Wednesday night, the Grizzlies face off against a re-tooled New Orleans Pelicans team. They have some young guys like Anthony Davis (averaging 22 PPG/12 RPG). This team isn't a pushover. They lost 104-98 at Phoenix Tuesday night, setting their record at 1-3.
Even with missing F Ryan Anderson's 3-point shooting prowess, this team has some talented parts. Davis is gonna be a handful for either Randolph or Gasol. Davis can out-jump either, and he's gonna be a focal point of New Orleans' offense. He's also a good shot blocker. Fortunately, Memphis has Kosta Koufos who can come in and defend Davis/sacrifice some fouls in defending Davis.
New Orleans also has Al-Farouq Aminu at small forward, 7-footer Jason Smith at center, Eric Gordon at shooting guard, and Jrue Holiday at the point. This starting lineup is competitive. I would guess they will want to run as much as reasonably possible. This should give Memphis fits in the first half, since the Grizz have made slow starts an ongoing habit. Aminu is a willing wingman on the break, although he isn't the most electrifying skywalker on the break. Gordon shoots a lot, but is a decent shooter. Holiday is quick enough to stay with Conley on both ends. This Pelicans team matches up with Memphis pretty well.
Bench play may be the deciding factor. The Bayless that scored 15 fourth quarter points against Boston can give Memphis a huge lift. Will we see that Bayless tonight? Some combination of Koufos, Ed Davis and Jon Leuer will have to produce on both ends against Davis.
New Orleans has former University of Memphis Tiger Tyreke Evans coming off the bench. He's good at handling the ball and getting to the rim as a hybrid guard. His outside shot still needs work. Anderson's injury (chipped toe on right foot) takes away an offensive threat that New Orleans may not be able to replace. G Brian Roberts and SF Anthony Morrow are quality substitutes that will keep Bayless and Pondexter occupied when both teams use second unit personnel.
New Orleans is averaging just under 101 PPG early on. Memphis is averaging 104.5 in its' first four games. That is close to my final score guess - Memphis 103, New Orleans 101. It will be an entertaining game. Davis will be the best player on the floor, and people are gonna start talking him up as Most Improved Player. He'll get 25 points, 15 rebounds, 3 blocks and a couple of "oh, my" moments.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Monday, November 4, 2013
My Team - Grizzlies versus Boston
Saturday night in Dallas, Memphis fell behind 16 points by the end of the first quarter, and couldn't climb completely out of that hole. Gasol, Randolph and Conley scored well (combined for 68 of the team's 99 points). The rest of the team shot 13/40 FG/A. Obviously, that won't do. Monday night, the Grizz host the new-look Celtics. Boston is 0-3, after a Sunday night loss at Detroit.
The Celtics have guys who have been productive members of a rotation in other places (Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, Brandon Bass, Courtney Lee, Jordan Crawford). With Rajan Rondo still out (recovering from torn ACL), where will they get easy buckets?
Sunday night, rookie Kelly Olynyk came off the bench to lead Boston with 15 points. He also tied Avery Bradley for the team lead with 8 rebounds. Bradley, who scored 13 points in the loss, was the only starter in double figures.
Since Memphis had Sunday night off, and Boston is in this back-to-back, I expect an ugly game. Memphis will score a little more efficiently this time, but maybe not as many as against Dallas.
I expect the final to be something like Memphis 90, Boston 76. The Grizzlies' three leaders will do just that. Randolph, Gasol and Conley will get around 18 apiece. The bench will get more playing time Monday night, since Memphis will be comfortably in control most of the game. Maybe Allen, Prince and guys off the bench will use this game to rediscover their shooting strokes.
The Celtics have guys who have been productive members of a rotation in other places (Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, Brandon Bass, Courtney Lee, Jordan Crawford). With Rajan Rondo still out (recovering from torn ACL), where will they get easy buckets?
Sunday night, rookie Kelly Olynyk came off the bench to lead Boston with 15 points. He also tied Avery Bradley for the team lead with 8 rebounds. Bradley, who scored 13 points in the loss, was the only starter in double figures.
Since Memphis had Sunday night off, and Boston is in this back-to-back, I expect an ugly game. Memphis will score a little more efficiently this time, but maybe not as many as against Dallas.
I expect the final to be something like Memphis 90, Boston 76. The Grizzlies' three leaders will do just that. Randolph, Gasol and Conley will get around 18 apiece. The bench will get more playing time Monday night, since Memphis will be comfortably in control most of the game. Maybe Allen, Prince and guys off the bench will use this game to rediscover their shooting strokes.
Friday, November 1, 2013
Old Dude, Old Movies - "Scandal Sheet"
Released in 1952, this is an intense picture that film noir fans will like. Broderick Crawford leads a strong cast. John Derek. Donna Reed. Harry Morgan. Rosemary DeCamp. This team is first-rate. The story is taut and suspenseful. Well-done, all around.
Crawford is "Mark Chapman", the editor, heart and soul of a formerly esteemed New York paper that turned into the gossip rag named in the title. Derek is "Steve", the star reporter who aspires to be just like his boss. Steve is a streetwise punk reporter who doesn't mind being unscrupulous in order to scoop the competition. Morgan is Steve's sidekick photographer "Biddle", capable but jaded by seeing too many murder scenes. Reed is "Julie", the features writer and product of a finishing school. She's deeply disillusioned by the paper's slide into low-brow tabloid journalism.
The paper is running roughshod over the community, but Chapman doesn't care as long as the paper's net worth continues to grow. The paper is increasingly profitable, the stockholders cash the dividend checks (even as they complain about the tone of the paper), and he's a big man in the city.
He manipulates his readers in big ways and small. The paper even stoops so low as to put on a "lonely hearts" dance (young folk, ask your grandparents or other seniors about this). In his cynical way, Chapman wants to manipulate the gathering into fodder for several sensational front-page stories. Lonely men and women of all shapes and ages have gathered, with the hope of finding love. Off to one side, a middle-aged lady named "Charlotte" (DeCamp) takes in the proceedings. Eventually, she gets up the nerve to approach Chapman, and coerces him into talking. Later that evening, Charlotte ends up dead.
This type of lurid, salacious story is the type Steve loves to chase. With Biddle in tow, Steve runs all over town after clues. He is every bit as tenacious as his boss, and he knows breaking this case before any other paper (or even the police) will put bonuses in his pocket as well as Mark's. "Charlie Barnes" (Henry O'Neill), a former colleague who's down on his luck, has evidence identifying the murderer. Charlie's penchant for drink has killed what was a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporting career. Even now, as Charlie tries to tell Steve and Julie what he has, his fondness for booze undermines his veracity. Charlie their doubt & decides to take his information to a rival paper. As he approaches the building of the rival paper, a shadowy figure lures Charlie into an alley. Charlie gets bludgeoned to death, and the headlines get even more feverish.
As Steve gets closer, Mark also realizes his professional dream of actually owning the paper comes within reach. Mark directly profits from his low-brow approach to handling news, but he has secrets that could ruin it all.
Finally, Steve finds another person who can identify Charlotte's killer. The climax is tense, and the look on Steve's face when the killer is confirmed is priceless.
This is a great movie. The more I see Derek's work as a younger actor, the more I like it. He had a way with the young, sharp-dressed supremely confident guy. He held his own and then some with pros like Crawford and Reed. If you love film noir and get a chance to see this film, do it.
Crawford is "Mark Chapman", the editor, heart and soul of a formerly esteemed New York paper that turned into the gossip rag named in the title. Derek is "Steve", the star reporter who aspires to be just like his boss. Steve is a streetwise punk reporter who doesn't mind being unscrupulous in order to scoop the competition. Morgan is Steve's sidekick photographer "Biddle", capable but jaded by seeing too many murder scenes. Reed is "Julie", the features writer and product of a finishing school. She's deeply disillusioned by the paper's slide into low-brow tabloid journalism.
The paper is running roughshod over the community, but Chapman doesn't care as long as the paper's net worth continues to grow. The paper is increasingly profitable, the stockholders cash the dividend checks (even as they complain about the tone of the paper), and he's a big man in the city.
He manipulates his readers in big ways and small. The paper even stoops so low as to put on a "lonely hearts" dance (young folk, ask your grandparents or other seniors about this). In his cynical way, Chapman wants to manipulate the gathering into fodder for several sensational front-page stories. Lonely men and women of all shapes and ages have gathered, with the hope of finding love. Off to one side, a middle-aged lady named "Charlotte" (DeCamp) takes in the proceedings. Eventually, she gets up the nerve to approach Chapman, and coerces him into talking. Later that evening, Charlotte ends up dead.
This type of lurid, salacious story is the type Steve loves to chase. With Biddle in tow, Steve runs all over town after clues. He is every bit as tenacious as his boss, and he knows breaking this case before any other paper (or even the police) will put bonuses in his pocket as well as Mark's. "Charlie Barnes" (Henry O'Neill), a former colleague who's down on his luck, has evidence identifying the murderer. Charlie's penchant for drink has killed what was a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporting career. Even now, as Charlie tries to tell Steve and Julie what he has, his fondness for booze undermines his veracity. Charlie their doubt & decides to take his information to a rival paper. As he approaches the building of the rival paper, a shadowy figure lures Charlie into an alley. Charlie gets bludgeoned to death, and the headlines get even more feverish.
As Steve gets closer, Mark also realizes his professional dream of actually owning the paper comes within reach. Mark directly profits from his low-brow approach to handling news, but he has secrets that could ruin it all.
Finally, Steve finds another person who can identify Charlotte's killer. The climax is tense, and the look on Steve's face when the killer is confirmed is priceless.
This is a great movie. The more I see Derek's work as a younger actor, the more I like it. He had a way with the young, sharp-dressed supremely confident guy. He held his own and then some with pros like Crawford and Reed. If you love film noir and get a chance to see this film, do it.
My Team - Game 2 of 82 - Grizzlies versus Detroit
Friday night, Memphis gets to open the home season at FedEx Forum. Ought to be a sell-out, a raucous crowd of Memphians cheering on the home team. Detroit isn't a pushover, though.
Even with Jennings and Stuckey being out with injuries, Detroit looked cohesive against Washington Wednesday night in an 11-point victory. Expect more of the same on Friday in their first road game of the year. Monroe and Josh Smith up front will be handful for Memphis' front line. Monroe went for 24 points and 16 rebounds. Memphis needs to check him off the boards.
In Memphis' opening loss at San Antonio, there were some interesting signs. One, the team took 93 shots (quite a few for this team). Maybe the same will happen on Friday night. Also, Mike Miller went 2/3 in 3 PT FG/A, as a part of his 11 points off the bench. Prince only played 20 minutes in the opener, and may be at a matchup disadvantage in this game. Gasol scored 14 and added 9 rebs in 34 minutes, but Randolph only scored 2 in 25 minutes. The Grizzlies need more from each player up front.
For Friday night, Ed Davis and Jon Leuer may be keys, as young frontliners who have to match Detroit's Drummond-Monroe-Smith combination. Bynum will direct the offense, but Conley should be able to match Bynum's effort. Allen should also win his matchup with Billups.
If it becomes a run-and-gun game, Detroit could squeak out a victory. I'm rooting for Memphis, but I wouldn't be surprised if Detroit pulled out a 105-99 or so victory. If the Grizz are 0-2 after Friday night, will the organization start to feel some pressure?
Even with Jennings and Stuckey being out with injuries, Detroit looked cohesive against Washington Wednesday night in an 11-point victory. Expect more of the same on Friday in their first road game of the year. Monroe and Josh Smith up front will be handful for Memphis' front line. Monroe went for 24 points and 16 rebounds. Memphis needs to check him off the boards.
In Memphis' opening loss at San Antonio, there were some interesting signs. One, the team took 93 shots (quite a few for this team). Maybe the same will happen on Friday night. Also, Mike Miller went 2/3 in 3 PT FG/A, as a part of his 11 points off the bench. Prince only played 20 minutes in the opener, and may be at a matchup disadvantage in this game. Gasol scored 14 and added 9 rebs in 34 minutes, but Randolph only scored 2 in 25 minutes. The Grizzlies need more from each player up front.
For Friday night, Ed Davis and Jon Leuer may be keys, as young frontliners who have to match Detroit's Drummond-Monroe-Smith combination. Bynum will direct the offense, but Conley should be able to match Bynum's effort. Allen should also win his matchup with Billups.
If it becomes a run-and-gun game, Detroit could squeak out a victory. I'm rooting for Memphis, but I wouldn't be surprised if Detroit pulled out a 105-99 or so victory. If the Grizz are 0-2 after Friday night, will the organization start to feel some pressure?
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
My Team - Game 1 of 82 - Grizzlies at San Antonio
Ok, it's finally here. On Wednesday night, the Grizz start an encore to the most successful season in franchise history. So, of course they meet the team that ended their previous season. San Antonio is the solid, smart team we've known over the years.
One key addition for the Spurs is Marco Belinelli. The shooting guard from Spain adds firepower to the second unit. Otherwise, this is a familiar bunch. Duncan, Parker, Ginobili, Leonard, Splitter, Bonner and Green are all still on the team. So, this team is one of the rare ones that should get off to a good start regarding execution on each end of the court.
For Memphis, Prince wasn't completely healthy during the pre-season. So, we should see lots of Pondexter in this game. But, if he's chasing Leonard or Bonner at small forward, Pondexter will be at a height disadvantage. Intensity and hustle will allow him to make up for some of the shortfall.
Miller at backup shooting guard may end up facing Belinelli at times as well. He's big enough to do it, but will he have the requisite quickness? Or, does coach Joerger play Miller some at small forward and play Pondexter at off-guard?
Otherwise, matchups should look like the usual. I suspect Gasol gets Duncan. Randolph checks Splitter. Conley gets Parker. These matchups include some of the best players at their respective positions in the whole Association. For an NBA fan, watching off-the-ball action will be as much fun as watching baskets.
Funny thing about this matchup (to me, at least). It's a classic one-way rivalry. To Memphis, San Antonio has stood in the way of the Grizzlies getting to that proverbial "next level". The Spurs have what Memphis continually strives to accomplish. On the other hand, I don't think San Antonio sees Memphis as a large rival, not when Dallas and Houston are in the same division, and another division mate (New Orleans) isn't that far away geographically. What does the Memphis team have that San Antonio wants to take away?
Wednesday night, I expect Memphis to get off to an emotional high at the beginning, jumping out to a double-digit lead in the second quarter. And, then I expect San Antonio to methodically whittle away at the lead, finally tying the score midway through the 4th quarter. Parker will either hit shots late or make sweet passes to teammates for layups to provide the final margin.
I guess San Antonio 96, Memphis 91. It will be a hard-fought game between two good teams. Hoop heads will enjoy it.
One key addition for the Spurs is Marco Belinelli. The shooting guard from Spain adds firepower to the second unit. Otherwise, this is a familiar bunch. Duncan, Parker, Ginobili, Leonard, Splitter, Bonner and Green are all still on the team. So, this team is one of the rare ones that should get off to a good start regarding execution on each end of the court.
For Memphis, Prince wasn't completely healthy during the pre-season. So, we should see lots of Pondexter in this game. But, if he's chasing Leonard or Bonner at small forward, Pondexter will be at a height disadvantage. Intensity and hustle will allow him to make up for some of the shortfall.
Miller at backup shooting guard may end up facing Belinelli at times as well. He's big enough to do it, but will he have the requisite quickness? Or, does coach Joerger play Miller some at small forward and play Pondexter at off-guard?
Otherwise, matchups should look like the usual. I suspect Gasol gets Duncan. Randolph checks Splitter. Conley gets Parker. These matchups include some of the best players at their respective positions in the whole Association. For an NBA fan, watching off-the-ball action will be as much fun as watching baskets.
Funny thing about this matchup (to me, at least). It's a classic one-way rivalry. To Memphis, San Antonio has stood in the way of the Grizzlies getting to that proverbial "next level". The Spurs have what Memphis continually strives to accomplish. On the other hand, I don't think San Antonio sees Memphis as a large rival, not when Dallas and Houston are in the same division, and another division mate (New Orleans) isn't that far away geographically. What does the Memphis team have that San Antonio wants to take away?
Wednesday night, I expect Memphis to get off to an emotional high at the beginning, jumping out to a double-digit lead in the second quarter. And, then I expect San Antonio to methodically whittle away at the lead, finally tying the score midway through the 4th quarter. Parker will either hit shots late or make sweet passes to teammates for layups to provide the final margin.
I guess San Antonio 96, Memphis 91. It will be a hard-fought game between two good teams. Hoop heads will enjoy it.
Friday, October 25, 2013
My Team - The Grizzlies and the Upcoming Season
Next week, the NBA season starts. I look forward to it. After last year's success and subsequent change, the Grizzlies are a) a pretty good team, and b) a team with questions. How will new head coach Dave Joerger lead this team in a tough Western Conference?
On paper, it appears Oklahoma City, Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio are all better than Memphis. When you have guys like Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin or Tony Parker, your team is off to a good start. As always, each team needs good health as a key part of reaching their respective potential.
With that, I'd be ecstatic if Memphis achieved a strong four-seed come playoff time. I don't know the number of wins needed for that position, but a high-level follow-up to last season's playoff success would leave us Grizz fans pretty happy.
Let's look at the main rotation. As a fan, what would I want to see from the guys? What would help this team maximize its season? (As usual, these are my opinions.)
Zach Randolph - this is his 12th year in the league. The years & the battles in the low post are taking a toll. Perhaps him losing 5-10 pounds may help his quickness and getting his shot off. In the playoffs last year, especially against the Thunder, he did have some difficulty with quicker defenders. Eating well, getting the body maintenance to keep him going and getting plenty of rest will help him maintain a high level of play.
Marc Gasol - the reigning Defensive Player of the Year will have a target on him this season. Every night, guys will come at him to make a name for themselves. Two seasons ago, Gasol came in a bit lighter and was able to change ends quite well. Last season, he was a little bulkier (which helped him hold his position down low). Unfortunately, he too appeared to wear down in the playoffs.This year, he may be another guy who could stand to be slightly lighter. The team needs him on the floor as much as possible.
Mike Conley, Jr. - After the Rudy Gay trade, Conley had room to be more assertive offensively. With him and Gasol, the first team had markedly improved ball movement. For this year, I'd like to see Conley consistently get 16 points and 7-9 assists each game. In addition, when he's on the floor with second team guys/other substitutes, I'd like to see him get those guys easier baskets. Keep the ball moving. Have teammates get rewarded for their moving without the ball. Conley's fast becoming one of the better point guards in the Association. Just keep growing.
Tony Allen - This man not only changed the culture in the locker room, he was a positive force actually changing how the city saw itself. Not many players can do that. He needs good health, to keep up his defensive intensity. On offense, if he can get 12 points or so a night, it makes the team so much stronger. Opponents sag off him to double Randolph (and to a lesser extent, Gasol). Allen either needs to be a consistent threat from the perimeter, or pick up easy buckets on run-outs. He'll be 32 in January - asking him to re-tool his jump shot this late in his career is probably unfair. But the team needs him to be some level of threat offensively.
Tayshaun Prince - when he showed up last year, he gave the team a dose of professionalism on the floor. None of his stats were eye-popping, but he was a nice fit on both ends. In the playoffs, he lost a bit of confidence in his shot. He needs to get that back, maybe by putting the ball on the floor more to get midrange shot opportunities.
Jerryd Bayless - I know I gave this guy grief last season, mostly for shot selection. When he's on, he can excite FexEd Forum like few others. When he's off, the team's offense gets so stagnant. I'd like him to see the difference between "being hot"/"keeping up his confidence on an off-night"/"knowing to pass more because it's not his night offensively". Once he gets a better feel for that, things should proceed smoother when he's on the floor.
Mike Miller - the former Memphis player is back, after a stint in Miami. He's got his rings. He's made a good living in the Association. He's got to bring a championship mindset and hit open threes. Some nights, he may play a lot. Depending on the match-up, on other nights he may not play as much. Keeping a calm demeanor, regardless of his workload, can be a great help to the rest of the team. His example off the floor is as important as his example on it.
Quincy Pondexter - a classic tweener, who has to play aggressive to be productive off the bench. He's a bit small to cover the better small forwards. He's not quite quick enough to cover the better shooting guards. But, he's game enough to be productive in either role in small doses. And, he is one of the few consistent 3-point shooting threats on the roster (along with Miller, Conley and at times Bayless). He has to bring energy every game. He has to be another grit-and-grind guy like Allen.
Kosta Koufos - I like his post game. He can go down low like a classic center, and occasionally go to the elbow and hit a shot. For him, meshing with Randolph and/or Gasol will be key. If he backs up Gasol, he will need to be a productive pass/shoot threat from 15 feet or so. Will be efficient as a passer and spot-up shooter?
Ed Davis - the lefty from North Carolina is a great athlete for his size. He had a few solid games off the bench after coming over from Toronto. For him, consistent physicality will be a help. Yeah, he's got good fundamentals. Can he play a grown-man, NBA-caliber, grinding post game - especially face up - on an opponent?
Jon Leuer - a darling of the advanced stats set, Leuer was another guy with some nice moments off the bench last year. He may be battling Davis for minutes off the bench. When he plays, those moments must be consistently productive. Rebound, on both ends. Hit an open shot. Make the simple pass to keep the ball moving. He demonstrated last year he can do that. Now, he has to repeat that production.
Jamaal Franklin, Nick Calathes, Willie Reed, et al - Franklin, the draft pick out of San Diego State, was seen by some as Tony Allen-Lite. That may do injustice to his own career. Between him. Calathes, Reed, Andre Barrett, Melvin Ely and Tony Gaffney, at best some of these guys will be around to learn the pro game. Some of these guys probably won't be with the team at the start of the regular season. They're all competent enough, but for some it may just come down to a numbers game.
Memphis had a great run last year. This, of course, is a brand new season. Can the Grizzlies live up to expectations? Here's a cliché I'll use to end - this team could be a better team than last year, but not go as deep in the playoffs. If other teams in the West keep their main guys healthy all year, the Grizzlies would struggle getting by a healthy Thunder team, a healthy Clippers team and a healthy Spurs team in succession - similar to last season.
Still, it promises to be an exciting time in FedEx Forum this year. We need home fans to come out in droves, and show the NBA Memphis is passionate about its' team.
On paper, it appears Oklahoma City, Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio are all better than Memphis. When you have guys like Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin or Tony Parker, your team is off to a good start. As always, each team needs good health as a key part of reaching their respective potential.
With that, I'd be ecstatic if Memphis achieved a strong four-seed come playoff time. I don't know the number of wins needed for that position, but a high-level follow-up to last season's playoff success would leave us Grizz fans pretty happy.
Let's look at the main rotation. As a fan, what would I want to see from the guys? What would help this team maximize its season? (As usual, these are my opinions.)
Zach Randolph - this is his 12th year in the league. The years & the battles in the low post are taking a toll. Perhaps him losing 5-10 pounds may help his quickness and getting his shot off. In the playoffs last year, especially against the Thunder, he did have some difficulty with quicker defenders. Eating well, getting the body maintenance to keep him going and getting plenty of rest will help him maintain a high level of play.
Marc Gasol - the reigning Defensive Player of the Year will have a target on him this season. Every night, guys will come at him to make a name for themselves. Two seasons ago, Gasol came in a bit lighter and was able to change ends quite well. Last season, he was a little bulkier (which helped him hold his position down low). Unfortunately, he too appeared to wear down in the playoffs.This year, he may be another guy who could stand to be slightly lighter. The team needs him on the floor as much as possible.
Mike Conley, Jr. - After the Rudy Gay trade, Conley had room to be more assertive offensively. With him and Gasol, the first team had markedly improved ball movement. For this year, I'd like to see Conley consistently get 16 points and 7-9 assists each game. In addition, when he's on the floor with second team guys/other substitutes, I'd like to see him get those guys easier baskets. Keep the ball moving. Have teammates get rewarded for their moving without the ball. Conley's fast becoming one of the better point guards in the Association. Just keep growing.
Tony Allen - This man not only changed the culture in the locker room, he was a positive force actually changing how the city saw itself. Not many players can do that. He needs good health, to keep up his defensive intensity. On offense, if he can get 12 points or so a night, it makes the team so much stronger. Opponents sag off him to double Randolph (and to a lesser extent, Gasol). Allen either needs to be a consistent threat from the perimeter, or pick up easy buckets on run-outs. He'll be 32 in January - asking him to re-tool his jump shot this late in his career is probably unfair. But the team needs him to be some level of threat offensively.
Tayshaun Prince - when he showed up last year, he gave the team a dose of professionalism on the floor. None of his stats were eye-popping, but he was a nice fit on both ends. In the playoffs, he lost a bit of confidence in his shot. He needs to get that back, maybe by putting the ball on the floor more to get midrange shot opportunities.
Jerryd Bayless - I know I gave this guy grief last season, mostly for shot selection. When he's on, he can excite FexEd Forum like few others. When he's off, the team's offense gets so stagnant. I'd like him to see the difference between "being hot"/"keeping up his confidence on an off-night"/"knowing to pass more because it's not his night offensively". Once he gets a better feel for that, things should proceed smoother when he's on the floor.
Mike Miller - the former Memphis player is back, after a stint in Miami. He's got his rings. He's made a good living in the Association. He's got to bring a championship mindset and hit open threes. Some nights, he may play a lot. Depending on the match-up, on other nights he may not play as much. Keeping a calm demeanor, regardless of his workload, can be a great help to the rest of the team. His example off the floor is as important as his example on it.
Quincy Pondexter - a classic tweener, who has to play aggressive to be productive off the bench. He's a bit small to cover the better small forwards. He's not quite quick enough to cover the better shooting guards. But, he's game enough to be productive in either role in small doses. And, he is one of the few consistent 3-point shooting threats on the roster (along with Miller, Conley and at times Bayless). He has to bring energy every game. He has to be another grit-and-grind guy like Allen.
Kosta Koufos - I like his post game. He can go down low like a classic center, and occasionally go to the elbow and hit a shot. For him, meshing with Randolph and/or Gasol will be key. If he backs up Gasol, he will need to be a productive pass/shoot threat from 15 feet or so. Will be efficient as a passer and spot-up shooter?
Ed Davis - the lefty from North Carolina is a great athlete for his size. He had a few solid games off the bench after coming over from Toronto. For him, consistent physicality will be a help. Yeah, he's got good fundamentals. Can he play a grown-man, NBA-caliber, grinding post game - especially face up - on an opponent?
Jon Leuer - a darling of the advanced stats set, Leuer was another guy with some nice moments off the bench last year. He may be battling Davis for minutes off the bench. When he plays, those moments must be consistently productive. Rebound, on both ends. Hit an open shot. Make the simple pass to keep the ball moving. He demonstrated last year he can do that. Now, he has to repeat that production.
Jamaal Franklin, Nick Calathes, Willie Reed, et al - Franklin, the draft pick out of San Diego State, was seen by some as Tony Allen-Lite. That may do injustice to his own career. Between him. Calathes, Reed, Andre Barrett, Melvin Ely and Tony Gaffney, at best some of these guys will be around to learn the pro game. Some of these guys probably won't be with the team at the start of the regular season. They're all competent enough, but for some it may just come down to a numbers game.
Memphis had a great run last year. This, of course, is a brand new season. Can the Grizzlies live up to expectations? Here's a cliché I'll use to end - this team could be a better team than last year, but not go as deep in the playoffs. If other teams in the West keep their main guys healthy all year, the Grizzlies would struggle getting by a healthy Thunder team, a healthy Clippers team and a healthy Spurs team in succession - similar to last season.
Still, it promises to be an exciting time in FedEx Forum this year. We need home fans to come out in droves, and show the NBA Memphis is passionate about its' team.
My First Post To A Different Blog - Am I Excited?
I am honored, and more than a little giddy about this. Earlier this week, the guys at DC Sports Kings allowed me to contribute an article. As a guy who likes a) to write; b) to talk; and c) to spout opinion, I'm deeply appreciative of the opportunity. It's my first post for another blog, and I am truly excited about the chance to contribute.
I thank God for the chance to write & share my thoughts with an audience interested in the sports landscape in the District of Columbia. I thank the guys at DC Sports Kings for giving me a chance to contribute.
Feel free to check out my work. Feel free to disagree with what I write. Feel free to enlighten me on the topics we cover. Feel free to check out my fellow contributors at the blog. Feel free to follow them on Twitter (@DCSportsKings).
I'll still post stuff here, 'cause I've got a lot on my mind.
This new opportunity should be fun, though...
I thank God for the chance to write & share my thoughts with an audience interested in the sports landscape in the District of Columbia. I thank the guys at DC Sports Kings for giving me a chance to contribute.
Feel free to check out my work. Feel free to disagree with what I write. Feel free to enlighten me on the topics we cover. Feel free to check out my fellow contributors at the blog. Feel free to follow them on Twitter (@DCSportsKings).
I'll still post stuff here, 'cause I've got a lot on my mind.
This new opportunity should be fun, though...
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