Memphis Grizzlies

Welcome back, folks, to the fifth edition of this week in links. By now, you all know what this is, so let's dive right in. Grizzlies Links Rob Mahoney - SI.com: Don't be fooled by the Grizzlies Game 2 comeback: Mahoney takes a look back at Game 2, and the gist of the article is that people are overhyping the Grizzlies moral victory. While this won't be popular among Grizzlies fans, he makes some excellent points in his article, and it is a great writeup overall. He uses video to breakdown the Grizzlies uncharacteristic defensive blunders as well, which is fascinating. Ananth Pandian - Hardwood Paroxysm: Zach Randolph Rap Anthems: This is just a fan piece that changes the pace in an attempt to take your mind off of the grind of the NBA Playoffs so to speak. Enjoy. Matthew Cianfrone - Hickory-High: The Twittersphere Breaks Down Game 2: Cianfrone contributes to Hickory-High, but he used Storify to compile a list of tweets that occurred during Game 2 of the Grizzlies-Spurs series. It's really neat to take a look at what other people think about the Grizzlies and get their unique take on the way the Grizzlies play the game. To take a brief hiatus from your reading, check out this AWESOME picture below of this Grizzlies fan. That takes some serious dedication. (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) Kevin Helliker, Chris Herring, and Stu Woo - The Wall Street Journal: Analyzing The Grizzlies Left-Handed Advantage: These men talked to Frank Lawler, a Physician, who has studied the issue and has drawn some interesting conclusions from his research about the significance of having a roster full of lefties in basketball. Chris Herrington - Memphis Flyer: The Grizz Glossary: Kevin already tweeted out this link, but in case you missed it, you should give it a read. It is great writing, and thus a fun read. Plus, I don't think anybody can really get enough Grizzlies terminology. Lee Jenkins - Sports Illustrated: Hangin' With The Grizz: Jenkins followed the Grizzlies around for a week and wrote about it. The results are amazing. NBA Links Zach Lowe - Grantland: NBA Draft Lottery Observations: Lowe was one of the few media members actually at the lottery allowed in the room it was filmed in, so he was able to write about the event from a unique perspective which is always cool. Royce Young - Daily Thunder: Kevin Durant Donated $1 Million To Tornado Relief Efforts: This was by far the coolest story of the week after the tornadoes swept through the state of Oklahoma. As if we needed any more evidence to support the fact that Durant is an outstanding person off the court as well as on, he proves it to us again. He did not even give a press release when he donated the money. He is a rare breed of athlete. Joe Flynn - SB Nation's Posting & Toasting: H8ERZ Guide to The Eastern Conference Finals: Flynn does an excellent job of combining humor and basketball. 'Nuff said. Andrew Sharp - Grantland: Kawhi Leonard Conundrum: Sharp, a Wizards fan, revisits recent NBA Drafts and displays pure sadness over the Wizards not drafting Leonard when they had the chance. If you love draft retrospectives like me, this is for you. Trey Kerby - The Basketball Jones: David West Falls Asleep in Press Conference: You can watch the whole press conference if you want, but the situation with West is near the beginning. I have watched it ten times, and I laugh out loud every time. If you have any links to add, feel free to post them in the comments! Go Grizz!

A historically good season just keeps getting better. Today Marc Gasol was named to the 2012-2013 All-NBA Second Team. Gasol, who has already been named the Defensive Player of the Year, helped lead the Grizzlies to their most successful season in franchise history. Now, he's seeing personal accolades pile up. Joining Gasol on the second team are Carmelo Anthony, Blake Griffin, Tony Parker, and Russell Westbrook. The first team consists of LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, and Tim Duncan. This is an incredible honor the big fella, and he's the second Grizzly to be named to receive the distinction, the first being Zach Randolph in 2010-2011. With Gasol on the floor, the Grizzlies held opponents to an NBA best 89.3 points per game, and the Spaniard also posted 14 points, 7.8 rebounds and a career high 4 assits per game. His numbers have continued to climb, reaching 17.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2.15 blocks per game in the postseason, as he has helped Memphis advance farther than they ever have in franchise history. No one could have seen this coming when we acquired his rights several years ago in the trade for his brother, but what started out as a laugher has turned into a full-fledged win for the Grizzlies. With Gasol in his prime (28), and an ever improving Mike Conley (25, Memphis is poised for success for many years to come.

With many moons set to pass between Game 2 and Game 3, this seemed like the perfect opportunity to do a very special playoff edition of ‘While You Were Grinding.' Due to the fact that the season is still kind of going on, and the offseason hasn't technically started yet, this will also be more of an ‘Off Topic' edition. And you know what? That's a good thing. In the midst of a highly stressful playoff run, sometimes it's nice to just take your mind off basketball. The postseason offers highly entertaining basketball, and the chance to build up the archives of your sports memories database, but it can also be intensely annoying, especially at this stage. Throughout the season, we'll see fans of opposing teams sTroll their way over here and talk about how they know for a fact they have a better team than we do, but best of luck anyways. Occasionally they're right, and occasionally they're wrong, but they are always kind of annoying. In the playoffs, it gets worse, because you play the same team multiple times over the span of a few weeks, and with every win and loss, the arguments get more ridiculous and aggravating. "Seriously? You think the team you cheer for is better than the team I cheer for? Let me tell you why you're an idiot who knows nothing about basketball..." That's not to say all opposing fans aren't level headed, or even that all Grizzlies fans are. Need I remind anyone of the guy who said Austin Daye was the second coming of Larry Bird? But it's just all very tiring, even to a Grizzlies fan who said Spurs in 5.[1] You also get bombarded with media attention that a team like the Grizzlies just doesn't normally get. But I will say this; I do enjoy it, even the negative stuff, which is right up our ally. My favorite thing is how most media outlets have called Tony Allen's fall from the Manu Ginobli foul a "flop." Now let me clarify, did Tony sell the call by holding his head even though he didn't hit it? Absolutely, and undeniably. But there's a big difference between selling the contact and flopping. It's pretty tough to "flop" when you're dragged to the ground. Plus, we all know Tony pretty well by now, and it honestly isn't out of the realm of possibility that he just didn't know what was hurting yet. Tony has a screw loose, and a few wires crossed, and that's why we love him, but it could very well have caused him to freak out a bit here. Again, did he clearly hold a part of his body that he didn't hit? Yes, he did, but I don't think that's a reason to award him the United States prize for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature, and musical composition.[2] Here's a look at what you might have missed while you were grinding. Gif of the Week: via assets.sbnation.com After a disappointing first round exit, and a big pile of alleged locker room turmoil, The Clippers have decided not to bring back head coach Vinny Del Negro. They'll be linked to everyone on the market before they finally sign someone, including our very own Lionel Hollins. One non-coach they are already linked to is David West, a player they allegedly are going to make a strong push for in the offseason. It would make a lot of sense, and I'm sure Chris Paul would love playing with West again, but I'm not sure West would want to come off the bench, and unless they are going to play him at the 3 (which isn't too crazy) he would have to. If you missed out on the NBA Draft Lottery, the Cavalier's walked away big winners after securing the number one overall pick for the second time in three years. As a not too secret Cavs enthusiast, I love this so much. Conventional wisdom says they'll be taking Nerlens Noel with the first pick, and that would give them pretty great size to go with their high scoring backcourt. If Kyrie Irving can stay healthy, and I realize at this point that's a pretty big if, but if he can, the Cavs are going to be a playoff team next year. Mark it down. The Wizards also got a boos

Lionel Hollins wins 56 games, a franchise best, in the regular season: No contract extension Hollins leads the Grizzlies past the Clippers with relative ease, winning the series 4-2 to advance to the Western Conference Semifinals: No contract extension Hollins and the Grizzlies march through the Semis, beating the Thunder 4-1 to advance farther than any team in franchise history, all the way to the Western Conference Finals: No contract extension All of this information is used to precede the question: What is good enough for the new ownership group to extend Hollins' contract? And for that matter, what would be considered a "reasonable" price to this new group to re-sign a coach that has already bested franchise records in both the regular season and playoffs? The most ironic thing about all the Hollins contract hoopla is that the new ownership group was likely thinking that they might not want to spend so much to pay him what he was worth back before the Grizzlies made this playoff run. Instead of renewing Hollins contract towards the end of a phenomenal regular season, the ownership group opted to wait out the rest of the season, including the playoffs. Now, Hollins value is higher than it ever has been. Conrgatulations Robert Pera & Company. The price tag on a slightly used, helluva good coach just went up, and it's your fault that you will have to dole out more money to keep him. Just imagine Lionel Hollins sitting in his office at the Grizzlies complex after a long day's work, kicking his feet up on the desk, bending his arms and placing his hands behind his head, grinning from ear to ear, and saying "how do you like me now?" And who can blame the man? He has earned this contract extension. The ownership group and Coach Hollins WERE on a level playing field when it came to contract negotiations. The word were cannot be stressed enough, as in past tense. Now, Hollins clearly has the leverage at this point. All this leverage was gained the way anybody else gains leverage: They have other options. Coach Hollins is not short of those himself, as he has been linked to several teams that are looking for the next head coach to lead their respective franchises in the right direction. While Hollins might not have been contacted yet by several of the teams with coaching vacancies, that does not mean they won't come calling the second the Grizzlies season is over. Below are the teams that are rumored to have Lionel Hollins at the top of their coaching wish list: Milwaukee Bucks- The Bucks are at the top of the list because this might be the most enticing option for Hollins if he chooses to part ways with the Grizzlies. While other teams on this list might be closer to competing for a championship, NBA insiders have told the Racine Journal-Times out of Milwaukee that the Bucks have several talented young players that intrigue Hollins, particularly budding superstar Larry Sanders. Hollins could be salivating to develop one of the best young defenders in the league. Also, keep in mind Hollins had a brief stint as an assistant in Milwaukee in 2008, and it is not out of the realm of possibility that he built a decent relationship with management there. I don't know how big of a selling point this would be to Hollins, but his son is about to play his senior season on the basketball team at the University of Minnesota. Milwaukee is undoubtedly closer to his son than Memphis. Los Angeles Clippers- Donald Sterling finally canned Vinny Del Negro, and it looks as if Hollins is on the top of the replacement list. The Clippers could be an interesting team for Hollins because they have a strong core, and they might not be too far from making a run to the Western Conference Finals. However, most of the players on that roster would leave Hollins pulling out what little hair he has left. The style of play does not fit Hollins coaching philosophy, and I'm not sure how well he would embrace being a coach in glamorous Los Angeles. Throw in th

Struggling, startling, surprising, sobering, solidifying. Five S-words for game 2 of the Western Conference Finals in which our Memphis Grizzlies were defeated by the San Antonio Spurs. We watched some 53 minute balderdash where both teams struggled in the 1st Q, a 2nd Q where it was startling to see our starters shoot 2/16 and make it to the FT line zero times, a surprising 4th Q that saw the Griz hold the Spurs to 9 points, a sobering overtime that ended with poor, tired shooting and defeat, but perhaps revealed a new game plan and approach that's solidifying who should be playing minutes for the Grizzlies in this series. Both coaches came in with adjustments from the first game, and both teams were doing a good job of making the other stumble out of the gate. In my gamethread blurb I mentioned that I'd be okay with a first quarter resembling something like 16-14, and I guess I need to start making more ambitious demands because that's basically what we got. NBA fans were wowed by a fireworks display of Memphis' 28% shooting and San Antonio's 32%. I kept hearing about how ugly this series would be, but I'm not even sure that those pundits were ready for that first quarter. Dazzling displays of jump shots fwumping off the boards, your garden-variety Tony Allen missed layups, some gorgeous and acrobatic flopping, and Tayshaun Prince racking up a whole single turnover for his lone stat gave the first quarter the look of what some in the gamethread described as a type of high school basketball. Both coaches came in with adjustments from the first game, and both teams were doing a good job of making the other stumble out of the gate. Popovich's and Hollins' metaphorical light saber duel looked more like the scene from Space Balls rather than an epic battle from Star Wars. And to quote Dark Helmet - @#%$, I hate it when I get my Schwartz twisted. a Three Stooges routine reenacted by Allen and Randolph where they missed seven consecutive point blank shots Then the 2nd quarter happened. The Spurs went ahead and looked like they'd just cut our heads off and make this fart of a game end quickly yet painfully. Folks, we just couldn't hit anything. The Griz' 24% FG shooting and a Three Stooges routine reenacted by Allen and Randolph where they missed seven consecutive point blank shots were sandwiched by 61% shooting from the Spurs and a total of eight blocked shots in the quarter. I believe it was around this time that the officiating really started making its presence known. Boo and double boo. I don't mind getting my blood pressure up for sports, but I prefer the cause to be the elite athletes on the court and not some 50 year old sadsacks, but enough with the Tim Duncan jokes (zing!). The whole first half was an elixir of death as far as I'm concerned: The Conley fouls, the lack of effort, Tony Wroten continuing to kinda show why Dooling gets minutes. Whatever adjustment Hollins had made were countered, subcountered and altercountered (I know .. those aren't words) by Popovich in a really fluid way that was making me sick to my stomach. I was also angry. It looked like we were going to be subjected to the exact same farmhouse slop we got in game one. All I wanted was a chance to win, or at the very least not another brutal ass-kicking. The Grizzlies answered the call, thankfully, and coupled that with good ole Lady Percentages coming back into play. After abysmal shooting in the first half the Grizzlies started finding rhythm and began more aggressively seeking the better shots ... well everyone except Tayshaun Prince, but more on that later. The 3rd quarter gave us the flashy Obi Wan & Anakin Skywalker light saber duel with the Grizzlies actually outscoring their entire first half total with 33 points in the period. Tim Duncan's foul trouble gave the Griz a opportunity to mix it up in the paint and grab some second chance points. However, the Spurs matched with another 30 that was spread out by healthy contributio

The Grizzlies outscored the Spurs 21-9 in the 4th quarter last night to send the game into overtime, but they were then outscored 8-4 by the Spurs and it did them in.  The Grizzlies only shot 34% from the floor and it negated the fact that the out-rebounded the Spurs 60-46.  Jerryd Bayless (18 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 1 blocked shot in 34 minutes) and Mike Conley (18 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 1 blocked shot) led the way for the Grizzlies in this game.  Zach Randolph only shot 6 of 18 from the floor, but he still finished up with 15 points, 18 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocked shots despite only shooting 6 of 18 from the floor.  Marc Gasol pitched in with 12 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocked shots in this game despite only shooting 4 of 12 from the floor.  The Grizzlies are now down 2-0 in this series as it shifts to Memphis for Games #3 and #4.

The Grizzlies, Tony Allen and the American Red Cross are teaming up to come to aid of victims in OKC.

The Spurs hung on to win game two in overtime, despite blowing an 18-point third quarter lead, and because of that, they lead this Western Conference Finals Series 2-0. Tim Duncan scored 6 huge points in the overtime to lead the Spurs in the extra period. Let’s take a look at each team and how they look with the rest of the series looming. This article is also seen at RogersSecondTake.webs.com Memphis Memphis now heads home, a place where they are 5-0 during their postseason run. Despite being absolutely hammered in game one, and thoroughly outplayed for the majority of game two, the Grizzlies have reason to be confident heading home. Team leader Zach Randolph, who played horribly in game one, and also had a bad first half in game two, looks like he is starting to get going. He finished the game with 15 points and 18 rebounds, with much of the production coming in the second half. Without Randolph playing at the top of his game, the Grizzlies do not have a chance. He has been the constant for Memphis the past few years in the playoffs and this series can be no different. As Memphis heads back home for game three Saturday, Randolph needs to continue his surge we saw late in the game in game two. Defensive player of the year Marc Gasol is playing well for Memphis, grabbing 14 rebounds last night. When Gasol and Randolph play well together, it is nearly impossible for a team to keep up with them on the boards. Memphis lost last night, and they still outrebounded San Antonio 60-44. That needs to get better for the Spurs or they will struggle to win again in the series. Anytime you get outrebounded by large an amount, you better shoot significantly better than the other team, and yesterday San Antonio did. The group of players that got Memphis back into the game included a pair of super subs, Quincy Pondexter and Jerryd Bayless. Both gave a lot of minutes to the Grizzlies, and both made big plays down the stretch. Bayless, however, made a poor mistake in overtime. He forced a potentially game-tying three pointer with about 12 seconds left. This was a bad mistake, but all in all, the two of these bench players gave great production for Memphis. That needs to stay consistent if they want to hold serve and win their two home games to even up the series. San Antonio For about three quarters last night, the Spurs played as pretty a game as you could play. The ball was constantly moving. Shots were being made, as the Spurs knocked down nine three-pointers. The most amazing part to watch was Tony Parker. Despite shooting poorly, which was hardly noticeable while paying attention to the rest of his game, Parker finished with 18 assists. It was a phenomenal performance, and the key to it was penetration. Parker got into the paint at will. If the defenders came to him, he would dish for a dunk or a three-pointer. If nobody came, he would take the basket himself. That is what set San Antonio apart from Memphis throughout the game. San Antonio got great penetration from their guards, while Memphis did not. San Antonio made 11 field goals in the second quarter, every single one of which came off of an assist. That is a testament to the great ball movement and overall offensive flow by the Spurs. For the game, they finished with 29 assists, while the Grizzlies finished with 19. Though they blew a significant lead, I don’t think it will mentally affect the Spurs. They are too experienced for it to affect them. In fact, it may make them stronger. After blowing the lead, it would have been very tough for an inexperienced team to come back and win in overtime. But the Spurs didn’t blink, and their leader, Tim Duncan made three huge baskets. It was a testament to the experience of the team, and head coach Gregg Popovich, who did not panic after blowing such a huge lead. The Spurs remain, 14 years year after their initial championship, one of the most balanced teams in the league.

box score The Grizzlies saved Saturday. Wait, I’ve used that lead before?… [ Read more ] [ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]

The Grizzlies fought valiantly in Game 2 in San Antonio, but all for naught. They will return to the Grindhouse for Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals with a big goose egg in the win column. (Yes, I threw Western Conference Finals in there because it still feels nice to say the Grizzlies are in the WCF.) There are two positive ways to spin a 2-0 deficit in the series. One, the Grizzlies have been here before. They were down 2-0 to the Clippers and clawed their way back to win the series. My counter point to that would be the Spurs are a much more formidable opponent than the Clips. Secondly, the Grizzlies played much better in Game 2 than in Game 1. Maybe they can head home and say look we found some things that work against the Spurs, and now we just have to take care of business at home. The first thing that sticks out is that the Grizzlies need more from the big three that is Mike Conley, Zach Randolph, and Marc Gasol. Conley finished 6-14 from the field, Randolph 6-18, and Gasol 4-12. Those percentages are not what you would expect from those three. They must be much more efficient going forward in this series for the Grizzlies to have success. Add in the fact that the rim seemingly had Grizzlies repellent on it at certain times tonight and the fact that they took some downright bad shoots at crucial junctures in the game, and that is a recipe for a loss on most nights in the Association, especially in the playoffs. Don't panic yet, Memphis! If anybody can come back from down 2-0 against a savvy veteran Spurs team, it's the Grizzlies. Keep the faith. Grind forth. Time for Game 3. Final - 5.21.2013 1 2 3 4 OT 1 Total Memphis Grizzlies 13 18 33 21 4 89 San Antonio Spurs 15 31 30 9 8 93 Complete Coverage > Loss Haiku time if you feel up to it.