February 2
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The Grizzlies traveled to Atlanta with good news in the standings and the infirmary. Having ended a four-game losing streak Tuesday with a win over the Denver Nuggets, the Griz learned Wednesday afternoon that forward Zach Randolph is making considerable progress and his rehabilitation from a torn right medial collateral ligament is on schedule. A magnetic resonance imaging examination indicated to team physicians that Randolph is healing as expected. He is expected to soon begin non-contact basketball drills on the court."
January 16
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Grizzlies power forward Zach Randolph is clutching a pair of black crutches instead of rebounds these days. He wears a somber expression and not that familiar game-time scowl. It has been two weeks since the Grizzlies' heart and soul suffered a slight tear of the medial collateral ligament in his right knee. The bad news is Randolph still is looking at four to six additional weeks of recovery time. The good news is he'll begin a rehabilitation regimen this week after receiving nothing but rest since the injury occurred during a Jan. 1 loss at Chicago."
January 6
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The Grizzlies have quickly found out a couple of things about themselves as they abruptly hit the reset button on this season. They still have the pieces in place to become the resilient squad that overcame adversity last season. And Zach Randolph's expected eight-week absence because of a torn right medial collateral ligament doesn't necessarily mean the Griz have to change their style. Now, it's just a matter of fine-tuning the areas in which the Griz should excel with or without Randolph, and collectively commit to making up for Z-Bo's scoring."
January 4
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph will miss up to eight weeks after magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed that he suffered a slight tear of the medial collateral ligament in his right knee, sources with knowledge of the situation told The Commercial Appeal. The injury will not require surgery and doctors will re-evaluate Randolph in two weeks."
January 3
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The practice door swung open Monday and Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph emerged, dragging his leg because of a bruised right knee. Today, Randolph hauls his injured knee to the doctor for magnetic resonance imaging that will determine the extent of his injury. Randolph is believed to have a bruised medial collateral ligament, which usually is nothing serious. However, barring miraculous healing, the Grizzlies' power forward will sit out tonight's home game against the Sacramento Kings."
January 2
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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It wasn't a pretty sight. Grizzlies power forward Zach Randolph fell to the court, rolled around and writhed in pain while he clutched his right knee late in the first quarter. Teammate O.J. Mayo had just missed a layup and fell into Randolph's legs, wiping out the Grizzlies' most valuable big man. After several minutes, Randolph finally rose to his feet Sunday night but walked gingerly to the locker room and out of the game with a bruised right knee. And just when you thought things couldn't possibly get any uglier, Randolph's teammates worked hard at making that so. The Griz were destroyed by the Chicago Bulls, suffering an embarrassing 104-64 defeat in the United Center. Unfortunately"
December 28
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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At about 2:35 p.m. Tuesday, Ruby Armour rushed to the end of the line at FedExForum, hoping to secure two free tickets to the Memphis Grizzlies' first home game tonight against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Ever the optimist, Armour, 51, was at the back of a line that snaked from inside FedExForum, down the steps, meandering south on Third Street and curling around the corner onto Linden. Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph had bought 500 tickets to give away, two each for the first 250 people. She wanted a pair. "I'm a diehard fan and I need some tickets," said Armour, from Hickory Hill. "I have a son who came all the way from overseas playing basketball. I just wanted to get him in as a"
December 11
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Zach Randolph heard the whispers. Supposedly, he would be the face of this past NBA lockout for all the wrong reasons. With a new four-year contract, his advanced age and critics questioning his motivation, Randolph had been pegged to be fat and off his game when delayed training camps finally began. If anybody was going to revise the role of 1999's Shawn Kemp, it had to be the Grizzlies' 6-9 power forward. But Randolph sat next to teammate Rudy Gay the other day, bragging about a bet he won after scoring on more than 10 dunks last season. Randolph turned to Gay and confidently asked to up the ante to 20 this time around. A lean, toned frame and recent YouTube videos of him catching"
November 15
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Rudy Gay stood directly behind Mike Conley in New York as the National Basketball Players Association announced Monday it would disband and file an anti-trust suit against the NBA. Zach Randolph sat at home in solidarity and disbelief. The Grizzlies' trio might not be seen together in action again for some time. In the wake of the players rejecting the owners' latest proposal and a probability that the 2011-12 season will be canceled, Memphis' franchise players are now seriously considering other options."
November 8
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph's reunion on the court with teammate Rudy Gay has been postponed. Randolph will not participate in Gay's charity basketball game tonight at the DeSoto Civic Center because of flu-like symptoms that have dogged him the past couple of days. Randolph, the Grizzlies' strapping power forward, confirmed Monday in a text to The Commercial Appeal that he was forced to pull out of the game. Speculation is that Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge could replace Randolph. Gay already has assembled an All-Star cast that includes Kevin Durant, LeBron James, John Wall, Tyreke Evans, O.J. Mayo, Josh Selby, Tony Allen, Ronnie Brewer, Anthony Morrow, Corey"
September 27
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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With the ink barely dry on a four-year contract extension he signed in April, Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph knows exactly what he stands to lose if the NBA season is lost due to a labor dispute. But Randolph insists that collecting on the first year of a deal that pays $66 million guaranteed with $5 million in incentives isn't his main concern regarding the league-imposed lockout. Randolph says he's willing to miss the 2011-12 NBA regular season and a big payday rather than accept a bad deal."
September 27
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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With the ink barely dry on a four-year contract extension he signed in April, Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph knows exactly what he stands to lose if the NBA season is lost due to a labor dispute. But Randolph insists that collecting on the first year of a deal that pays $66 million guaranteed with $5 million in incentives isn't his main concern regarding the league-imposed lockout. Randolph says he's willing to miss the 2011-12 NBA regular season and a big payday rather than accept a bad deal. "If that's a sacrifice we have to make (in order) to make it better for the future then, yeah, I'm OK with it," Randolph said in a telephone interview. "I'm definitely prepared financially.""
August 23
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The latest incident threatening Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph's reputation reportedly began with a drug deal gone bad over the weekend. On Monday, police in suburban Portland, Ore., detailed an incident in which a man said he was beaten after attempting to sell marijuana at Randolph's home. James Beasley, 26, told police that he was encouraged to sell marijuana to guests at an after-hours party in Randolph's mansion. But something went wrong around 4 a.m. Saturday, according to an Oregonian report. "Mr. Beasley said four to seven people jumped him and beat him bloody with pool cues," Sgt. James Rhodes, a Clackamas County Sheriff's Office spokesman, told the newspaper. Beasley told"
August 22
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Police served a search warrant at a Portland, Ore., home belonging to Zach Randolph but the Grizzlies power forward was not a suspect in their investigation early Sunday morning, according to an Oregonian newspaper report. Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. James Rhodes told the newspaper that Randolph was at the West Linn property at the time police served the warrant. Rhodes said the search warrant came as part of a drug-related assault that occurred at the home early Saturday morning. A man who was at the home told police he was assaulted with a pool cue by multiple people. Police said Randolph was at home at the time of the incident but was not a suspect in the assault. The victim was treated"
May 14
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The Grizzlies gave Zach Randolph some space to work with, and their strapping power forward plowed a road back to Oklahoma City for a Game 7. Randolph put together a 30-point, 13-rebound performance that guided the Grizzlies to a 95-83 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 of their Western Conference semifinal Friday night in FedExForum. Memphis tied the series 3-3, and will play the deciding game Sunday at Oklahoma City for a chance to meet the Dallas Mavericks in the conference final. Randolph had been limited to 31-percent shooting over the previous four games. This time, he made 12 of 22 shots and scored 12 points in the fourth quarter as the Grizzlies pulled away. "He never"
May 13
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Zach Randolph arrived in Memphis in 2009 as an accomplished NBA player. But he's experienced a lot of career firsts with the Grizzlies, and today the 6-9 power forward added another one. Randolph was named to the All-NBA third team for the first time in his 10 seasons. He also became the first player in franchise history to pick up All-NBA honors. Randolph, who made his first All-Star team in 2010, said the recognition validates hard work, and the commitment he made to winning and refurbish his image. "It's a blessing," said Randolph, who averaged 20.1 points, and a career-high and franchise-record 12.2 rebounds during the regular season. "I came here and there was a lot of speculation and"
May 6
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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In all that surrounded Game 2, the Oklahoma City Thunder held a players-only meeting. It began at Kevin Durant's house and ended in the paint with the Thunder crowded around Grizzlies power forward Zach Randolph. Game 3 will be a test of how well Randolph and the Griz took notes. By their own admission, the Griz didn't handle the aggressive infiltration of their offense with the intelligence that's guided them to this point. Memphis watched film Thursday morning and the popcorn-less viewing only confirmed what the team already knew: Oklahoma City did nothing special. The Griz had poor spacing. They made bad decisions passing the basketball and settled for jump shots. "They packed it in on"
May 3
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Like a burly heavyweight packing an iron southpaw fist, the Grizzlies began their Western Conference semifinals fight by continuously clubbing the Oklahoma City Thunder with a roundhouse blow that is Zach Randolph. So expect the Thunder to tweak strategy in order to limit Randolph's impact tonight in Game 2 at the Oklahoma City Arena. But will the Thunder be ready for the Grizzlies' counterpunches if they choose to double team the post? The Griz spent the second half of the regular season proving they are hardly a one-hit wonder. And their Plan B when the opponent crowds Randolph has been increasingly effective in the playoffs. Just ask the San Antonio Spurs, who sent two and three"
April 30
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Antonio McDyess grabbed. The Spurs power forward shoved. He pushed. He bumped. He banged. He was so close that he could smell Zach Randolph's breath, could hear him inhale and exhale. But in the final minutes of Game 6 in a first-round Western Conference series with the Spurs facing elimination Friday night at FedExForum, McDyess couldn't stop the Grizzlies' Randolph. Randolph scored 17 of his game-high 31 points in the fourth quarter to give No. 8 seed Memphis a 99-91 win over the top-seeded Spurs. "After the game, I tried to rewind what I could have done better defensively," McDyess said. "I think I played pretty good defense on Zach. I tried to make things as tough as I could on him."
April 19
Memphis Commercial Appeal
columnist Geoff Calkins
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Zach Randolph, franchise player. Can we go ahead and call him that now? The Trail Blazers discarded him because they didn't want him hanging around with Greg Oden. The Knicks gave him up for cap room to pursue LeBron James. The Clippers ditched him to make room for Blake Griffin. The Grizzlies got him because, well, who else were they going to get? "At the time, he might have been the only player who would have accepted a trade to the Grizzlies," said assistant coach Damon Stoudamire, who played with Randolph during his Portland days. So it was done. A misbegotten team got a vagabond player. Two years later, neither would have it any other way. Randolph is the face of the Memphis"
April 18
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Turns out that Zach Randolph's Game 1 performance Sunday afternoon against the San Antonio Spurs came with added motivation. The Grizzlies' forward is set to sign a four-year contract extension this week worth $66 million guaranteed with an additional $5 million in incentives, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation. Randolph's agent, Raymond Brothers, and Griz general manager Chris Wallace agreed to a deal in principle late Saturday night, the sources said. Randolph is expected to sign the contract Monday or Tuesday with the Griz making an official announcement before Wednesday's Game 2 against the Spurs. Within the past week, both sides agreed on financial terms that"
April 13
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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On the subject of toughness, Zach Randolph struggles to find the right words. How do you describe being a bully on the low block and an unstoppable force on the boards and having an appetite for the bruising contact that comes with the job? "It's just in me," Randolph said. "I'm not backing down from nothing." Randolph's words will serve as the Grizzlies' mantra when the NBA playoffs begin this weekend. The league's second season is normally ruled by teams that defend at a high level and have a dominant post player. That's why the Griz are confident they will pose a difficult challenge for their first-round opponent. Sure, the Griz will have to deal with a higher seed with a certified"
April 13
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Tony Allen and Zach Randolph dressed. They both jogged around during the pre-game, warm-up routine. Then they sat on the Grizzlies' bench and never took the court. With two of their most dynamic players resting to nurse nagging injuries, the Griz fell to the Portland Trail Blazers, 102-89, Tuesday night in what was a battle for the Western Conference's sixth seed in the Rose Garden. Portland locked up the sixth slot with its victory. Finishing higher in the playoff standings wasn't as important to the Grizzlies, who fell back into the eighth slot and would take on the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs if the playoffs began today. Memphis will end the regular season tonight on the road against"
April 5
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Zach Randolph was named the NBA's Western Conference Player of the Week today, the third time the Grizzlies' power forward has received the honor this season. Randolph led the Griz to a 3-0 record for games played March 28-April 3. He was the only player in the league to average 20 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Last Friday, Randolph amassed 28 points, 10 rebounds and a season-high seven assists in a 93-81 win at New Orleans. The Grizzlies' magic number for clinching a playoff berth is three. They play again at 7 p.m. Tuesday at home vs. the Los Angeles Clippers."
April 4
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Opposing teams look at Zach Randolph's hands, and fear the feathery jump shot and strength to corral even the most improbable rebounds. Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins sees the grip Randolph has on his team and worries where the franchise would be without its prolific power forward. Randolph was an All-Star snub and might be hard-pressed to win any postseason honors this season. However, Hollins considers Randolph the Grizzlies' most valuable player with the franchise on the verge of locking up its first playoff berth since the 2005-06 season. "Of course, he's our MVP," Hollins said of Randolph. "Ever since he's been here we've been a good team. Last year we didn't have enough to get over"
March 22
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Grizzlies center Marc Gasol chased down a loose ball, dived at center court and came with away with a floor burn and the basketball. He flung a pass to Zach Randolph, who flipped the ball to Mike Conley and the rest of the play seemed to epitomize the Grizzlies' 103-85 victory over the Utah Jazz on Monday night in FedExForum. Conley darted into the lane and lobbed the ball at the rim, where Sam Young threw down an alley-oop dunk that electrified the crowd of 12,688. The Grizzlies played with boundless energy for a second straight game - this time, adding a season-high 33 assists to a performance that kept them with a strong hold on the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoff"
March 21
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Zach Randolph has been a pillar in the post for the Grizzlies over the past two seasons. Now, the gutsy power forward seems closer to cementing his place in Memphis for several years to come. The Griz initiated and held serious contract negotiations with Randolph over the past week, and both sides continue to discuss the framework of a four-year deal that could be finalized soon. Randolph's agent, Raymond Brothers, and Griz general manager Chris Wallace confirmed that they have been involved in constructive talks after months of inactivity. "I think they're serious," Brothers said of the Grizzlies' intent to sign Randolph. "I'm optimistic we'll get something done." Memphis, which hosts"
February 27
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Jason Williams whipped a pass behind his back to a fellow teammate bearing the last name Gasol, who soared toward the rim for an easy layup. There also was a moment Saturday night when Shane Battier took advantage of an isolation play, put the ball on the floor and tossed in a reverse layup. From the bench, Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins looked on with the same nostalgia and enthusiasm that 16,028 had throughout his team's 120-92 victory over the Sacramento Kings in FedExForum. The Grizzlies looked every bit like a playoff team in more ways than one. They throttled one of the NBA's worst teams and did so with contributions from all 12 guys who played, including contributors on the"
February 24
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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It didn't take long to discern how the Grizzlies would respond Wednesday night to a bitterly disappointing loss at Denver the night before. Showing more energy and making a conscious effort to play off their big men, the Grizzlies jumped on the Minnesota Timberwolves early and cruised to a 104-95 victory in the Target Center. "We got the kinks out and we came back ready to play," forward Zach Randolph said after leading the Griz with 24 points, 10 rebounds and the determination to limit Minnesota's double-double machine, Kevin Love. "Everybody contributed. That's what we need to win games without Rudy (Gay)." The Grizzlies' first game since Gay was diagnosed with a partially dislocated"
February 11
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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There was a good reason Monday why Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph had one of those rare games in which he failed to achieve a double-double in points and rebounds. Because on that night, the world champion Los Angeles Lakers, with future Hall of Fame guard Kobe Bryant and three of the most athletic 7-foot players in the league, determined their priority would be stopping a 6-9, 260-pound, round-shouldered, 30-year-old forward with underwhelming leaping ability. "Get into Randolph early" were the pregame instructions scribbled on the dry-erase board in the Lakers' dressing room. "He's clever, and he's got a game which he's adapted to," said admiring Lakers coach Phil Jackson. "He's"
February 4
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph failed to earn a second consecutive All-Star appearance tonight when NBA coaches left him off the list of Western Conference reserves. The 6-9, 10-year veteran made his first career All-Star trip last season. But Randolph was denied his bid to become the first player in franchise history to earn multiple All-Star berths despite averaging 20 points and 13.2 rebounds this season."
February 1
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The NBA named Zach Randolph the Western Conference Player of the Week today, marking the second time this month the Grizzlies' power forward picked up the honor. Randolph averaged 20.8 points and 15 rebounds in leading the Grizzlies to a 3-1 record with wins over the Toronto, Philadelphia and Washington last week. Randolph's strong play pushed Memphis back to a .500 record (24-24) for the first time since Nov. 8 when the Griz had played just eight games."
January 30
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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O.J. Mayo has promised to return from his NBA-imposed, 10-game suspension in the best shape of his life physically and mentally. The Grizzlies' shooting guard will need to if he plans on keeping up with his running mates on the bench. If the question is just how the Griz will compensate for Mayo's absence due to his violation of the league's anti-drug policy, then the answer apparently will come in many forms. The Washington Wizards certainly had a difficult time solving Griz backup forward Darrell Arthur on Saturday night in FedExForum. Arthur tossed in a career-high 22 points on 9-of-11 shooting to help guide the Grizzlies to a 107-93 victory and a .500 record. Zach Randolph extended his"
January 11
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph today was named NBA Western Conference Player of the Week for games played Jan. 3-9. The Miami Heat's LeBron James won Eastern Conference honors. Randolph placed fourth in the Western Conference in both scoring (28.0) and rebounding (14.3) for the week, as the Grizzlies posted a 2-1 mark. Randolph posted point-rebound double-doubles in all three contests, including a 31-point, 16-rebound effort during a 110-105 win over Oklahoma City on Jan. 4. Memphis is 8-5 this season when Randolph posts at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. Randolph also had 26 points and 11 rebounds in a 110-99 victory over the Utah Jazz, and 27 points and 16 rebounds and two blocks in a"
January 5
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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With the game hanging in the balance, the Grizzlies threw the ball inside to Zach Randolph and benefited from his veteran savvy as much as a number of important, fourth-quarter baskets. With the game seesawing, the Griz depended on Tony Allen for dynamic defensive plays, clutch free throws and uncharacteristic marksmanship from beyond the 3-point arc. Whether the Griz have truly figured out recurring issues with consistency remains to be seen, but their poise and maturity were on display Tuesday night throughout a 110-105 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in FedExForum. Memphis, playing without top reserve O.J. Mayo due to bronchitis, earned its second straight victory over a quality"
December 24
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Zach Randolph is often credited for having a big heart and the Grizzlies' All-Star power forward invites you to see it smile. That's how Randolph describes the feeling of giving back to the community during the holiday season. It's with a smiling heart and a humble background that Randolph has played Z-Bo Claus to help make Christmas bright for hundreds of underprivileged children in Greater Memphis. Randolph, a Marion, Ind., native, is 29 and rich with NBA talent. However, he hasn't forgotten his childhood as the kid who used to routinely sleep on the floor as one of four kids growing up in a two-bedroom house. "I can understand. People can relate to me because I came from an environment"
December 12
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Occasionally, Tony Allen can simply be known as "The Closer." Allen only plays spot duty for the Grizzlies. He's always prepared and ready to cover the opposition with his defensive intensity. That couldn't have been more evident Saturday afternoon when Allen tied his team record with four steals in the fourth quarter of the Grizzlies' 84-83 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in Staples Center. Memphis (10-14) ended a four-game road trip by winning back-to-back games when Clippers guard Baron Davis' 18-footer bounced off the rim as the final buzzer sounded. Allen, the veteran guard signed during the offseason, drew special praise from Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins afterward. "Tony"
November 21
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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O.J. Mayo and Zach Randolph did not start Saturday against the Miami Heat because they arrived late for the Grizzlies' shootaround. Griz coach Lionel Hollins announced the discipline about 90 minutes before tip-off. Rookie guard Xavier Henry and third-year forward Darrell Arthur started instead. "I'm just trying to let everybody know, it's about the team," Hollins said. "Guys have to represent, follow the rules, and respect your teammates." Hollins said both players were more than a few minutes late. Randolph said he thought the practice was scheduled for 4:45 p.m. The Griz met at 4:30. "It's a one-time thing," Hollins said. "If they had been this way before, they wouldn't have started"
November 10
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Zach Randolph sat near the Grizzlies practice court Tuesday afternoon wearing ice bags on both knees and a smile on his face. The 6-9 All-Star power forward was his usual jovial self. Off the floor, the spirit of a possible contract extension for Randolph is lukewarm at best. The Grizzlies have not yet offered Randolph a deal. Therefore, no discussions have taken place about securing his future in Memphis. The 29-year-old enters tonight's game against Dallas after amassing 23 points and 20 rebounds Monday in a 109-99 win over Phoenix. Randolph is averaging 18.3 points and 15 rebounds (with three double-doubles) in three games after missing the previous four contests because of a bruised"
November 9
Memphis Commercial Appeal
columnist Geoff Calkins
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Zach Randolph gets the ball on the block just long enough to draw the double team, then finds O.J. Mayo for the jump shot. Mayo misses. So Randolph hauls down the rebound and puts in himself this time. "Z-Bo!" yells the little girl behind me. She keeps this up pretty much the whole game. She yells "Z-Bo!" and "Zach!" and "Zach Randolph!" Then she yells, "Daddy!" and Randolph waves. The little girl is his 5-year-old daughter, MacKenly. "I like coming to the games when my daddy plays," she says. Out of the mouths of babes, eh? Grizzlies fans -- and coaches and players -- like it a lot, too. The Grizzlies evened their record at 4-4 Monday night, defeating the Phoenix Suns, 109-99,"