Warren G.
Westside Regulator
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2007
- Messages
- 498
- Reaction score
- 1,044
- Points
- 93
<div><object width="420" height="339"><param name="movie" value="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/x2cmah_marc-cohn-walking-in-memphis_music" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/x2cmah_marc-cohn-walking-in-memphis_music" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="339" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always"></embed></object><br /><b><a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/x2cmah_marc-cohn-walking-in-memphis_music">Marc Cohn - Walking In Memphis</a></b><br /><i>by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/classics007">classics007</a></i></div>
Franchise History
We begin in bucolic Vancouver, named by certain Canadian sympathizers as one of the most livable cities in the world. Its status as the third largest film production center in North America has even earned it the nickname "Hollywood North." The Grizzlies franchise, christened here in 1995, quickly became a hotbed for elite NBA talent. That is, if you have a flexible definition of "hotbed." The following are just a few members of Vancouver's Cavalcade of Stars:
Bryant "Big Country" Reeves, Mike "The Deadline" Bibby, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Michael Dickerson, Milt Palacio, Damon Jones, Steve Francis' vapor trail...
Peace, y'all!
Alas, Bigfoot isn't the only beast that leaves tracks in the Pacific Northwest. Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley bought the team and promised to keep it in Vancouver, then a season later, proceeded to do the Tennessee Two-Step right on down to Memphis. Fast forward through the Hubie Brown/Mike Fratello playoff era to last season. Head coach Marc Iavaroni (33 W - 90 L) was dismissed by Wallace exactly halfway through the season, replaced by Lionel Hollins. OJ Mayo finished second to Derrick Rose in Rookie of the Year balloting thanks to an 18.5/3.8/3.2 campaign. The Grizzlies handed the PG reins to Mike Conley by trading Javaris Crittenton to the Wizards for a future 1st rounder, then sending Kyle Lowry to the Rockets two months later. And in spite of the Blazers' public threat to sue any team who signed Darius Miles for the purpose of forcing Portland to add the remaining $18M on his contract to their salary cap, the Grizzlies bit the bullet.
Your 2009-2010 Memphis Grizzlies
Owner: Michael Heisley
General Manager: Chris Wallace
FUN FACT: In his press conference after being hired as Jerry West's replacement, Wallace said "I’m here to build a championship team." Wallace forgot to mention was that team was in Los Angeles.
Head Coach: Lionel Hollins (Arizona State)
NBA W/L Record: 31-72, .301
NOTE: This is Hollins' third stint coaching the Grizzlies; he ran the show as an interim coach in 1999-2000 and again in 2004. Hollins' successor in 2000 was Sidney Lowe, former Cavs assistant and JJ Hickson's head coach at NC State. Hollins' successor in 2004 was Mike Fratello, former Cavs head coach.
Assistant Coaches
Johnny Davis (Dayton): Davis has been an NBA head coach four times, including on an interim basis between Marc Iavaroni and Lionel Hollins.
Henry Bibby (UCLA): Needs no introduction, his gametes are legendary.
David Joerger (Moorhead State): Won multiple championships as an NBDL/minor league coach, has had 18 D-League players called up to the NBA in 4 years.
Barry Hecker (Frostburg State): I got nothin'.
Damon Stoudamire (Arizona): Hollins sought Stoudamire as a coach due to the team’s respect for the former Memphis player.
11|Mike Conley|G|6-1|180|10/11/87|Ohio State|2
5|Marcus Williams|G|6-3|210|12/3/85|Connecticut|3
32|OJ Mayo|G|6-4|210|11/5/87|USC|1
4|Sam Young|F|6-6|220|6/1/85|Pittsburgh|R
55|Marko Jaric|G/F|6-7|224|10/12/78|Serbia|7
22|Rudy Gay|F|6-8|222|8/17/86|Connecticut|3
1|DeMarre Carroll|F|6-8|212|7/27/86|Missouri|R
|Trey Gilder|F|6-9|185|1/24/85|Northwestern State|NBADL 1
00|Darrell Arthur|F|6-9|225|3/25/88|Kansas|1
50|Zach Randolph|F|6-9|260|7/16/81|Michigan State|8
45|Steven Hunter|F/C|7-0|240|10/31/81|DePaul|7
33|Marc Gasol|C|7-1|265|12/9/85|Spain|1
15|Hamed Haddadi|C|7-2|254|5/19/85|Iran|1
34|Hasheem Thabeet|C|7-3|263|2/16/87|Connecticut|R
Depth Chart
PG|Mike Conley|Marcus Williams|Marko Jaric
SG|OJ Mayo|Marko Jaric
SF|Rudy Gay|Sam Young
PF|Zach Randolph| Darrell Arthur|DeMarre Carroll|Sam Young
C|Marc Gasol|Hasheem Thabeet|Hamed Haddadi|Steven Hunter
Off Season
Additions:
Draft: Hasheem Thabeet - DeMarre Carroll - Sam Young
Zach Randolph – Acquired from Clippers for Quentin Richardson
Steven Hunter – Acquired from Nuggets for conditional 2nd round pick
Marcus Williams – Signed as FA
Trey Gilder – Signed out of D-League
Subtractions:
Hakim Warrick - Signed with Milwaukee
Darko Milicic - Traded to New York
Quinton Ross - Signed with Dallas
Greg Buckner – Traded to Toronto
Mike Wilks - Unsigned
Summary
Just a season after exchanging Gasols with the Lakers in the interest of cutting payroll, GM Chris Wallace unloaded Quentin Richardson's expiring $9.3M contract for the Sixteen Million Dollar Man, Zach Randolph. Memphis opted for length in the draft, choosing Connecticut pivot Hasheem Thabeet with the #2 overall pick. Thabeet gives Memphis an imposing defensive presence, though he'll need to work diligently on the offensive end in order to reach his potential. In DeMarre Carroll and Sam Young, the Grizzlies added a pair of hard-working forwards. Owner Michael Heisley renounced the team's qualifying offer to Hakim Warrick, allowing the athletic scoring forward to join the Bucks as an unrestricted free agent.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A13PKLR-HyY
With a short guard rotation, Hollins might choose to play Randolph at either PG or SG thanks to his elite decisionmaking and sharpshooting abilities.
Quentin Richardson upon learning he's been traded for Zach Randolph. Thankfully for Quentin, he was traded only three other times during the offseason. The NBA, where hot potato happens.
A footnote to the offseason thus far - The Grizzlies refuse to confirm that they've made an offer to Allen Iverson, but Chris Wallace recently issued the following statement: "We have had a strong level of interest in Allen Iverson since the beginning of free agency and we have made that very clear to him."
Predictions for the 2009 Season:
30-52, 4th in the Southwest
This team looks like it has enough talent to climb out of the cellar in the Western Conference's Southwest Division, if only because of Houston's offseason faceplant. Rudy Gay spent the summer working with Memphis' strength coach, and should be a much more physical player at a weight of over 240 pounds. OJ Mayo and Marc Gasol each have a season of NBA experience under their belts. Hamed Haddadi, the developmental Iranian center, is making strides and could eventually be a solid rotation player a la Marcin Gortat. Mike Conley improved his production under coach Hollins, and the Grizzlies went 5-2 last season when he scored over 20 points.
All in all, this is a young team with quite a bit of potential. However, youth is sure to come with growing pains. And when the youngsters find themselves adrift in the NBA tides, they can surely depend on stable veteran leadership from Randolph, Steven Hunter, and Marko Jaric. Jaric certainly won't be preoccupied with other things...
Predictions for the 2010 Offseason:
The Grizzlies move back to Vancouver, spurred by LeBron James' newfound desire to play a key part in the Canadian film industry.
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