[aamir543Participant]

Memphis Grizzlies– Today we will cover the Memphis Grizzlies who made a surprise playoff run, and came within one game of the Conference Finals. The grizzlies have made tons of controversial, and to an extent, bad moves. Almost every impact player was accpuired through a heavily critisized transaction. However all of those players came together, locked down on D, hit their threes, made timely baskets, came back from heartbreaking losses, and made this a season to remember. They did this all without one of their best players, Rudy Gay. Their lineup consists of Mikee Conley at the point who gives you 14 and 7 as well as a deadly three point shooter, Tony Allen who can lock down your best guy, and get you 9 points in just 20 minutes a night, then you have another solid defender in Shane Battier who can knock down a whot when you need him to, you have Rudy Gay who missed their postseason run. He was scoring 20 a game while getting 6 boards a game. We’ll talk more about him later. You also have OJ Mayo, who may be traded, but has a ton of talent. He didn’t play partucularly well last season, but he definatly has the talent to be a star, he gives them a guy who can create his own shot and give them some energy off the bench. And now Zach Randolph, who is an absolute beast. 20 and 12 last season, carried the Grizz all throughout the playoffs, look for him to have another 20 10 year. In the middle they have Marc Gasol, who actually took a step back this past season. However he provided a much needed spark during the postseason, putting up 15 and 10 in the playoffs. I look for him to build on that strong proformance, and get a double double this season. They also have Darrel Arthur in their front court. Arthur was a nice revelation this season, giving them  9 and 5 in 20 minutes. If he can continue to improve, hopfully he can become more than just a role player. And lastly they have San Young, a valuable role player who will give you some hustle and a bit of a scoring punch, averaging 7 points in just around 20 minutes per game. They also have some young talent in Greivas Vasquez, Josh Selby, and Xaxier Henry, however I don’t think either of them are going to have much of an impact this season, however I do expect Vasquez to give them a lift from time to time.

About Rudy Gay, many people are coming to the conclusion that the Grizzlies are better off without Gay, and that their offense flows better with Gay, however I do not think that is the case. In the last 15 games Gay played before he got hurt, the Grizzlies were 12-3. I don’t think they should trade Gay unless they get equal value, and if they do attempt to trade him, they should at least try to test the current roster they have without shaking things up.

Another difficult task they will have is trying to find minutes for everyone. When Gay comes back, they will have to find 35+ minutes for him, plus finding 35+ minutes for Randolph and Conley, and Gasol plus 20+ minutes for Arthur, Allen, Young, and Mayo, while still trying to get their young guys into the game, and Hadadi will get in around 10 a game whenever Gasol is out, cause Randolph is not quite a center.

I see them as a 3-6 seed, with the potential to become a top dog, but also the possibility that all of their personalities clash and everything falls apart. It awaits to be seen whether they decide to trade Mayo, cause he is a top talent, but I don’t think they could get equal value for him the way his value is right now.

Overall, the Grizz have a great team with a ton of potential, but still has a bit of work to be done.

 

 

[ilike.panochasParticipant]

They need Rudy Gay to be their go-to-perimeter player, OJ Mayo has lost confidence, and Conley is not capable of handling a scoring load.  Gay complements both Randolph and Gasol inside.  One of the reason why they lost to the Thunders I felt was because they did not have an answer for Durant and the Thunders’ perimeter players.  They relied heavily on their frontcourt, and became one dimentional.  Rudy Gay brings a different dimention to their team besides being frontcourt heavy, they shouldn’t trade him if they intent on being a true contender.

[ilike.panochasParticipant]

They need Rudy Gay to be their go-to-perimeter player, OJ Mayo has lost confidence, and Conley is not capable of handling a scoring load.  Gay complements both Randolph and Gasol inside.  One of the reason why they lost to the Thunders I felt was because they did not have an answer for Durant and the Thunders’ perimeter players.  They relied heavily on their frontcourt, and became one dimentional.  Rudy Gay brings a different dimention to their team besides being frontcourt heavy, they shouldn’t trade him if they intent on being a true contender.

[rileymcshea3Participant]

Any one else remember this http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story%3Fid%3D6155170

and do you think it could happen again?

[rileymcshea3Participant]

Any one else remember this http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story%3Fid%3D6155170

and do you think it could happen again?

[jdstormParticipant]

Memphis are the best team in the NBA. If they are healthy. 

Last Year in the playoffs Memphis played an almost full strength OKC team, without their best perimeter creator and possibly best player (Rudy Gay) and took the series to seven games. with multiple overtime games. Memphis Beat Dallas in the regular season and can get the easy post buckets that OKC couldn’t get

Both the thunder and the grizzlies won there season series with Miami, and should be considered a better team until miami proves otherwise, because they have a major advantage at C and PG, a better PF,  multiple guys who they can throw at wade. And an elite level SF in Gay who is one of the 4 guys in the NBA who can matchup with lebron 1on 1 and be level at the end of 48 minutes. the others being Kevin Durant,  Carmello Anthony. who Actually tries on D against lebron and normally wins the matchup. and Paul Pierce

So thats why memphis are a top my next season power rankings

[jdstormParticipant]

Memphis are the best team in the NBA. If they are healthy. 

Last Year in the playoffs Memphis played an almost full strength OKC team, without their best perimeter creator and possibly best player (Rudy Gay) and took the series to seven games. with multiple overtime games. Memphis Beat Dallas in the regular season and can get the easy post buckets that OKC couldn’t get

Both the thunder and the grizzlies won there season series with Miami, and should be considered a better team until miami proves otherwise, because they have a major advantage at C and PG, a better PF,  multiple guys who they can throw at wade. And an elite level SF in Gay who is one of the 4 guys in the NBA who can matchup with lebron 1on 1 and be level at the end of 48 minutes. the others being Kevin Durant,  Carmello Anthony. who Actually tries on D against lebron and normally wins the matchup. and Paul Pierce

So thats why memphis are a top my next season power rankings

[FLYNTFLOSSYBABY]

i wonder if he makes team? if he does will he be in a suit? or in the d-leauge

[FLYNTFLOSSYBABY]

i wonder if he makes team? if he does will he be in a suit? or in the d-leauge

[JNixonParticipant]

 He’ll be in a suit before he gets into the D-League locker room, as apart of the NBA mandated dress code.

[JNixonParticipant]

 He’ll be in a suit before he gets into the D-League locker room, as apart of the NBA mandated dress code.

[river09Participant]

 This was a great team to watch in the playoffs… 

[river09Participant]

 This was a great team to watch in the playoffs… 

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

Memphis could go either way..They have the talent to be a top 3 team..And they could also be battling for a 6th or 7th seed..

 

 

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

Memphis could go either way..They have the talent to be a top 3 team..And they could also be battling for a 6th or 7th seed..

 

 

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

As long as they defend and keep playing inside out, this team will only go upwards…

Rudy buying in will be huge. IF he committs to the defensive end, learns to move without the ball/make the extra pass and shoot/score within the flow of the offense, this team will be scary.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

As long as they defend and keep playing inside out, this team will only go upwards…

Rudy buying in will be huge. IF he committs to the defensive end, learns to move without the ball/make the extra pass and shoot/score within the flow of the offense, this team will be scary.

[Jlv2011]

are the Lakers, Mavs, Thunder.   They keep playing D and they will be 4 or 5 next year.

[Jlv2011]

are the Lakers, Mavs, Thunder.   They keep playing D and they will be 4 or 5 next year.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

I think we need to resign Shane Battier.  He is a leader and a great influence on the team.  His shot was off for much of his return (except for his game winning three against the Spurs in game 1) but he really helped out on the boards and he would be an ideal backup for Rudy Gay for 15 minutes or so a night.

We HAVE to resign Marc Gasol.  I think he will be slightly overpaid but we need him.  I think he plays too many minutes and he was worn down by the end of the year.  I think Haddadi needs to play more minutes.

I like having OJ Mayo off the bench.  He does a lot for the team and is one of our best scorers and shooters.  He can also pass and handle the ball and his defense is improving.  Could turn into a poor man’s Joe Dumars for us as a very good combo guard.  He also plays well with G.V. off the bench.

I think there aren’t that many minutes to go around but we need to play Josh Selby when we can.  He can be a real sparkplug off the bench and could be a good trade chip.

Here’s how I think the minutes should break down next year:

Mike Conley:  30

Tony Allen: 30

Rudy Gay: 35

Z Bo: 35

Marc Gasol: 35

OJ Mayo: 25

Shane Battier: 15

Darrell Arthur: 20

Greivous Vazquez: 10

Hamed Haddadi: 5

Total minutes:  240

 

If we resign Battier then those guys will take up all the minutes.  If we don’t then look for Xavier Henry, Sam Young, and Josh Selby to take those minutes.  WITH Battier and those other 3 guys we have 13 players so one of those 3 won’t dress out.  I think we need to see what Xavier Henry has.  We need a spot up 3 point shooter and hopefully he can be that guy.  If his shot is still off it might be best to try and trade him for a veteran shooter.  I like Sam Young a lot and his trade value, though, is probably fairly low.  Keep him as instant offense and energy off the bench.  Selby needs to get some minutes off the bench either on the ball or off the ball, spotting up for jumpers. 

I would think about platooning these guys with a smaller, quicker 2nd unit of G.V., OJ Mayo, Josh Selby, with Shane Battier and Darrell Arthur up front.  We would play 3 guards but all three can handle the ball with G.V. having enough height and length to guard small forwards.  So have G.V. as the point guard and creator with OJ Mayo being the primary offensive weapon, D.A. being the second option and the inside scorer, Selby being the 3rd offensive weapon and third ball handler, and Battier doing the dirty work, playing defense, and spotting up for 3’s and going into the lane for jump hooks.  If we go with the platoon system Sam Young will fill in for either Tony Allen on the starting unit or one of the guards on the 2nd unit if they are not performing well.  Maybe use Sam Young to start the 3rd quarter or the 4th quarter which will allow Tony Allen to get a rest.  Sam brings a lot the same things to the table.  Not as good of a defender, but more explosive, bigger, a better dunker, and more effective in the post on offense.  If Sam Young gets into a slump then use Xavier Henry in the same role with Haddadi getting a couple of minutes here and there at center.  This is probably the best way to utilize everyone and will make this essentially a 10 1/2 man rotation.  This will limit everyone’s minutes and keep everyone rested enough for the playoffs. 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

I think we need to resign Shane Battier.  He is a leader and a great influence on the team.  His shot was off for much of his return (except for his game winning three against the Spurs in game 1) but he really helped out on the boards and he would be an ideal backup for Rudy Gay for 15 minutes or so a night.

We HAVE to resign Marc Gasol.  I think he will be slightly overpaid but we need him.  I think he plays too many minutes and he was worn down by the end of the year.  I think Haddadi needs to play more minutes.

I like having OJ Mayo off the bench.  He does a lot for the team and is one of our best scorers and shooters.  He can also pass and handle the ball and his defense is improving.  Could turn into a poor man’s Joe Dumars for us as a very good combo guard.  He also plays well with G.V. off the bench.

I think there aren’t that many minutes to go around but we need to play Josh Selby when we can.  He can be a real sparkplug off the bench and could be a good trade chip.

Here’s how I think the minutes should break down next year:

Mike Conley:  30

Tony Allen: 30

Rudy Gay: 35

Z Bo: 35

Marc Gasol: 35

OJ Mayo: 25

Shane Battier: 15

Darrell Arthur: 20

Greivous Vazquez: 10

Hamed Haddadi: 5

Total minutes:  240

 

If we resign Battier then those guys will take up all the minutes.  If we don’t then look for Xavier Henry, Sam Young, and Josh Selby to take those minutes.  WITH Battier and those other 3 guys we have 13 players so one of those 3 won’t dress out.  I think we need to see what Xavier Henry has.  We need a spot up 3 point shooter and hopefully he can be that guy.  If his shot is still off it might be best to try and trade him for a veteran shooter.  I like Sam Young a lot and his trade value, though, is probably fairly low.  Keep him as instant offense and energy off the bench.  Selby needs to get some minutes off the bench either on the ball or off the ball, spotting up for jumpers. 

I would think about platooning these guys with a smaller, quicker 2nd unit of G.V., OJ Mayo, Josh Selby, with Shane Battier and Darrell Arthur up front.  We would play 3 guards but all three can handle the ball with G.V. having enough height and length to guard small forwards.  So have G.V. as the point guard and creator with OJ Mayo being the primary offensive weapon, D.A. being the second option and the inside scorer, Selby being the 3rd offensive weapon and third ball handler, and Battier doing the dirty work, playing defense, and spotting up for 3’s and going into the lane for jump hooks.  If we go with the platoon system Sam Young will fill in for either Tony Allen on the starting unit or one of the guards on the 2nd unit if they are not performing well.  Maybe use Sam Young to start the 3rd quarter or the 4th quarter which will allow Tony Allen to get a rest.  Sam brings a lot the same things to the table.  Not as good of a defender, but more explosive, bigger, a better dunker, and more effective in the post on offense.  If Sam Young gets into a slump then use Xavier Henry in the same role with Haddadi getting a couple of minutes here and there at center.  This is probably the best way to utilize everyone and will make this essentially a 10 1/2 man rotation.  This will limit everyone’s minutes and keep everyone rested enough for the playoffs. 

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