Memphis Grizzlies Preview

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MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

Key Additions: Jerryd Bayless (FA), Wayne Ellington (trade)

Key Losses: O.J. Mayo, Dante Cunningham, Gilbert Arenas

Projected Starting Lineup:
PG: Mike Conley
SG: Tony Allen
SF: Rudy Gay
PF: Zach Randolph
C: Marc Gasol

Role Players: Bayless, Ellington, Mareese Speights, Darrell Arthur, Hamed Haddadi, Qunicy Pondexter

Comments: The Grizzlies are a great example of what I don't like about the NBA. This team has everything you would like in a starting lineup. Solid passing ability, athleticism, low post play, wing defense. But, they are in a mid-market town without a true superstar so they probably won't win any titles. I do hope a team like the Grizzlies, Pacers, or Nuggets win an NBA title soon, because the NBA is on a path where you need multiple superstars to win a championship, and it is time a team reverses that trend. Maybe it is just the old conspiracy theory that the NBA won't allow a team like this to win the title (as evidence by the sometimes blatant superstar refereeing), I just really hope that isnt true.

Mike Conley and Greg Oden played together at OSU. Everyone thought that Oden was a sure fire pick, and Conley should have stayed in school longer. Conley has been the better player by light years. He is a solid shooter, gets his teammates the ball off of screens and in the posts, and has done a much better job of not turning the ball over. No one on this team is particularly flashy (except Gay at times), but they are solid, and Conley is a good example. Bayless is a combo guard that is supposed to be the lightning in a bottle off the bench. The Grizzlies will need his offense, because they have relied on OJ Mayo to carry the scoring off the bench. Without Mayo, they might have a big problem on offense without Gay and Randolph; Bayless could help to solve it.

Tony Allen is probably the best on-ball defender in the NBA. And I don't even have to explain it, because this video does. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JXkab5C7j0 (turn up the volume). He is abysmal on offense, but thats ok, because he is vital to the Grizz success with his hustle and fast hands that lead to easy buckets in transition. Wayne Ellington is another player that could pick up Mayo's scoring load off the bench. He has battled injuries while in Minnesota, but if healthy is a very good shooter. His quickness and offensive ability balance Allen's strength and defense nicely.

Rudy Gay, is the Grizzlies most talented player, but not always their best player. For the Grizzlies to win the west, Gay needs to play like an all-star every night, not just some. He is athletic and can drive to the basket with ease. He has an inconsistent jump shot as well, but has the unique ability to get up his shot in any situation. Gay is also a superb defender with long arms and quick feet. Besides his inconsistency, Gay needs to learn how to play alongside Randolph. They both need their shots, but they play at different parts of the court, so their games have the chance to mesh. Gay plays on the perimeter and drives, and Randolph operates in the post.  Quincy Pondexter is the backup, but he is nothing special. An OK defender, and a mediocre corner 3 guy, he isn't going to strike fear in anyone when he replaces Gay for his 10 min a game.

I think Zach Randolph is one of the most talented low post scorers in the NBA. When he is making his fadeaway 12 footer, he is actually unstoppable. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7_htGob6zg. He is great with that left hand, and gets a ton of his own misses for putbacks. He was amazing in those playoffs in 2011, but not great last year. If he can't play with Gay, they might have to look in a different direction, but both are so talented offensively that I would try every way to make it work. Darrell Arthur missed all of last season, and he was needed. He is a great defender and pick and roll player, similar to Taj Gibson in Chicago. He will bring some offense and energy to the second unit. Mareese Speights was Arthur's replacement. While he shoots too many shots for a big man, Speights is another big body with offensive talent on this team. The frontcourt of the Grizzlies will not be their problem.

Marc Gasol was much improved last season, and I will go ahead and say it. He is better than his brother Pau. Yep. Marc may not have the same shooting ability, but he is tough, can score down low, and passes extremely well for a big man. Pau just doesn't have the same tenacity inside even if he is more offensively talented. The offense kind of flows around Gasol even if he doesnt get a ton of assists or scores. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCe5oN0zl6o. Hamed Haddadi, I believe is the tallest player in the NBA. He is also from Iran. He also is not great, but I wonder how many 7-2 Iranian guys are out there. Also did you know that 17% of the world's 7 footers play in the NBA. Thats how you got to do it.

The Grizzlies are where the Hawks have been this year. A very talented roster with a few all-star caliber players that will have trouble making it out of the second round. If Gay develops a bit more and learns to play with Randolph so that both can be effective at the same time, this team has a real chance. Also, it needs to replace Mayo's scoring on the bench. I fear, however, that a 4 or 5 seed is in their future.

Next Up, Los Angeles Lakers