[tblazer_NZParticipant]

Memphis has been beaten 3 times in the first 6 games, the three losses being blow outs 30 vs the Cavs, 50 vs GSW and now 19 by the Blazers, who are playing like the Phoenix team of a few years ago. 

The Grizzlies are shooting 31-118 on 3’s through the 1st 6 games and their wing players aren’t great shooters anyway so it isn’t just a bad slump. 

What should they do? 

They aren’t a contender the way they are built at the moment.

 

 

 

[NBAjunkie81Participant]

 & this is just my opinion (which means nothing) but I’d like to see them use Jeff Green more… They aren’t very deep… They basically rely on their starting 5 & that’s a lot to ask – even though they are an excellent group – of any team when the season is so long & they have several starters 30+ ….. 

[NBAjunkie81Participant]

 & this is just my opinion (which means nothing) but I’d like to see them use Jeff Green more… They aren’t very deep… They basically rely on their starting 5 & that’s a lot to ask – even though they are an excellent group – of any team when the season is so long & they have several starters 30+ ….. 

[Rip256]

 I think Marc Gasol is back to his lazy ways now that he’s been paid.

I know he’s a popular guy and a good player, but he’s a notorious for his eating habits and loves that southern food. This is why he didn’t get drafted higher. He was an out of shape slob when Pau was bringing in the bacon years ago. 

When I look at him, I don’t see any muscle definition or desire.  

Thoughts?

 

[Rip256]

 I think Marc Gasol is back to his lazy ways now that he’s been paid.

I know he’s a popular guy and a good player, but he’s a notorious for his eating habits and loves that southern food. This is why he didn’t get drafted higher. He was an out of shape slob when Pau was bringing in the bacon years ago. 

When I look at him, I don’t see any muscle definition or desire.  

Thoughts?

 

[markfitz14Participant]

Could be an injury or just a rough stretch. They will bounce back.  

[markfitz14Participant]

Could be an injury or just a rough stretch. They will bounce back.  

[zcnumerounoParticipant]

Their struggles have truly been shocking. This team has not lived up to its calling card — defense. The Grizzlies’ defense has been rather subpar to start the year, coupled with a non-existent offense, and you have a team off to a terrible start. I hope they turn it around. I love their grit-n-grind philosophy. 

[zcnumerounoParticipant]

Their struggles have truly been shocking. This team has not lived up to its calling card — defense. The Grizzlies’ defense has been rather subpar to start the year, coupled with a non-existent offense, and you have a team off to a terrible start. I hope they turn it around. I love their grit-n-grind philosophy. 

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

they’re 2 old school..they’re so old school that Zack Randolph still uses a flip top phone….a href=”http://www.uploadhouse.com/viewfile.php?id=21718565&showlnk=0″ target=”_blank”>

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

they’re 2 old school..they’re so old school that Zack Randolph still uses a flip top phone….a href=”http://www.uploadhouse.com/viewfile.php?id=21718565&showlnk=0″ target=”_blank”>

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 If they don’t play elite team defense than they are a below average team and will struggle to make the playoffs. It’s as simple as that. They just don’t have enough offensive firepower to compete with the best teams. They have to win with defense.

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 If they don’t play elite team defense than they are a below average team and will struggle to make the playoffs. It’s as simple as that. They just don’t have enough offensive firepower to compete with the best teams. They have to win with defense.

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

 their struggles this yr doesnt surprise long time followers of the team like myself…their issues so far this season isnt just their poor floor spacing,sloppy offense & lack of bench scoring…jymicheal green has moved ahead of jeff green and matt barnes in the rotation.

 as dazzling dunks mentioned..defense which is their bread & butter has been nonexistent..currently they rank 26th in defensive efficiency…alot of season tickets holders were disappointed in the moves they made this summer.. most teams come out of the gates trying to find their groove..but this is something to be concerned about…becuz this team key core has been 2gether for some time now…

 

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

 their struggles this yr doesnt surprise long time followers of the team like myself…their issues so far this season isnt just their poor floor spacing,sloppy offense & lack of bench scoring…jymicheal green has moved ahead of jeff green and matt barnes in the rotation.

 as dazzling dunks mentioned..defense which is their bread & butter has been nonexistent..currently they rank 26th in defensive efficiency…alot of season tickets holders were disappointed in the moves they made this summer.. most teams come out of the gates trying to find their groove..but this is something to be concerned about…becuz this team key core has been 2gether for some time now…

 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 Our division isn’t doing so hot.  We aren’t doing well.  New Orleans is bad and the Rockets started off slow.  The Mavs are nothing special, and I need to be convinced by Aldridge in San Antonio although Tony Parker is probably shot.

Our guys hit the wall.  Don’t think it is the coaches fault… I can’t think of any game changing trade…

The Marc Gasol signing, well, this might not turn out well.  The early returns aren’t encouraging.  He is 30 or 31 already.  And, he is not great athlete.  Lots of centers peak before/around the age of 30 — I think Ewing peaked then or maybe even earlier.  Even Olajuwon fell off pretty fast not too long after he hit that age range.

We have to hope that 45 games can get us in the playoffs this year.  I don’t think we have a 50 win ceiling.  Our floor is probably pretty bad, but I think we can get to 45.

The Blazers were my sleeper team.  And I actually wasn’t even a big McCollum fan like others on this board.  They have a go-to scorer in Lillard, some bigs who can score and/or shoot, and then I had McCollum as a super sub, but it looks like he is starter material.  I guess they have some other guys in the 3 and D role, too.

Didn’t watch the game last night, but not shocked we lost.  I think we match up better with the Jazz, although they smoked us last year up in Big Salty.

It might be too early to start tanking BUT we play the Warriors again back here in Memphis and we also play the Clippers in the next week or so, and I think we will pretty much know who we are.

Our 2016 first rounder is owed to someone else since it is not fully protected.  I think it is playoff protected and top 6 protected — although odds are, right now, that we fall in the 10-13 range and miss out on the playoffs.

I could see resigning Marc but I wouldn’t have turned down a trade with the Knicks and drafting Kristaps Porzingas in the process — I think I said that here.  If not, well, I posted it in other places, or just told my friends…

Grit ‘n Grind has to end sometime, and it looks like the clock is ticking.

So, anytime between now and the end of the year, possibly.

There are rumors we are going after Mario Chalmers.  As a Tigers fan, Heck No!  Plus he doesn’t move the needle.

I would rather play the younger guys like Jordan Adams and Russ Smith.

We have to slow down teams more, use depth.  

On Facebook groups I posted these lineup suggestions:

You start Conley, Tony Allen, Matt Barnes, Z Bo, and Marc Gasol.  Beno Udrih is the 6th man for offense.  Then you bring in a longer, younger, quicker, more athletic second unit of Russ Smith, Courtney Lee, Jeff Green JaMychal Green, and Brandan Wright.  

Matt Barnes hasn’t found his shot yet, but he is a decent defender and floor spacer.  Our first unit would be gritty and grindy.  Our second team would try to run and shoot teams off the floor.

Other than that, it looks like it is going to be a long year.  The upside being that only the Warriors look (literally) unbeatable, the Clippers are as good as I thought they might be, but everyone else looks above average or average.  Even the Thunder have lost there last couple of games.  I think we can split against the Spurs — another old team.

I would be more likely to hit the panic button tonight when we play the Jazz since it would show that we can’t match up against bigger, lower scoring teams either although Rudy Gobert thoroughly abused us up there around the time that the Jazz went on that torrid run.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 Our division isn’t doing so hot.  We aren’t doing well.  New Orleans is bad and the Rockets started off slow.  The Mavs are nothing special, and I need to be convinced by Aldridge in San Antonio although Tony Parker is probably shot.

Our guys hit the wall.  Don’t think it is the coaches fault… I can’t think of any game changing trade…

The Marc Gasol signing, well, this might not turn out well.  The early returns aren’t encouraging.  He is 30 or 31 already.  And, he is not great athlete.  Lots of centers peak before/around the age of 30 — I think Ewing peaked then or maybe even earlier.  Even Olajuwon fell off pretty fast not too long after he hit that age range.

We have to hope that 45 games can get us in the playoffs this year.  I don’t think we have a 50 win ceiling.  Our floor is probably pretty bad, but I think we can get to 45.

The Blazers were my sleeper team.  And I actually wasn’t even a big McCollum fan like others on this board.  They have a go-to scorer in Lillard, some bigs who can score and/or shoot, and then I had McCollum as a super sub, but it looks like he is starter material.  I guess they have some other guys in the 3 and D role, too.

Didn’t watch the game last night, but not shocked we lost.  I think we match up better with the Jazz, although they smoked us last year up in Big Salty.

It might be too early to start tanking BUT we play the Warriors again back here in Memphis and we also play the Clippers in the next week or so, and I think we will pretty much know who we are.

Our 2016 first rounder is owed to someone else since it is not fully protected.  I think it is playoff protected and top 6 protected — although odds are, right now, that we fall in the 10-13 range and miss out on the playoffs.

I could see resigning Marc but I wouldn’t have turned down a trade with the Knicks and drafting Kristaps Porzingas in the process — I think I said that here.  If not, well, I posted it in other places, or just told my friends…

Grit ‘n Grind has to end sometime, and it looks like the clock is ticking.

So, anytime between now and the end of the year, possibly.

There are rumors we are going after Mario Chalmers.  As a Tigers fan, Heck No!  Plus he doesn’t move the needle.

I would rather play the younger guys like Jordan Adams and Russ Smith.

We have to slow down teams more, use depth.  

On Facebook groups I posted these lineup suggestions:

You start Conley, Tony Allen, Matt Barnes, Z Bo, and Marc Gasol.  Beno Udrih is the 6th man for offense.  Then you bring in a longer, younger, quicker, more athletic second unit of Russ Smith, Courtney Lee, Jeff Green JaMychal Green, and Brandan Wright.  

Matt Barnes hasn’t found his shot yet, but he is a decent defender and floor spacer.  Our first unit would be gritty and grindy.  Our second team would try to run and shoot teams off the floor.

Other than that, it looks like it is going to be a long year.  The upside being that only the Warriors look (literally) unbeatable, the Clippers are as good as I thought they might be, but everyone else looks above average or average.  Even the Thunder have lost there last couple of games.  I think we can split against the Spurs — another old team.

I would be more likely to hit the panic button tonight when we play the Jazz since it would show that we can’t match up against bigger, lower scoring teams either although Rudy Gobert thoroughly abused us up there around the time that the Jazz went on that torrid run.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[BogDon_KryptParticipant]

This Grizzley team reminds me of a combo of the 1996 Suns and the 2007 Timberwolves if you know what I mean.

[BogDon_KryptParticipant]

This Grizzley team reminds me of a combo of the 1996 Suns and the 2007 Timberwolves if you know what I mean.

[DolanCareParticipant]

 Decisions need to be made on what they expect to do this season. The West is stacked, hardly news, where a solid team like Memphis could win 50 games and get bounced in the first series. 

I think they either ‘attempt’ to contend for a championship this season or they sacrifice this season and look towards the future.

The former choice means trading draft picks along with their role players. This team has all of their draft picks, all of their 1st rounders for years to come. If Memphis could get a Meyers Leonard/CJ Mccollum package (not happening but something like that) by selling multiple 1st rounders…. they could change the course of this season. 

The latter choice means dumping their role players: Green, Barnes, Courtney Lee, Beno Udrih, Jordan Adams and yes even Tony Allen. Miss the playoffs this season, perhaps pick up even more picks and think about 2016-2017. 

 

 

[DolanCareParticipant]

 Decisions need to be made on what they expect to do this season. The West is stacked, hardly news, where a solid team like Memphis could win 50 games and get bounced in the first series. 

I think they either ‘attempt’ to contend for a championship this season or they sacrifice this season and look towards the future.

The former choice means trading draft picks along with their role players. This team has all of their draft picks, all of their 1st rounders for years to come. If Memphis could get a Meyers Leonard/CJ Mccollum package (not happening but something like that) by selling multiple 1st rounders…. they could change the course of this season. 

The latter choice means dumping their role players: Green, Barnes, Courtney Lee, Beno Udrih, Jordan Adams and yes even Tony Allen. Miss the playoffs this season, perhaps pick up even more picks and think about 2016-2017. 

 

 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

I would consider trading Marc Gasol, Matt Barnes and other pieces to the Bulls for Taj Gibson, Doug McDermott, and picks.

If they don’t want Noah either then I would also throw in Z Bo and Tony Allen.

Would I trade Gasol, Matt Barnes, Zach, and Tony for Noah, Taj Gibson, Doug McDermott, Bobby Portis, and picks?  Yes, yes I would.  

Don’t think the money matches up though…  and that trade probably makes the Bulls WORSE even though Z Bo would give the Bulls another legit inside weapon to go with Pau.  Then the whole Marc and Pau thing.  Tony Allen would fit with their gritty wing rotation.  If the Bulls don’t want to give up Portis, I would throw in Jarnell Stokes to ease that.  

Since I think the Bulls need help at backup point guard I would throw in Beno Udrih too as long as I got back Kirk Hinrich (or E’tuan Moore), cash, and an extra pick.

I think the Bulls would have a hard time turning down a team of D Rose, Butler, Snell, Mirotic, Marc Gasol, Pau Gasol, Zach Randolph, Tony Allen, Matt Barnes, and Beno Udrih.  

If I am running the Grizzlies I would take my chances with Mike Conley, Courtney Lee, Doug McDermott, Taj Gibson, and Joakim Noah as my starting five with Russ Smith, Jordan Adams, Jeff Green, Bobby Portis, and Brandan Wright as my second team.  

Not sure the money would be even CLOSE to working out, but if the Grizzlies want/need to move assets we basically have to trade them to current contenders.  Chicago is at the top of the list, although the Cavs have some pieces like TT and Delly and I would even swap Marc Gasol for Mozgov.  The Warriors don’t have as many assets, but if we dangled Marc Gasol (and threw in Matt Barnes and Beno Udrih), I wouldn’t mind taking Andrew Bogut, McAdoo, Shaun Livingston, Jason Thompson, Kevon Looney, and some picks off their hands.  That is a lot of pieces leaving Golden State, but you would have to think that a starting five of Steph, Klay, Barnes, Draymond Green, and Marc Gasol would be pretty nasty.  Then they still have Ezeli, Iggy, Mo Speights, Barbosa, Ian Clark, Brandon Rush, and the Memphis guys (Matt Barnes and Beno Udrih) off the bench.  

It looks like there are not that many legit title contenders.  Mostly teams are either stuck in the middle, or young and rebuilding.  Could be a fun trade deadline this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

I would consider trading Marc Gasol, Matt Barnes and other pieces to the Bulls for Taj Gibson, Doug McDermott, and picks.

If they don’t want Noah either then I would also throw in Z Bo and Tony Allen.

Would I trade Gasol, Matt Barnes, Zach, and Tony for Noah, Taj Gibson, Doug McDermott, Bobby Portis, and picks?  Yes, yes I would.  

Don’t think the money matches up though…  and that trade probably makes the Bulls WORSE even though Z Bo would give the Bulls another legit inside weapon to go with Pau.  Then the whole Marc and Pau thing.  Tony Allen would fit with their gritty wing rotation.  If the Bulls don’t want to give up Portis, I would throw in Jarnell Stokes to ease that.  

Since I think the Bulls need help at backup point guard I would throw in Beno Udrih too as long as I got back Kirk Hinrich (or E’tuan Moore), cash, and an extra pick.

I think the Bulls would have a hard time turning down a team of D Rose, Butler, Snell, Mirotic, Marc Gasol, Pau Gasol, Zach Randolph, Tony Allen, Matt Barnes, and Beno Udrih.  

If I am running the Grizzlies I would take my chances with Mike Conley, Courtney Lee, Doug McDermott, Taj Gibson, and Joakim Noah as my starting five with Russ Smith, Jordan Adams, Jeff Green, Bobby Portis, and Brandan Wright as my second team.  

Not sure the money would be even CLOSE to working out, but if the Grizzlies want/need to move assets we basically have to trade them to current contenders.  Chicago is at the top of the list, although the Cavs have some pieces like TT and Delly and I would even swap Marc Gasol for Mozgov.  The Warriors don’t have as many assets, but if we dangled Marc Gasol (and threw in Matt Barnes and Beno Udrih), I wouldn’t mind taking Andrew Bogut, McAdoo, Shaun Livingston, Jason Thompson, Kevon Looney, and some picks off their hands.  That is a lot of pieces leaving Golden State, but you would have to think that a starting five of Steph, Klay, Barnes, Draymond Green, and Marc Gasol would be pretty nasty.  Then they still have Ezeli, Iggy, Mo Speights, Barbosa, Ian Clark, Brandon Rush, and the Memphis guys (Matt Barnes and Beno Udrih) off the bench.  

It looks like there are not that many legit title contenders.  Mostly teams are either stuck in the middle, or young and rebuilding.  Could be a fun trade deadline this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TWILL123Participant]

 Need some Russ Smith in their rotation to have some sort of burst and action in the offense. 

[TWILL123Participant]

 Need some Russ Smith in their rotation to have some sort of burst and action in the offense. 

[omphalosParticipant]

I wonder how long it takes Boston to start asking about a trade for Gasol. He’d be a perfect fit as a rim-protecting pass-first jump-shooting big man.

[omphalosParticipant]

I wonder how long it takes Boston to start asking about a trade for Gasol. He’d be a perfect fit as a rim-protecting pass-first jump-shooting big man.

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

lol. stop it, memphis aint trading gasol anytime soon.gasol’s not the problem.

 

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

lol. stop it, memphis aint trading gasol anytime soon.gasol’s not the problem.

 

[Mad MaxParticipant]

 Would like to see Jordan Adams get some playing time.

[Mad MaxParticipant]

 Would like to see Jordan Adams get some playing time.

[Rip256]

Outback Shaq is available.

[Rip256]

Outback Shaq is available.

[chall23Participant]

im still surprised the drafted Martin when RJ Hunter was on the board and they needed shooting….

[chall23Participant]

im still surprised the drafted Martin when RJ Hunter was on the board and they needed shooting….

[DrivingDownTheStreetinmy64]

 hearing this Grim news about the Memphis Grizzlies probably has rudeboy and Memphis madness turning over in their graves!!!!!!!!

[Rip256]

Red Aurbach, John Wooden, Phil Jackson, Greg Popovic…

Drivingdownthestreet?

 

[Rip256]

Red Aurbach, John Wooden, Phil Jackson, Greg Popovic…

Drivingdownthestreet?

 

[DrivingDownTheStreetinmy64]

 hearing this Grim news about the Memphis Grizzlies probably has rudeboy and Memphis madness turning over in their graves!!!!!!!!

[DrivingDownTheStreetinmy64]

Whut. You talking bout rip? 

[DrivingDownTheStreetinmy64]

Whut. You talking bout rip? 

[Author]

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