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 3
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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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), ..."
November 2
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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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 ..."
November 1
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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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 ..."
October 16
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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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 ..."
September 1
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Rudy Gay wants to be an NBA All-Star. That's nothing new. He said the same thing last year. The difference now for the Grizzlies' 6-8 forward could be the strength behind his words. Gay carries, by his estimation, about 15 pounds of added muscle. He'll tell you his level of focus is immeasurable behind a strong showing during USA Basketball's July minicamp. His desire to elevate the Grizzlies is off the charts with training camp less than a month away and three consecutive losing seasons in the rearview mirror. "I want to be an All-Star. Everything I do now is trying to help me get to that point," Gay said. "If I'm at the top of my game and recognized as an All-Star, it'll mean we're ..."
March 20
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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One of the Grizzlies' offseason priorities will be to sign Rudy Gay to a contract extension. That springtime fact already puts the organization and Gay on the same page for what could be a busy summer. While the 6-8 forward is focused on finishing this regular season on a strong note, Gay has one eye on his future. And Gay said his offseason goal is to work out a deal that keeps him as an integral part of the Grizzlies' rebuilding. "As a player and a person, I want to be set going into next season," Gay said as the Griz prepared to play a road game tonight against the New Orleans Hornets. "I want to be comfortable and work on trying to be an All-Star. So yeah, (an extension) is important ..."
February 22
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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When Lionel Hollins took over as Grizzlies coach, he immediately went one-on-one with a few players. Forward Rudy Gay was among the first to visit with Hollins, who threw out an intriguing question to one of the franchise's cornerstones. "I asked him if he went 2-for-14 shooting, could he still help the team win?" Hollins recalled. "That's a question I would ask all talented, young players. Can you help us win if the ball is not in your hands and not going in?" Gay didn't hesitate, delivering a quick "no" that was probably worthy of a locker-room technical foul. "I thought it was a trick question at first," Gay said sheepishly. "I was thinking if you go 2-for-14 and you keep shooting, ..."
December 31
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Rudy Gay entered Tuesday night's contest against the Phoenix Suns in a shooting funk. The Grizzlies' forward shot 32.8 percent over the last four games, which included going 5-of-18 for the field against both Minnesota and San Antonio. "Right now, I'm searching for good shots," Gay said. "I play a lot better when I let the game come to me." Griz coach Marc Iavaroni agreed, saying players tend to lose rhythm when they put added pressure on themselves to score. "We're trying to get him going offensively," Iavaroni said. "Part of the problem is when you're trying to find something you lose sight of other things. We've talked about it. He's just got to make sure he's not trying too hard on ..."
December 9
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Gay wasn't with the starting unit for the first time this season. Veteran swingman Quinton Ross took his place and promptly sank a 3-pointer to score the game's first points. From there, the Griz sustained a scrappy effort long enough to win their second straight home game. They built a 22-point lead in the first half and withstood Houston's third-quarter surge behind a solid and opportunistic defense, and Gay's game-high 20 points in 24 minutes off the bench. "It was just one of those days," Gay said, acknowledging that he overslept. "No matter what the lineup is people are ready. That's what we're showing right now. That's all that matters." Memphis delivered one of their most complete ..."
November 2
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The Grizzlies' leading shot taker entering their third game of the season was Rudy Gay, which shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. The , fresh off his game-winning basket Friday against Orlando, had put up 17 more shots than his closest teammate, O.J. Mayo. It's a statistic that signals a bit of change in the Grizzlies' offensive philosophy under head coach Marc Iavaroni. Last season, Iavaroni shied away from featuring players with an emphasis on ball movement in a free-flowing style. The Grizzlies' offense still is predicated on ball movement, but the team's 86-84 victory over Orlando served as proof that Gay's number will be called early and often, and late and often. Asked if he ..."