May 13
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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As the Grizzlies have fought for their playoff lives in the last week, Griz forward Zach Randolph has consistently had a friendly reminder for point guard Mike Conley. "Mike's like my little man," Randolph said, "so I always tell him that 'you're just as good as (all-star guards) Chris Paul, Derrick Rose. ... They put their shoes on the same way you do, so you gotta come out with that confidence and believe in yourself.' And that's what he has been doing." Almost lost in the Grizzlies' rally to force today's Western Conference first-round series-deciding Game 7 against the Clippers in FedExForum is the fact that Conley has played superbly from the opening tip of Game 1. Just from a sheer"
March 1
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The Grizzlies stopped short of calling their precious two practice days a mini training camp earlier this week. But they covered a lot of ground — figuratively and literally. The team ran what seemed like miles for conditioning purposes the first day. The second day was geared toward sharpening its execution with great emphasis on details. Griz coach Lionel Hollins then commended his players Wednesday night for how well they handled everything he threw at them. The Dallas Mavericks found out, too, during the Grizzlies' 96-85 victory before a crowd of 17,023 in FedExForum."
February 20
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Mike Conley isn't the NBA's assist king or the subject of its latest hype machine so far this season. However, Conley always seems to give the Grizzlies just what they need. His style -- quietly going about the business of putting the Griz in good hands -- is again evident during a four-game winning streak. "It's nice to have a point guard that's solid and has a good feel for what you're trying to do," Griz coach Lionel Hollins said."
November 14
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Memphis Grizzlies player representative Mike Conley realizes that he's in New York today to deliver the biggest assist of his NBA career. The point guard will meet this morning with National Basketball Players Association executive director Billy Hunter, union president Derek Fisher and 29 other player representatives to discuss the league's revised and final proposal for ending a 41/2 -month-old lockout. "There are some things as players we want to be done in order for the deal to be right," Conley said in a telephone interview. "Hopefully, this next proposal is close enough that we can live with it and be able to play." If NBA commissioner David Stern presented a significantly better"
September 8
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Mike Conley decided not to wait for an end to the NBA lockout to direct the Grizzlies. The point guard took charge and mobilized his teammates for a mini-camp in Memphis this week. Conley, Rudy Gay, Tony Allen, O.J. Mayo, Zach Randolph, Xavier Henry and Sam Young reunited at a local gym early Tuesday. Ish Smith and second-round draft pick Josh Selby were expected to join the group Wednesday. The Grizzlies will practice together all week minus Darrell Arthur and their foreign teammates. Marc Gasol, Greivis Vasquez and Hamed Haddadi are playing with their national teams in Olympic-qualifying tournaments."
April 20
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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He is no longer a conundrum. Those days are history. Mike Conley is confident, and the Grizzlies' calm, collected and uncontested answer at point guard. The 23-year-old floor general also will wake up this morning having to play a big role in an important subplot to the Grizzlies' first-round playoff series with the San Antonio Spurs. Amid wide-spread commentary geared toward Manu Ginobili's expected return from an elbow injury is a point guard duel that likely will play a large role in deciding the series. San Antonio is expecting a more efficient and explosive Tony Parker tonight in Game 2 after his opening-game offensive struggles. Memphis, though, is hardly conceding the match-up"
February 16
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Yes, the Grizzlies are again limping into the All-Star break. The difference this year is they have a winning streak to help ease the pain. Players are banged up and bruised physically, dealing with several different injuries, but the Grizzlies' record isn't hurting like it did at this time a year ago. Memphis cruised to its fourth straight victory Tuesday night, beating the Philadelphia 76ers, 102-91, before a crowd of 11,197 in FedExForum despite losing forward Rudy Gay to a strained left shoulder in the second quarter. The Griz (31-26) won for the 12th time in the past 15 outings, putting together their finest stretch of the season to move to a half game of Denver and Utah for seventh"
February 1
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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With the basketball rolling toward him and the final horn blaring to denote the Grizzlies' latest triumph, Lionel Hollins did a little jig that included a Michael Jackson-esque spin. "It was elation," the Grizzlies coach said. There was plenty to be happy about Monday night after the Grizzlies' earned a 100-97 victory over the Orlando Magic before 13,513 in FedExForum. Hollins became the franchise's winningest coach on a night his players followed their game plan to the letter. The Grizzlies' two leading scorers, Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph, were the focus of the Magic's defense, so Hollins implored point guard Mike Conley to be an offensive force. Conley obliged, and amassed 26 points"
December 27
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Perhaps Mike Conley best described the injury he suffered late in the Grizzlies' victory over the Indiana Pacers Sunday night. Or at least the Grizzlies' point guard more accurately gave the gory details. "It was the weirdest, nastiest thing I've ever seen," Conley said. Conley received six stitches to close a severe cut on his right hand. The webbing between his ring and pinky fingers was split open after an Indiana player inadvertently stepped on Conley's hand while he braced himself on the court following a missed steal attempt. Conley said the player's foot slid into his hand, causing both fingers to spread wide enough for the webbing to detach. The incident happened with just 34.3"
December 1
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Mike Conley carried a season-high 28 points and the basketball into the Grizzlies' final offensive possession. And then he committed a turnover. That left Kobe Bryant racing down the floor in a two-point game with a chance to force overtime or end the Los Angeles Lakers' losing streak. Conley held his breath, and waited for help. The Griz knew they needed a total team effort and absolute focus Tuesday night, and they got just that in beating the Lakers, 98-96, before a crowd of 17,638 in FedExForum. Bryant ended up with the basketball off Conley's turnover, darted into a crowd of defenders and passed the ball out to Ron Artest. The Lakers forward elevated for a game-winning shot attempt"
November 3
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Mike Conley wasn't thinking about pressure as he prepared to play his first game after signing a five-year, $40 million contract with the Grizzlies. The 23-year-old Grizzlies point guard admitted the deal was a bit of a bombshell but said his play shouldn't surprise anyone moving forward. Conley, the fourth player taken in the 2007 draft, is off to the best start of his career. Before the Griz faced the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, Conley was averaging career highs with 15 points, 8.3 assists and 5.7 rebounds to go along with a league-leading 3.67 steals per game. His message to skeptics wondering if he can keep this up after three up-and-down NBA seasons? "I forget the past very"
November 2
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Mike Conley is enjoying a career year after three games, and he has been rewarded. The fourth-year point guard reached an agreement with the Grizzlies on a five-year contract extension guaranteed at $40 million, according to sources with knowledge of the negotiations. Conley's deal could be worth more if he meets certain incentives. The agreement was reached just before an 11 p.m. CDT deadline Monday. Conley, the fourth overall pick in 2007, joined Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant (No. 2 overall pick), Atlanta's Al Horford (No. 3) and Chicago's Joakim Noah (No. 9) as the only players drafted in 2007 who received deals. Notable players such as Oklahoma City's Jeff Green, Portland's Greg Oden"
November 1
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Today is the deadline for Griz point guard Mike Conley (right) to receive a contract extension, and it seems 50/50 as to whether one will come about. Asked via text if the Grizzlies have even OFFERED Conley a contract to consider, general manager Chris Wallace replied: "Talking, nothing done yet." Of the 2007 draft class, only Chicago's Joakim Noah and Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant have gotten deals. Notable players such as Atlanta's Al Horford, Oklahoma City's Jeff Green, Portland's Greg Oden and Houston's Aaron Brooks haven't been shown any love by their teams."
October 5
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Grizzlies starting point guard Mike Conley reached the lane on a drive to the basket with his understudy, Acie Law, defending. Conley then froze Law with a stutter-step dribble on his way to an uncontested layup Monday during a training camp practice. Scoring a contract extension won't come as easily for Conley. The Griz have not entered negotiations for a contract extension with Conley and have no imminent plans to do so. Conley, 22, was the fourth overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft, and he reacted with indifference. "My focus is me coming out with a chip on my shoulder regardless of whether I'm signed or not," Conley said. "I'm going to play as if I was somebody working to get a contract"
April 18
Memphis Commercial Appeal
columnist Ronald Tillery
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The question was put to him again, for a second straight April, in order to test Mike Conley Jr.'s awareness of the confusion he tends to create. Why does it take so long for him to get going and is the end-of-the-season Mike Conley the real Mike Conley? "This is the real Mike Conley," he said. "This is what I can do in the league. This is what I should do. Next year is going to be the year I prove that I can do this the whole year." In truth, it's an answer that still begs the question: Can he? That's what the Grizzlies must consider during another offseason as they evaluate what has become a lightning rod: the point guard position. This Mike Conley -- the aggressive player who scored in"
December 1
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The Grizzlies played Monday night without two starters — forward Rudy Gay and point guard Mike Conley. Conley dressed but wasn't available due to the left shoulder strain he suffered Sunday in the team's loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. Gay left the team to attend a funeral for a family member in his hometown of Baltimore. Griz coach Lionel Hollins inserted rookie swingman Sam Young and veteran point guard Jamaal Tinsley into the starting lineup in place of Gay and Conley. Gay asked for and received permission to board a red-eye flight from Los Angeles to Baltimore Sunday following the Grizzlies' game against the Clippers. He is expected to rejoin the team Wednesday when it concludes a"
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"
October 23
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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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"
March 25
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Mike Conley's progress continues to provide a recurring theme for the pregame talks Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins conducts with the media. The conversation was no different Monday night before the Grizzlies took on the Miami Heat in American Airlines Arena. Reporters catching up with Hollins for the first time since he took over the bench often ask what's been the key to developing a snapshot of his second-year point guard's potential. Hollins' detailed responses could be summed up in a word: freedom. Conley's newfound autonomy on the court is an ongoing process -- something demonstrated recently by Hollins' growing confidence. "In the past few games, I've given him the whole list of"
January 27
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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His first NBA head coach is gone. The trade discussions have disappeared, too. What Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley has in front of him now is a new coach dangling a floor general's favorite carrot: Freedom. One of Griz coach Lionel Hollins' first acts as Marc Iavaroni's successor was to pull aside Conley before practice for a short and snappy sidebar. "He told me how much freedom I'll have and what he's expecting," Conley said, smiling. "He wants me to put the jets on and push the ball." Conley kept smiling. He couldn't stop, actually. Hollins has said that the team's style change may not be totally evident tonight when the Denver Nuggets visit FedExForum with designs on spoiling his"
January 15
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The Grizzlies want to deal second-year point guard Mike Conley to the Milwaukee Bucks, and receive guard Ramon Sessions and swingman Joe Alexander in return, but the ball doesn't appear to be in their court. Milwaukee is apparently weighing the proposal as talks are ongoing, based on conversations with people knowledgeable about the trade discussions. Griz general manager Chris Wallace declined comment, citing the team's policy to not discuss trade rumors. The Grizzlies, though, have no reservations about consummating the transaction in its current two-for-one form. They are looking to unload Conley, the fourth overall pick in the 2007 draft, while he's mired in his second performance funk"