Apr 19, 2011

4/19/2011 02:37:00 PM
It wasn't long ago that when NBA Teams flew into MEMPHIS Tennessee there was an air of confidence in the air. I mean the GRIZZLIES were the DOORMAT of the NBA for a long time throttled with the same issues as most ORGANIZATIONS who stay in your MAMA'S Basement no matter what case maybe.

Enter a few Good Men like General MANAGER/Executive VP of Basketball Operations Chris WALLACE and a few turns on LET'S MAKE A DEAL.........the GRIZZ have positioned themselves on a FAST TRACK to ascend to the top of the WESTERN CONFERENCE.

Take a look at some of the deals that have the BOYS' on BEALE STREET moving forward:

1. It all started with Drafting and keeping YOUR PICKS or trading to get a PLAYER:

MIKE CONLEY Jr PG Ohio STATE Final 4 run at STATE Freshman year
OJ MAYO PG/SG USC highly touted since the 7th grade
RUDY GAY SF UCONN Top 10 Talent in Hs Elite 8 run at UCONN
DARRELL ARTHUR PF KANSAS Top 10 Talent HS NAT'L Champs at KU
Marc GASOL younger brother of PAU GASOL member of World Champion SPAIN NATIONAL TEAM
Sam YOUNG SF PITT 4-Year Starter at PITT in the Big East
Greivis VASQUEZ PG/SG Maryland 4-Year starter and helped TERPS to NCAA Tourney 3 of 4 years

The First PLAYER DRAFTED IN MEMPHIS when they moved from VANCOUVER is BACK in SF SHANE BATTIER.....who is just as important in the locker room as on the FLOOR ......came over from a trade with the ROCKETS recently

The most important pick up was Zach RANDOLPH aka Z-BO from the CLIPPERS to give the GRIZZ an inside presence that a times commands a double team and add Z-BO with LIL GASOL on the FRONT COURT.....Spells DOOM for most FRONTS

And then rough and tough SG and defensive-minded Tony ALLEN from the CELTICS by way of OKLAHOMA STATE...gives the GRIZZ that gritty-in your face GUARD that they have been lacking.

This current GRIZZ ROSTER may not have a lot of NBA Experience but they make up for it in some of the BASKETBALL EXPERIENCES these guys have played through at other HIGH LEVELS in their careers.

The last Nail in the Coffin was the Firing of Head Coach then Marc IVARONI in early JAnuary 2009 and naming his assistant Johnny DAVIS the Interim Head, and then a few days later JOHNNY letting the MEMPHIS BRASS know that the other on the GRIZZ Staff, Assistant Lionel HOLLINS was ready, the BRASS took note, and he was named HEAD COACH shortly after.

Coach HOLLINS exudes the same style as when he played.......SMOOTH and Efficient at all costs. And I think this is the real reason he has the GRIZZ locked in because of his ability to communicate or get to the VETERANS as well as the YOUNG GUYS and keep an even keel. Then he has his LEADERS Voices be heard throughout the locker room before Coach has to step in......and that's what LEADERSHIP IS.

THE BLUEDUDE has told you before that the CHANGING of the GUARDS is HERE........and now even the So called BOTTOM FEEDERS are making their way to the TOP........and FAST.......and you thought MEMPHIS just had good BBQ, HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE BASKETBALLL, and FED-EX ....Check again.

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