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They were suppose to have been 1 of the worst teams in the league last season..Oddmakers said they’ll had them winning 25 to 28 games,but instead they finished with a 40-42 record..The Grizzlies started the season with chemistry problems,the failed Allen Iverson experiment,backlash after drafting Thabeet with the number 2 pick then sending him down to the D-League..The highest ever draft pick to be sent down..A lack of scoring from the bench was 1 of their main problems..The Grizzlies was the worst bench in the league, scoring a mere 20 points per game..But there were some positives veteran Zack Randolph 1 of the league’s infamous Bad Boys,but he was a model Citizen in Memphis helping in the community and having an influence on the younger players on the team..Z-Bo was rewarded with his 1st allstar appearance..When the Grizzlies traded Pau Gasol to the Lakers most people said it was a 1 sided trade in favor of The Lakers..But the younger Gasol quickly became a fan favorite with his hustle and physical play inside..Gasol & Randolph were the reasons the Grizzlies lead the NBA in points in the paint at 50.3 per game..And the Grizzlies were 2nd in the league in rebounds..The team made no major additions they were hoping their young core of players would continue to develope..

Rudy Gay-The Grizzlies surprised everyone including Gay when they signed him to a max deal..Gay was in the airport on his way to talk to Minnesota when his agent informed him of the deal…Signing him to that max deal made it clear they wanted him to be the face of the franchise..While Gay is the team most talented player there are still holes in his game that he said he’s worked on ..While he was playing and practing with the gold medal winning team.

Zack Randolph-I thought Z-Bo was their best and most important player last season..But despite his success last season there still were rumors of him being traded.Zach said he is willing to take a paycut to remain in Memphis..

OJ Mayo-The Grizllies want to move Mayo to the point..They even experimented with him during the summer league..He did average 6 assists in 2 games but also had 15 turnovers in just 2 games..Mayo has the talent to be 1 of the top scoring shooting guards in the league..But often defers to Gay & Randolph..

Marc Gasol-Gasol shocked alot of people by becoming a top 10 center in the league..He’s not as skilled as his brother,but his physical play is exactly what this team needs..Gasol finished the season with averages of 14 & 9..

Mike Conley-It seems everyone agrees that the weak link in the Grizzlies starting unit is Conley..Conley is the starting point guard by default..He’s still hasn’t reached the level they expected when they drafted him number 4 in 2007..However he did average 17 points-6 assists and shot 48% from the floor in 37 minutes the final 15 games of the season..If Conley can continue that aggressiveness thoughtout the season the Grizzlies would be so happy..And so far in camp they’re saying he’s playing better than any other guard on the team…

Reserves..

Sam Young lead the team in scoring off the bench..He’s the poor man version of James Posey-

Xavier Henry will be counted on for not only outside shooting-

Tony Allen played backup point guard with the Celtics and was 1 of the league best perimeter players..

Hasheem Thabeet has added 20 lbs of muscle becuz he says he was pushed around in the post by bigger stronger players..

Darrell Arthur has the talent to be 1 of the league’s best reserves ..he can block shots,rebound and has a nice mid-range game..but injuries have bothered him the last 2 seasons..Acie Law is hoping to prove he belongs in the league, after being considered a bust in stops in Atlanta,Golden ST. & Chicago..

Damien Wilkens has been called the best player in camp..the coaches love his aggressiveness and shooting…Expect him to make the team..

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