initiated negotiations. "It's in my hands," Heisley said when asked about the status of contract talks. Hollins is working on a 17-month deal he signed Jan. 25, 2009 to replace Marc Iavaroni. Neither side would disclose the nature of the discussions nor why talks are still ongoing. Hollins, though, didn't sound concerned when asked about the situation Saturday night before the Griz hosted the San Antonio Spurs. "I talked to Mike when I was in Chicago. I think it'll get done," Hollins said while taping The Lionel Hollins Show, which posts today on ..."
March 7
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Memphis dropped its eighth straight contest at FedExForum in a manner similar to the rest during this skid. The Griz struggled to score, particularly in the second half, barely reaching their average of 92 points during their difficult home stretch. The game featured yet another Western Conference opponent fighting mightily to hang on to its playoff position while the Griz faded as the game wore on. The seventh-seeded Spurs pushed the Griz further back out of postseason contention by daring anyone to stop them from getting to the rim. San Antonio's penchant for driving in the lane late combined with an active defense never allowed Memphis to seriously threaten once the Spurs took a ..."
March 6
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Coaches typically scout for two types when looking for players to complement their starters and contribute consistently as reserves in the NBA. There are skill players, who tend to help avoid big scoring droughts. Then there are energy guys, who scrap for loose balls and defend. The Grizzlies haven't received large doses of either from their bench this season so it's no wonder coach Lionel Hollins seems a tad bit giddy about what's he's tapped into. Sometimes it's the simplest things that make people happy. "I told one of the (assistant) coaches that maybe we found something we can live with," Hollins said. Lately, whatever the "something" is works a heck of a lot better than the relative ..."
March 5
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins called for time with his team trailing by 17 points in the second quarter, and tried to simply remain calm. He didn't want panic to set in. Forward Zach Randolph said his message was intended to be more like banging the snooze button on an alarm clock. "You've just got to wake up," Randolph said after amassing 31 points and 18 rebounds to help the Grizzlies rally for a 105-96 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night in the United Center. Randolph wasn't the only Grizzlies player who heard the alarm. Each member of the starting unit got going at different points as the Griz extended their franchise-record road winning streak to six games."
March 4
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley, who finished with a season-high 26 points, strips the ball from Hornets center Aaron Gray on Wednesday. The 6-7 guard/forward sounds as if he is on pace to fully recover from a partially torn right hamstring three weeks from the day he was injured. That means Brewer likely could resume full-contact basketball activities around March 12. Team officials have not set a return date."
March 4
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The Grizzlies have learned some difficult lessons at this point of the regular season about the intensity required to compete for the postseason. As grades go, the Griz earned an "S" for satisfactory Wednesday night when they got downright scrappy in the fourth quarter to pull out a 104-100 victory over the New Orleans Hornets. Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley, who finished with a season-high 26 points, strips the ball from Hornets center Aaron Gray on Wednesday. However slim the Grizzlies' playoffs hopes seem, their 31st victory this season and franchise-record fifth straight win on the road shined a positive light on their mental toughness, which has been questioned as of late. The ..."
March 3
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Hasheem Thabeet grabbed his sneakers and began wandering around the visitors locker room last Friday at Tulio Arena in Erie, Pa. He had just made his debut with the Dakota Wizards of the NBA Development League, but he was still finding his way. Where was the equipment bag for his sneakers? "Hasheem, this is the D-League," Wizards coach Rory White told him. "And in the D-League, you carry your own sneakers." If Thabeet suddenly felt thousands of miles removed from the trappings of the NBA lifestyle, then there would be more. Oh, so much more. How about folding up his 7-foot-3 frame on Monday afternoon and flying coach from Fort Wayne, Ind., to Detroit … and then from Detroit to Minneapolis ..."
March 2
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Look at the bright side, Grizzlies fans. The NBA Draft Lottery is kind of exciting. All the possibilities. All the pingpong balls. Maybe the Grizzlies will get really lucky and have a chance to draft John Wall. Or maybe they'll get less lucky and have a chance to pick a tall guy who can't play. That's part of the thrill of it, isn't it? So reserve your table at Buffalo Wild Wings before they're all gone. The Grizzlies didn't officially clinch a spot in the lottery against Portland on Monday night, but it's not because they didn't try. They committed 21 turnovers. They gave up as many points in the third quarter (41) as they did the entire first half. "We folded," said Zach Randolph, in ..."
March 2
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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It was a thing of beauty when they were on. The Grizzlies ran a clinic on both ends of the floor with an offense that generated scores off touch passes to compliment an all-out defensive effort. When they were off, the Grizzlies simply threw the basketball away and greatly contributed to anything good the Portland Trail Blazers did. Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph drives to the basket against Portland Trail Blazers defenders Marcus Camby (left) and LaMarcus Aldridge tonight. Memphis, a Jekyll-and-Hyde bunch if you ever saw one since the All-Star break, was again a turn-off at home - extending a losing streak in FedExForum to seven games Monday night with a 103-93 loss to the ..."
March 1
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Grizzlies rookie guard Lester Hudson left the team today for his third assignment to the NBA Development League. Hudson, who did two stints in the D-League while with the Boston Celtics, joined fellow rookie Hasheem Thabeet with Grizzlies affiliate, the Dakota Wizards. The Griz originally wanted to send Hudson with Thabeet last Thursday, but veteran Jamaal Tinsley suffered a hamstring injury, so the Griz decided to keep Hudson for games on Friday and Saturday."
March 1
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Headbands and sparks flew the last time the Grizzlies played in FedExForum. It had nothing to do with a celebration. Memphis hasn't had reason to unleash victory streamers in its digs since Feb. 1. That's the last time the Griz won at home - a 95-93 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. One month and six consecutive home defeats later, the Griz will host the Portland Trail Blazers tonight in an attempt to snap their longest FedExForum skid this season. Memphis hasn't lost seven straight contests at home since January 2009. The same place that housed an 11-game winning streak, bridging December and January, seemed merciless last month. Griz coach Lionel Hollins"
March 1
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Grizzlies center Hasheem Thabeet scored 19 points and grabbed 16 rebounds on Sunday in his second game with the NBA Development League's Dakota Wizards, and guard Lester Hudson scored nine points in his debut with the Wizards, after being assigned to the squad by the Grizzlies earlier in the day. Thabeet went 8-of-10 from the field, 3-of-4 from the free-throw line and blocked six shots for the Wizards, who defeated the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, 94-85. Thabeet played 38:16, had three fouls and committed three turnovers. Hudson was 3-of-12 from the field, including 1-of-3 from 3-point range. He had five rebounds, six assists,o ne steal and did not commit a turnover in 23:15. Hudson averaged 4.3 ..."
February 28
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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When Mike Campbell of Forrest City, Ark., decided to purchase a pair of Grizzlies' season tickets two years ago, he did so because it was an opportunity to be a part of a closer professional franchise rather than driving all the way to St. Louis. He quickly noticed the special treatment he received from his ticket representative throughout the season, who would call up and offer such things as floor seats or a night in a suite. But this season, Campbell, 51, has had an added perk - being able to witness firsthand the emergence of the Grizzlies into one of the top young teams in the NBA. The combination of the two is why Campbell won't hesitate to fill out his season ticket renewal form ..."
February 28
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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O.J. Mayo and Zach Randolph called into question the Grizzlies' sense of urgency Friday night following a loss to Charlotte. Before the Griz took on the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden, coach Lionel Hollins applauded their comments and chalked it up to needed leadership. While recording the latest installment of "The Lionel Hollins Show," a weekly podcast on gogrizzlies.com, the Grizzlies' head coach said Mayo and Randolph were offering constructive criticism because of the team's on-again, off-again intensity. Memphis will host Portland on Monday with a six-game losing streak in FedExForum. "There is a lack of urgency for us to get down at home every night and have to come from ..."
February 28
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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One of the concerns when playing the New York Knicks is getting lured into their frenetic style of play. The Grizzlies coaching staff warned its team to resist the urge to just cast shots without a conscious regard for clear mismatches in the post. So Memphis' 120-109 victory Saturday night in Madison Square Garden simply came down to the final four minutes. The Grizzlies got off-message then responded to the challenge of displaying maturity, which resulted in 13-2 game-ending run that allowed them to capture their fourth straight road victory."
February 27
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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When Zach Randolph ripped off his headband and flung it across the floor toward the courtside seats, there was no sugarcoating his disgust. The Grizzlies suffered another frustrating loss at home - their sixth straight - in falling to the Charlotte Bobcats, 93-89, before an announced crowd of 14,713 Friday night at FedExForum. Box score Bobcats 93, Grizzlies 89
Grizzlies vs. Bobcats - February 26, 2010 See all 24 photos at full size It was a game the Griz literally threw away given the 20 turnovers that led to 28 points for the visitors. It was a game that the Griz desperately needed for their postseason aspirations ...
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February 26
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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When ALSAC, the fundraising arm for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, approached Grizzlies star Rudy Gay about being an ambassador for its Hoops for St. Jude fundraising program, his response was as quick and swift as one of his fast-break dunks. "They asked me and I immediately did it," Gay said. "I like doing things for kids. It gives me a chance to do things for kids. You don't always know who needs it, but St. Jude's is a part of my heart. The fact that it's in Memphis is a plus." Gay is one of six NBA players who have pledged $20,000 for Hoops for St. Jude, a basketball program created for NBA players, fans and schoolchildren to support the work of St. Jude through several ..."
February 26
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Part of Hasheem Thabeet's reaction to being demoted to third string among the Grizzlies' centers was that his draft status didn't automatically mean he had to contribute right away. It was the same rationale Griz brass used when they selected Thabeet No. 2 overall in the 2009 draft, leaving several capable and more NBA-ready players on the board. The Griz acknowledged then that Thabeet was a project, and more confirmation came Thursday. Thabeet, a 7-footer out of Connecticut, is the highest NBA draft pick ever assigned to the NBA's Development League. Thabeet will join the Grizzlies' D-League affiliate, the Dakota Wizards, today before their game in Erie, Pa. The decision to send Thabeet ..."
February 25
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Bounce-back games and an anything-but-sturdy bench used to be a real downer for the Grizzlies. Suddenly, both of those aspects of the Grizzlies' season are starting to look up. Before the All-Star break, the Grizzlies were 1-11 in the second of back-to-back games. They are 2-0 since after pulling away late in a 99-94 victory over the Washington Wizards in the Verizon Center on Wednesday night. The Griz needed a lift following a depressing, one-point loss to the Los Angeles Lakers the night before, and were pumped up by their reserves. "The key was our bench," Griz center Marc Gasol said. "The bench deserves a lot of credit for this one." Griz coach Lionel Hollins agreed, saying that he's ..."
February 24
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Second-year center Hamed Haddadi's sudden appearance last Sunday has earned him a supporting role. Griz coach Lionel Hollins announced Tuesday night that Haddadi would supplant rookie Hasheem Thabeet as the backup to starting center Marc Gasol. "I just made a decision that I'm going with Hamed just like I made the decision that I'm going with Marcus (Williams at point guard)," Hollins said. "You just feel something and you want to see something and you want to change. You run with it and see what happens. How long will this last? I don't know." Haddadi entered the game for Gasol with 11:06 remaining in the second period. The 7-foot Iranian displayed an immediate contrast to Thabeet. ..."
February 24
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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O.J. Mayo had a chance to give the Grizzlies a late 4-point cushion Tuesday. But he missed two free throws, setting the stage for some Kobe Bryant heroics. Kobe Bryant attempted his first shot in nearly three weeks, and came away with a 4-point play. The Los Angeles Lakers guard returned from a five-game layoff due to an ankle injury looking dynamic from his first shot to the last. And given a chance to take a shot with the game on the line Tuesday night, Bryant delivered a dagger. Bryant calmly sank a 3-pointer that deflated the Grizzlies with 4.3 seconds and sent the Lakers to a 99-98 victory before an announced, sellout crowd of 18,119 in FedExForum. "There's not much you can do," ..."
February 23
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace isn't crowing, though who could blame him? And there's no longer a loud chorus of criticism around the NBA, either. The Grizzlies' trade of Pau Gasol to the L.A. Lakers two years ago generated tons of salary-cap space and draft picks. Here's how that has translated to the current roster: Darrell Arthur (draft) Ronnie Brewer (cap space) DeMarre Carroll (cap space, draft) Marc Gasol (trade) Hamed Haddadi (cap space) Lester Hudson (cap space) Steven Hunter (cap space) Zach Randolph (cap space) Sam Young (cap space, draft) The once-maligned trade that moved Pau Gasol from Memphis to the Los Angeles Lakers two years ago this month looks a lot different ..."
February 22
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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There is only one way to describe what the Grizzlies did Sunday night, getting blown out early by an NBA opponent in the midst of a historically bad season and then needing half a game to shake total ineptness. It's called winning ugly. And the Grizzlies will gladly take it. The final outcome, a 104-94 victory over the hapless New Jersey Nets in the Izod Center, was about what one would have expected going into the teams' first meeting this season. However, the Griz took their time settling into a victory that pushed their record back over the .500 mark. When the final buzzer sounded both coaches could be seen exhaling but for very different reasons. The Nets (5-51) fell to 1-46 when ..."
February 21
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Ronnie Brewer has a partially torn right hamstring and likely will miss up to three weeks after suffering the injury Friday night in his Grizzlies debut. Acquired Thursday in a trade with the Utah Jazz, the former Arkansas Razorbacks star played just 12 minutes in a Grizzlies uniform before collapsing on the court and grimacing in pain as he held his right leg. Brewer had his condition confirmed Saturday morning after a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam. The Grizzlies said Brewer would be out indefinitely and an official timetable for his return will be set in a week. Brewer did not travel with the team to New Jersey where the Griz will face the Nets this evening. He needed crutches ..."
February 20
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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It took two overtime periods before the Grizzlies succumbed to the Miami Heat. But Memphis lost its newest player in just 12 minutes. Box scoreHeat 100, Grizzlies 87 (20T) The Grizzlies' 100-87 double- overtime defeat at the hands of the Heat Friday night in FedExForum might be the least of their worries today. The Grizzlies' recent trade acquisition, swingman Ronnie Brewer, hurt his right hamstring in the second half and didn't return. His official status was unknown when the buzzer sounded on Memphis' fourth straight loss at home. The Griz can only hope Brewer isn't lost for long. Team doctors will perform an MRI this morning to determine the extent of Brewer's injury. It is ..."