Grizzlies News

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar may help Grizzlies' big men
"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 ..."
Kobe Bryant's 41 points lift Lakers by Grizzlies, 114-98
"Lakers guard Kobe Bryant dunks against the Memphis Grizzlies during the second half Friday. Bryant scored 41 points while becoming the youngest player to reach 24,000. Promises to play something that resembles defense. Now, the guy who writes the checks is about to have his say. Michael Heisley, the Grizzlies' Chicago-based owner, flew to town Friday in time to watch his team lose 114-98 to the Los Angeles Lakers in Staples Center. But Heisley isn't in Los Angeles for a leisurely weekend getaway. He joined the team for the expressed purpose of addressing some of the team's problems. Heisley will have several meetings, including a sit-down with Iverson, today with the goal of trying to get ..."
Bryant, Lakers post up victory
"Without Gasol, Bynum in middle, L.A. star goes inside against Memphis and scores 41 points. Maybe things will be different when Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol play together for the first time this season. Maybe the Lakers' 7-footers will ease the burden for Kobe Bryant, who kept things together while they sat out Friday night because of injuries. Then again, maybe nothing will change. Perhaps things will look exactly as they did during the Lakers' comprehensive 114-98 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies at Staples Center, when Bryant scored 41 points for the third time in four games. OK, so maybe he might not make 19 of 30 shots, as he did in dismantling the Grizzlies. Maybe he might not score ..."
Kobe, Lakers have Grizzlies' number
"No Andrew Bynum, no Pau Gasol and, really, no big deal. There might have been issues had the Lakers played Boston or Orlando, but they caught a break in the schedule after catching none on the injury front, and were able to beat the hapless Memphis Grizzlies, 114-98, Friday at Staples Center. Kobe Bryant scored 41 points and Ron Artest had 19 as the short-staffed Lakers awoke in the second half to improve to 5-1. Bynum didn't play because of a strained right elbow and Gasol was sidelined for a sixth consecutive game by a strained right hamstring, though they weren't missed against a Memphis team that fell to 1-5."
Breakdowns putting Grizzlies at the bottom of defensive rankings
"From the moment the Grizzlies finalized their roster, there were a couple of inherent weaknesses. Memphis assembled the NBA's youngest and least-experienced team, with an average age of 25.35 years and 3.13 years of experience. That doesn't bode well for minimizing mistakes and winning close games. However, watching to see if several top-flight scorers would share the basketball and adequately defend figured to maintain the most interest. The retooled Grizzlies don't seem to have a problem sharing the ball. Concentrating without the basketball enough to avoid making the Grizzlies an embarrassment on defense? That's another story ... That's the story behind the Grizzlies' 1-4 start to the ..."
One-win Warriors go small, have big night
""That's confidence," Stephen Jackson said. "That's all we needed." The Warriors got a well-rounded effort, and coach Don Nelson's imagination paid dividends for a 113-105 victory over Memphis in front of 17,457 fans at Oracle Arena. The Warriors had four 20-point scorers, and got a combined 21 assists from Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry. In his most complete game in 2 1/2 years, Ellis had 24 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds. "Monta was sensational," Nelson said. "His shot wasn't even falling, and he still had a monster game." Anthony Morrow scored 24 points on 10-for-12 shooting, and Stephen Jackson and Corey Maggette added 20 apiece. Curry had seven points, nine assists and five ..."
Putting fun in dysfunctional
"It was a reminder that the Warriors haven't cornered the NBA market on disaffected players or odd chemistry. Iverson missed the Grizzlies' first three games with an injury, came off the bench in Game 4, then groused that he has no intention of being a supporting actor in anybody's drama. It would seem that a detail like that would have been hammered out up-front, not after the contract was signed. Uh, Mr. Iverson, we'd like you to provide a spark off the bench. You want a spark off the bench, go hire a bad electrician. In your NBA Most Dysfunctional Team fantasy league, you are golden if you took the Grizzlies, but don't give up just yet on your Warriors. The Warriors triumphed 113-105, ..."
Grizzlies fall to Golden State Warriors, 113-105
"Lionel Hollins laughed at first when asked what it's like to play against a Don Nelson-coached team. Hollins then said his Grizzlies were about to enter a torture chamber. The Grizzlies' coach described Nelson's Golden State Warriors as a team that's churning to find mismatches with a bunch of 6-foot-8-and-under players. "You just have to take advantage of your mismatches," Hollins said, "and find a force that Nelly can't deal with." Memphis' Marc Gasol, who scored 12 points, shoots above Golden State's Stephen Jackson during the first half Wednesday night in Oakland, Calif. Unfortunately for Hollins, the Griz lived in that torture chamber for the final three quarters Wednesday night en ..."
Rough week for Grizzlies
"The Grizzlies boarded a bus headed for the Bay Area late Monday night not long after they lost a second straight road game. It was a smooth ride from Sacramento. But the Griz can't say the same about their first week of the regular season. They haven't been able to dodge a few potholes en route to a 1-3 start. There are problems with porous defense and too many turnovers. There was an incident with O.J. Mayo and Rudy Gay bickering on the bench Sunday at Denver. And veteran guard Allen Iverson made his season debut Monday with a bang, questioning his role as a reserve following an overtime loss to the Sacramento Kings. Griz coach Lionel Hollins gave the team a day off Tuesday to rest up for ..."
Grizzlies fade in overtime, lose to Kings, 127-116
"Allen Iverson finally made his Grizzlies debut after a month-long recovery from a partially torn hamstring. He joined a team Monday night that is badly in need of a few repairs on defense as the Griz were unable to dethrone the Sacramento Kings in their home opener. Kevin Martin scored 48 points and Sacramento buried 14 3-pointers to beat the Grizzliess, 127-116, in overtime at Arco Arena. The Kings bench also outscored the Grizzlies reserves 67-14. Iverson had 11 points off the bench for the Griz but he logged just 18 minutes. Zach Randolph led the Griz with 30 points and 16 rebounds. O.J. Mayo added 22 and Rudy Gay chipped in 21 as Memphis had six players score in double figures. But for ..."
Agent: Rudy Gay will not re-sign with Memphis Grizzlies before deadline
"Fourth-year forward Rudy Gay and the Grizzlies failed to reach an agreement on a contract extension before the NBA deadline. Negotiations broke off Monday evening so Gay will become a restricted free agent next summer. The Griz still can match any offer sheet Gay signs. The parties had until 10:59 p.m. CST Monday to strike a deal. "We've agreed to not agree," said Jeff Austin, Gay's agent. "We looked at different ways we might try to get something done and we weren't able to agree." An NBA source said the Grizzlies' final offer was a five-year deal worth about $50 million. Gay was asking for a deal similar to Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge (five years, $65 million with incentives), ..."
Melo adds fine new title: leader
"Pro basketball's long grind is just beginning, as the Nuggets are the first to point out. But it is still worth noticing that through three games, Carmelo Anthony has been the best player in the NBA. He leads the league in scoring at 37.7 points per game on .536 shooting. He is among the Nuggets' leaders in steals, rebounds and assists. In short, as he begins his seventh NBA season at the still-tender age of 25, Melo is taking his game to another level. "He's just so focused," teammate Chauncey Billups said. "And he's just riding a high wave right now. We're just kind of getting on his back." If Anthony is setting a tone for the season, not only is a scoring title within his reach, so is ..."
Melo's 42 lead Nuggets' onslaught against Grizzlies
"Chauncey Billups has played in the NBA since Ty Lawson was 10, dishing out 4,689 assists to everyone from Antonio McDyess to Zan Tabak. But after Sunday's 133-123 home win against Memphis, the Nuggets' Billups sighed and said: "Melo's the best scorer I've ever played with, yes, he is. I've played with a lot of guys, but he just has a knack, man. His skill set, for his body type, is just tremendous. It's a mismatch every single night." After scoring 30 points in the season opener and 41 on Thursday, Carmelo Anthony scored 42 against the Grizzlies - and did so with shocking ease, shooting 15-for-26 from the field (57.7 percent). He was in a zone that couldn't be zoned (or man-to-manned or ..."
Allen Iverson no longer the "Answer", but a question mark
"How does it happen? One day you're a beloved, iconic figure, playing in a city where you were once the star of stars in the NBA All-Star Game, literally the answer to a team's basketball and box-office woes. The next day you're shipped to a place where the whispers began almost as soon as you got off the plane. Where you weren't an exclamation point, but rather a question mark - with things deteriorating to the point that, at playoff time, you're simply asked to just go away. And now, exactly a year later, you're thisclose to being one of the most cringe- worthy phrases in sports - a journeyman - perhaps even lucky to land a deal in Memphis, expected to be one of the most cringe-worthy ..."
Tempers flare as Memphis Grizzlies lose to Denver Nuggets, 133-123
"The scoreboard wasn't all that provided fireworks in what turned out to be a shootout Sunday night between the Grizzlies and Denver Nuggets. The Grizzlies had to douse an explosive shouting match between O.J. Mayo and Rudy Gay on their bench before the end of a 133-123 loss in a wildly entertaining affair at the Pepsi Center. Mayo tossed in a career-high 40 points only to have the performance overshadowed by Nuggets' forward Carmelo Anthony's 42-point outburst, and somewhat marred by an incident during a late fourth-quarter timeout. Denver kept Memphis at arms length in the fourth quarter, never allowing the Griz to get closer than five points. Gay took exception when Mayo made a strong ..."
Deadline for Grizzlies, Rudy Gay nears
"Time is expiring on Rudy Gay and the Grizzlies as it relates to working out a contract extension. But Gay isn't watching the clock. While Gay's agent, Jeff Austin, continues to discuss his client's long-term future with the franchise, the 6-8 forward remains indifferent. "I'm not concerned about that," Gay said. "If it happens it happens. If not I'm looking forward to being a (restricted) free agent. It's hasn't been my focus. My focus is playing games like (Friday night) and getting wins." The Griz, fresh off a 115-107 victory over Toronto, boarded a flight Saturday for Denver where they'll begin a five-game road trip tonight in the Pepsi Center. The NBA extended a deadline for contract ..."
Maybe it's time to back Zach attack
"He was one of the last two Grizzlies remaining in the locker room, tidying up, toweling off, strapping his dueling cell phones to his jeans. I asked Zach Randolph if he had a favorite play from the night's work. Randolph broke out in an impossibly big smile. "The block," he said. Which is perfect, isn't it? The man scores 30 points Friday night to carry the Grizzlies to their first win of the season. He has six massive offensive rebounds and three feathery assists. And all he wants to talk is the time -- the one time? -- he got Chris Bosh's shot. The Grizzlies had been trying to keep up with Bosh and the Raptors all night. They had finally drawn within two. So the Raptors went back to ..."
Zach Randolph scores 30 as Grizzlies beat Raptors
"On opening night of the regular season, the Grizzlies didn't score enough points, put up enough resistance or even look as if they wanted to be in FedExForum. Friday night, Memphis got a mulligan and made up for its false start by beating the Toronto Raptors, 115-107, before an announced crowd of 10,563. "It's a sigh of relief. We came out with energy and guys are on the same page," power forward Zach Randolph said after tossing in 30 points to lead the Griz to their first victory this season. The Griz looked like a completely different team than the one that got pummeled by Detroit. From the start against the Raptors, the Griz accumulated deflections on defense, aggressively chased ..."
Sluggish Raptors tarnish great start
"The truth of the Raptors lies somewhere in the middle of what transpired here Friday night and the euphoria of Wednesday at home. They won't be as consistently excellent as they were against the Cavaliers; they won't be as terribly bad as they were here for stretches against the Grizzlies. But until they find that middle ground, until they are consistent in the work ethic and as accomplished on the defensive end as they are on offence, it is going to be a bumpy ride. Like it has been through two disparate season-opening outings."
Raptors' defence exposed
"While walking in Memphis, the Raptors tripped all over their toes. Only to fall flat on their collective faces. This should have been a night to build on their opening-night win over Cleveland. Instead, it exposed the Raptors as a team that can't defend the backboard in crunch time, let alone defend an opponent. It exposed Hedo Turkoglu as someone who is far from being physically able to step up when the game is on the line. Above all, last night's 115-107 loss to the host Grizzlies exposed the Raptors' soft underbelly. Maybe in time the Raptors will get tougher on defence, not allow second-chance points and show a killer instinct when a foe appears vulnerable. But not now. Wasted ..."
Iverson says he's 'ready to play' for Grizzlies
"Allen Iverson says he's ready to run with the Grizzlies if the trainers give him permission. And MRI results put Iverson closer to his goal Thursday morning when he was cleared to participate in a full-contact practice. But while Griz coach Lionel Hollins said the workout was encouraging, his understanding is that Iverson's return is targeted for Monday when the team plays at Sacramento. So the Griz are expected to be without the 10-time all-star guard for tonight's game with the Toronto Raptors at FedExForum. "I felt good," Iverson said. "It was a regular day of practice for me. I didn't feel any pain. I didn't feel fatigued to not be able to get through it. I'm ready to play. It's up to ..."
Richard Hamilton-Ben Gordon tandem key as Pistons beat Grizzlies, 96-74, in opener
"Ben Gordon and Richard Hamilton are high-scoring guards. When they're on top of their games on the same night, they can be a handful. The Memphis Grizzlies found this out the hard way. The Gordon-Hamilton tandem proved to be too much as the Pistons had little trouble putting away the Grizzlies, 96-74, in their season opener. "I'll give Detroit credit," said Zach Randolph, a Memphis forward from Michigan State. "Richard and Ben (Gordon) were on fire tonight and made tough shots." Hamilton, who left the game in the fourth quarter with a right ankle injury, led all scorers with 25 points, and Gordon scored 22 off the bench as his backup. Detroit has won six of its past eight season openers. ..."
Grizzlies fall to Pistons in season opener, 96-74
"Lionel Hollins exited the Grizzlies' huddle after a timeout early in the fourth quarter wearing a scowl and wiping his brow. Unsettling was a 22-point deficit and the Grizzlies hadn't even scored a point two minutes into the final frame. The Grizzlies coach appeared anxious before the game Wednesday night and then spent most of his team's 96-74 loss to the Detroit Pistons agitated and disappointed. Rough start? Memphis did few things right in the regular-season opener for both teams before an announced crowd of 17,212 in FedExForum. "We just came out and laid an egg," Hollins said after a game in which the Griz trailed by as many as 25 points before losing their ninth straight home opener ..."
Early fireworks, hype fade into reality for Grizzlies
"The Grizzlies started the 2009-10 season on fire before flaming out. As part of an elaborate pregame performance that featured Three 6 Mafia ... and "American Idol" finalist Lil Rounds ... and the dance troupe JabbaWockeeZ, pyrotechnics exploded behind both backboards. Big blasts that shook the building. Management spent much of the offseason working to add some sizzle, acquiring high-profile free agents Zach Randolph and Allen Iverson, and then showcasing the new-look Grizzlies at a series of open preseason practices across the city. And at FedExForum on Wednesday, the hope was to capitalize on all that good feeling and excitement. But an evening that started with fireworks ended with a ..."
Loss is a kick in the head for Griz and fans
"He was sitting in the front row, enjoying the show and the opener. Lil Rounds was great. Three 6 Mafia rapped out an introduction. The Grizzlies came flying onto the court, looking snappy in their new blue jerseys. Yes, it was good to be a Grizzlies fan, especially one sitting smack in the front row. And then Michael Edwards, the new president of the Mid-South market for First Tennessee, saw the ball bouncing his way. "They say keep your eye on the ball," he said. They apparently never sat courtside. The ball bounced into the stands followed by Tayshaun Prince of the Detroit Pistons. Prince jumped over Edwards. Well, nearly. One sneaker did not make it over. One sneaker hit Edwards smack ..."
New backcourt tandem leads Pistons to victory
"In the past, whenever a Pistons coach would yell "Two-chest!" it usually meant a play for Rip Hamilton. The call takes advantage of Hamilton's ability to move without the basketball as one of the most conditioned players in the league runs through screens until he is free for an open jumper. But when first-year coach John Kuester yelled that call Wednesday night, there was another option - shooting guard Ben Gordon. The two guards combined for 47 points and led the Pistons to an easy 96-74 opening-night victory over the Grizzlies - making Kuester a winner in his head coaching debut. The performance also put to rest doubts about whether Hamilton and Gordon could coexist - at least for ..."
Ben Wallace's defense impresses Kuester in opener
"Pistons coach John Kuester has maintained that Ben Wallace has a lot left to offer. He backed up his words Wednesday by naming the 13-year veteran the starting center for that night's 96-74 season-opening win against the Grizzlies. The other choice was Kwame Brown, but Kuester likes the defensive emphasis of Wallace to start games. "One of the things that Ben brings to us is a defensive presence right from the beginning with the way we want to defend," Kuester said. Kuester was quick to add that Brown and the other bigs -- Jason Maxiell and Chris Wilcox -- would be needed over the course of the season, and he has been a champion of Brown all training camp. Despite being considered a ..."
Richard Hamilton, Allen Iverson agree: Curry caused Pistons' problems
"Memphis Grizzlies guard Allen Iverson says his time in Detroit would have been more pleasant had John Kuester been the coach instead of Michael Curry. "It would have been a hundred percent different -- a thousand percent better," said Iverson, who won't play Wednesday night in the Grizzlies' opener against the Pistons as he's recovering from a hamstring injury. "I would have known what I was getting into. Kue would have been straightforward with me on how things were going to be." Iverson knows Kuester from Kuester's days as an assistant under Larry Brown. Iverson was acquired by the Pistons from Denver for Chauncey Billups last season. "I was ecstatic about it (the trade) when I first ..."
Rip Hamilton, Allen Iverson agree: Curry caused Pistons' problems
"Memphis Grizzlies guard Allen Iverson says his time in Detroit would have been more pleasant had John Kuester been the coach instead of Michael Curry. "It would have been a hundred percent different -- a thousand percent better," said Iverson, who won't play Wednesday night in the Grizzlies' opener against the Pistons as he's recovering from a hamstring injury. "I would have known what I was getting into. Kue would have been straightforward with me on how things were going to be." Iverson knows Kuester from Kuester's days as an assistant under Larry Brown. Iverson was acquired by the Pistons from Denver for Chauncey Billups last season. "I was ecstatic about it (the trade) when I first ..."
New era or error for the Grizzlies?
"Michael Heisley's sanity and willingness to spend have been questioned a time or 10 in the near decade he's owned the Grizzlies. But don't doubt, he says, that he wants what all Griz fans want -- a winning team worth supporting. "Contrary to what people believe, I hate to lose," Heisley said. "There isn't anything I find more painful than walking out of the arena after playing a crappy game and we've lost. And to have fans say, 'Don't worry, Mr. Heisley. Thanks for bringing the team here' ... That's nice. But I want to win." Toward that goal, Heisley has seized control of the franchise like never before. As the Grizzlies open their ninth Memphis season tonight against the Detroit Pistons ..."
Grizzlies' fans view new season as half full
"Twenty-seven hours before tipoff to another Grizzlies season, Herman Sykes offered his prediction. "Undefeated," he said. Undefeated? "Good answer!" said Ty Gadsden, who was with him. Sykes and Gadsden are in the Coast Guard. They are serious men with serious jobs. "Let the record show that the local U.S. Coast Guard is extremely optimistic about the Memphis Grizzlies season," said Gadsden. Anchors aweigh, then! Or bon voyage! Semper Fidelis? Break a leg! Tonight at FedExForum, the Grizzlies will launch themselves into their ninth season in Memphis with a game against the Detroit Pistons. "Gotta be positive," said Sykes. It may be your only chance, after all. Or it could be the first of ..."
Grizzlies courting Abdul-Jabbar
"The Memphis Grizzlies asked for and received permission to speak to Hall of Fame center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, possibly about a position with the team, a Lakers spokesman said Tuesday. Abdul-Jabbar attended opening night festivities at Staples Center, but declined to comment. Abdul-Jabbar, whose role as a special assistant to Lakers coach Phil Jackson has been decreased this season, attended the Grizzlies' practice Monday. He also had dinner with the Grizzlies' big men Sunday, according to a report in a Memphis newspaper. The Grizzlies declined comment when asked by a reporter from the Memphis Commercial-Appeal whether they would hire Abdul-Jabbar or what his role might be. Abdul-Jabbar, 62, ..."
Grizzlies in talks with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar about joining staff
"The Grizzlies added star power to their roster in the offseason with Allen Iverson. Now, they might be on the verge of hiring a Hall of Famer for the coaching staff. Legendary NBA center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar sat in on the Grizzlies' practice Monday morning. The NBA's all-time leading scorer will entertain joining the organization, several sources confirmed. Grizzlies management had no comment about Abdul-Jabbar's presence. Memphis, however, asked for and received permission from the Los Angeles Lakers to speak with Abdul-Jabbar. Abdul-Jabbar, 62, is under contract with the Lakers after having tutored Andrew Bynum over the past several seasons. But the Los Angeles Daily News reported earlier ..."
History suggests Allen Iverson can be blessing, or curse, for his coach
"Allen Iverson, wearing a white T-shirt and baggy blue shorts, sank seven straight set shots from the right elbow, each attempt eliciting cheers from an enthusiastic crowd before an open scrimmage at Memphis University School eight days ago. It was a rare public viewing of Iverson in action this preseason: He missed all eight of the Grizzlies' exhibition games, a partial tear in his left hamstring limiting him to the training room and a spot at the end of the bench. And that was where he planted himself when his teammates began playing without him at MUS, a good 40 feet of high school hardwood separating him from coach Lionel Hollins, who figures to own one of the most challenging jobs in ..."
Z-BO on their side: Grizzlies hope to benefit from having Zach Randolph
"After moving in a line about a city block long, the autograph-seeking lady finally stood in front of Zach Randolph. "Will you personalize this?" she asked, pointing to her Grizzlies poster featuring Randolph. "Yes ma'am," Randolph replied. "You killed us every time you played against us," the woman said. "I'm glad you're here." Randolph could muster only a sheepish grin in response. The common Grizzlies fan seems to shower Randolph with appreciation wherever he goes, and the maligned 6-9 power forward has reciprocated, so far, by displaying his best on and off the court. Randolph will put on a No. 50 Grizzlies jersey Wednesday, and then spend every day getting fitted for a new image ..."
The Grizzlies' new math: 4 top-flight scorers + 1 basketball = winning?
"When Lionel Hollins daydreams about how the retooled Grizzlies will function on offense, he closes his eyes and sees a basketball purist's delight. The Grizzlies' head coach pictures the ball shifting from hand to hand, mimicking a pinball machine with strong offensive threats O.J. Mayo, Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph and Allen Iverson serving as the flippers. It doesn't matter who ultimately scores, as long as the attempt was made easy by sharing. When Hollins opens his eyes Wednesday for the Grizzlies' regular-season opener in FedExForum, he'll see a Memphis Grizzlies team that critics give little chance of functioning as an effective offensive machine. Yet Mayo, Gay, Randolph and Iverson -- ..."
The Grizzlies from A to Z
"A: ... is for Arthur, Darrell? Alternate road jerseys? Nah, just messing with you. It's for A.I., of course. The Answer. Allen Iverson -- the franchise's first superstar, and one with an aura, a presence, an undefinable and undeniable something, that a few superstars would go down to the crossroads to possess. B: Buzz. How sweet the sound. C: Cocksure and cold-blooded -- qualities we like in a point guard, but haven't quite seen from Mike Conley. But we'll give him the benefit of the doubt, for now, based on his 39 games last season after Marc Iavaroni was fired as head coach and replaced by Lionel Hollins -- averages of 14.3 points (on 45.4 percent shooting overall, 41.3 on 3-pointers), ..."
Rookie DeMarre Carroll wins Grizzlies training camp award
"DeMarre Carroll weighs just 212 pounds, but he would sign up for offensive line duty if his profession suddenly became football. The Grizzlies' rookie doesn't put a lot of stock in size and physical gifts. He's about hustle and heart. "I'm one of those dirty-work guys," he said. Carroll's grit didn't go unnoticed over the past several weeks. The 6-8 Birmingham native, capable of playing both forward positions, shined so much during Grizzlies training camp that he earned the fifth-annual Don Poier "Pride of Training Camp" Award. An unscientific, team-wide poll made Carroll the pick. Shane Battier, Lawrence Roberts, Hakim Warrick, Stromile Swift and Marc Gasol are past winners of an honor ..."
Griz coach Hollins wants Mike Conley to assert himself
"There is an audible segment of the Grizzlies' fan base still doubting his ability to run the club. The third-year point guard is critiqued by family members, and his coaches are no longer enablers to Conley's laid-back approach. "He has to be his own worst critic to get better," Griz assistant coach Damon Stoudamire said. "Mike can't be satisfied with playing cool." The Griz are about to enter a regular season with their most talented roster since the start of the 2007 campaign. That also happens to be the same year Conley was selected fourth overall in the NBA draft. The organization seemed somewhat content with bringing Conley -- a 19-year-old out of Ohio State -- along slowly at that ..."
OJ Mayo growing into role as complete player
"He has brought a pass-first, do-the-little-things mindset to training camp in hopes of accomplishing a few things. Mayo desperately wants to win, become more of a complete player and force the Griz to be cohesive, even at the expense of his own game. The second-year guard and runner-up to Chicago's Derrick Rose for last season's NBA Rookie of the Year award almost sounds as if he's happier about not being asked to be a dynamic scorer. "I figure I can do all of the intangibles," Mayo said as the Griz prepare to face the Miami Heat tonight in preseason action. "You may not see 30 points that night but if you look across the (statistical) line you can see I dibble-dabbled a little everywhere. ..."
Wade scores 35 as Heat gets past Grizzlies, 99-93
"Grizzlies rookie DeMarre Carroll planted his feet and waited for the NBA's reigning scoring champion to make his move. With Memphis trailing by a point and about 27 seconds left, Carroll bit. Miami's Dwyane Wade dribbled to 18 feet of the basket, delivered a head fake and drew contact while in the act of shooting. The basketball swished through the nets as a whistle blew. Carroll shook his head while Wade calmly converted a free throw to complete the three-point play. The Griz fell behind by four points and didn't score again Wednesday night before losing, 99-93, during preseason action in AmericanAirlines Arena. Too much Wade. Too many missed shots. Too little focus. Wade finished with 35 ..."
Translates to Fans
"Grizzlies center Marc Gasol granted ESPN Deportes an interview and smiled while dismissing another reporter. "You're not going to understand this," Gasol quipped. The NBA sure understands Spanish-speaking players and the importance of their audience. With 15 percent of the league's total fan base being Hispanic (roughly 18 million), the NBA launched a new campaign this week to help grow interest. Gasol is among several players who will contribute to the league's most comprehensive Hispanic campaign yet. "It's great," Gasol said. "It's not just Spain. But everybody in Mexico and South America loves the NBA. I'm excited about it. It's new for me because I haven't been in many campaigns.""
Wade makes the most of his minutes in victory
"There was the lethargic start and disjointed finish -- more than enough to push the Heat to keep smoothing out the rough spots. If nothing else, though, Wednesday night gave the Heat reassurance that Dwyane Wade can pull them out of sticky situations. Wade snapped Miami out of its doldrums by scoring 11 points in the final six minutes of the opening quarter, then capped a 35-point evening with a three-point play that sealed a 99-93 triumph over the gritty Memphis Grizzlies. Showing no signs of the bruised calf that kept him out of a pair of weekend practices, Wade went 13 of 23 from the floor as the Heat (2-4) won its second consecutive preseason outing despite the absence of Michael ..."
Wade in regular-season form, with 35 in exhibition win over Grizzlies
"Apparently Dwyane Wade can turn it on when he wants. Wednesday night, in the Heat's home exhibition finale, Wade wanted. So he scored 14 of the Heat's first 20 points and had 19 by halftime of what turned into a 99-93 victory over the Grizzlies at AmericanAirlines Arena. "I wanted to be aggressive, get my rhythm," he said. Feisty to the point that he was arguing with replacement referees who likely will be replaced by the real thing in time for next week's season opener, Wade pushed and prodded his teammates all the way back from what was an 18-point first-quarter deficit. Wade entered with a 16.3 preseason scoring average on 38.6-percent shooting, coming off of a bruised left calf that ..."
Results on court will get results in stands for Grizzlies
"The Memphis Grizzlies thumped the Detroit Pistons on Saturday. Not to be greedy, but how about another one of these on opening night? Only this time, with Allen Iverson in the lineup. This time, with the house band cranking it out live. This time, with — let's go crazy, shall we? — fans in the stands. Yes, fans. You know, spectators. People who pay for tickets and enter the building and eat chicken fingers and cheer. I know they exist in this city, because they filled this building to overflowing Friday night. That was for a college basketball practice. On Saturday night, the Grizzlies played an actual game. And nobody came. Well, not nobody. Henry Turley was at the game. And Arnold Perl. ..."
Grizzlies still have questions about chemistry
"Coaches never buy into the hype or hysteria. In this case, the Grizzlies can't possibly be as finely tuned as they appeared Saturday night while drubbing the Detroit Pistons. Nor are Lionel Hollins & Co. as inept and uninspiring as their effort against Atlanta showed earlier in the week. So what to make of the Grizzlies -- with seven new players in tow -- and their rehearsals so far? It's difficult to put much stock in preseason statistics because of the odd lineup combinations and irregular playing time given key players. But the up-and-down nature of the Grizzlies' performances since Hollins began to play his regulars together for long stretches is indicative of a team still courting ..."
Grizzlies lose Darrell Arthur to injury for rest of preseason
"Grizzlies forward Darrell Arthur sat out Saturday and will miss the rest of the preseason because of a right partial pectoral tear. Arthur originally suffered a pectoral strain a week before training camp began. He aggravated the injury last Monday during the Grizzlies' preseason loss against the Orlando Magic. A timetable has not been set for Arthur's return. "It sets him back from a conditioning and learning perspective," Griz coach Lionel Hollins said. "Those other guys will be moving into his spot as we go forward. When you get hurt during the season, it's always a problem trying to catch up when you come back." Arthur appeared in three preseason games after missing the first week of ..."
Grizzlies' defense cools off Pistons
"The Grizzlies entered FedExForum on Saturday night with an assortment of messy blotches on a preseason canvas that figured to present an identity by now. But their 115-94 preseason victory over the Detroit Pistons was easy on the eyes, making it less difficult to see how the Griz envision their style of play. Memphis came out in attack mode on both ends of the court, and led by as many as 28 points before securing their second win of the exhibition season. "Everybody was just doing their job," point guard Mike Conley said. "We were taking the little things for granted early in the preseason. We're a young team so we can't afford to do that. Coach got on us. If we can play offense off our ..."
Grizzlies, Rudy Gay talking, but no deal reached
"Unless there is significant progress in negotiations, it appears the Grizzlies and forward Rudy Gay will not agree to a long-term contract extension before the Oct. 31 deadline. Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace said Thursday that the discussions, while amicable, are about where they've been since the summer. Wallace has negotiated with Gay's agent, Jeff Austin, since July 1. They have met in Las Vegas, Memphis and briefly in Richmond, Va., where the Griz played a preseason game against the Washington Wizards. Wallace would not characterize their most recent talks, and it is not known where each side stands with regard to total compensation. "We've had our discussions. We'll have ..."
Will age add insult to injury for Iverson and his all-out style?
"Allen Iverson called his wife after the second day of Grizzlies training camp and shared some unsettling news: His hamstrings were tight. He sensed something was wrong. At 34, he knew his body. And no matter how much he practiced at Birmingham Southern College, his legs refused to loosen up. He realized this was the result of a long summer of relative inactivity. Fearful of injury before he signed a deal, he had held himself out of pickup games and largely limited himself to shooting drills — a good idea, in theory. But on the sixth day of camp, during an open scrimmage that doubled as his public unveiling with his new team, Iverson felt his left hamstring pop when he tried to change ..."
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