The End of the Grizzlies? Let's Hope So. posted by Scott Shepherd

Officially, attendance was listed for the Los Angeles Clippers at Memphis Grizzlies game last night at 10,012.

The only way that number was over 10,000 is if you took every person in the arena, counted every person whose number was stored in their cell phone, and multiplied it by two.

At one point in the first quarter, the game was going from right to left on the TV. I paused it during the possession and counted eleven people in the stands on the far side of the floor. The game shifted back down to the right side of the floor. I counted roughly the same amount of people.

They were the best seats in the house, and I had a tough time finding 30 people who were sitting in them.

What a joke of a franchise the Grizzlies have become.

They signed Allen Iverson this offseason, clearly in an effort to sell tickets, and it actually had the reverse effect. They botched the Iverson situation less than five games into the season, and the fans (if this is even possible) are actually less interested in Grizzlies basketball than ever before.

If I were a Grizzlies fan, I wouldn’t be interested in them either. At some point, you have to say enough is enough.

A quick stop at www.basketball-reference.com shows that the Grizz are dead last in attendance. They are 3-8 this season, and their wins have come against the Raptors, Timberwolves, and Clippers.

What’s the incentive to go see this team play?

They have no star power at all. Rudy Gay has the potential to be the third or fourth best player on an elite level team. O.J. Mayo is good, but he still hasn’t figured out a way to make anyone else good. I wouldn’t root for Zach Randolph under any circumstance.

New Era of NBA Bigs? posted by Scott Shepherd

Have you looked at the league leaders yet this season?

There are some familiar faces atop some of the big categories. Kobe leads the league in scoring. Nash leads the league in assists. Rondo leads the league in steals.

You almost expect to see those guys near the top of those categories.

But have you taken a look at the league leaders in rebounds? It’s not exactly a who’s who of NBA big men over the past few years.

Here’s the top ten:

1. Gerald Wallace 13.8

2. Marc Gasol 11.9

T3. Chris Bosh 11.6

T3. Carlos Boozer 11.6

5. Dwight Howard 11.1

6. Joakim Noah 11.0

T7. Brendan Haywood 10.7

T7. Al Horford 10.7

T7. Zach Randolph 10.7

10. Emeka Okafor 10.5

I know it’s still very early in the season, and inevitably some of these names will fall out of the top ten. But as of right now, only three of the top ten rebounders have ever played in an all-star game (Bosh, Boozer, Howard).

Last year, six of the top ten rebounders have been all-stars. The year before that the number was five. Before that, it was eight.

What does it all mean? Probably nothing. Like I said, it’s still early.

But, it could mean that there has been a shift in the way teams are putting together their rosters.

Earlier in the decade, there seemed to be a real focus on finding big guys who could not only rebound, but contribute offensively as well. The logic behind that makes sense; you want a player that can do everything in your lineup.

posted by Andy Charles

Allen Iverson’s sometime glittering career in the NBA could just be over after he left the Memphis Grizzlies early into his tenure with the franchise.

Although Iverson was given permission ‘to leave to attend to personal business’ late last week, his time in Memphis had already started to become a sideshow with more talk about him being asked to come off the bench than anything else.

Iverson had only played three times for the Grizzlies before leaving ahead of Saturday’s clash with the Los Angeles Clippers, and had not played badly in averaging 12.3 points and 3.7 assists despite his displeasure at not being in the starting line-up as Memphis preferred to start Mike Conley and O.J. Mayo in the backcourt.

The 34-year-old also complained at a lack of communication with coach Lionel Hollins, as he revealed: “It’s probably going to always be hard for me and him to see eye-to-eye, because we’ve never even talked to each other. Obviously that’s what you do if you’re trying to accomplish the same goal.”

Hollins was non-committal about Iverson returning to the team, issuing a ‘no comment’ and admitting he had no idea if he would be back in the short or even the long-term.

Memphis had been anticipated as one of the league’s improvers this season but have started the campaign just as in most recent years with their 1-6 record the joint worst in the Western Conference and better than only the injury-hit New Jersey Nets overall.

But it is Iverson’s future dominating the sports pages, with retirement the latest word to rear its ugly head despite comments from owner Michael Heisley that Iverson had not intimated to him that he was thinking about calling it a day.

Who is Allen Iverson? posted by Scott Shepherd

I wrote a short blog last week about Allen Iverson being unhappy with his role in Memphis, and I predicted that by March 1st the Grizzlies would send him home.

I mean, it was obvious that it was a marriage that was doomed from the start.

But not even I could see this coming. Just three games into his Grizzlies career, Iverson has taken an indefinite leave of absence from the team, and sources are reporting it’s doubtful that he’ll play again for Memphis.

To me, it looks like his career is done. Iverson had a hard enough time finding a team this offseason because of all the baggage that comes along with signing Allen Iverson, but taking a leave of absence less than two weeks into the season just reaffirms that he is too much of a cancer to take on anymore.

And now that it looks like his career may be finished, I took some time to reflect back on the career that Iverson has had for my column today at www.sports-central.org.

Here’s the direct link to it.

How will you remember Allen Iverson?

Iverson likely to retire posted by Brad Hurt

All signs point to a likely retirement for Allen Iverson, who left the Grizzlies for personal reasons following Friday's loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.  While he has made no definitive statement to say that he is retiring, Iverson insists that he doesn't want to come off the bench for the Grizzlies.  His comments suggest that he has indeed forgotten about his comments he made when he signed here.  He now says the team should have known he needed to start.  He has said that he feels like he is reaching the end of his career, so retirement is a likely scenario.  He said he doesn't need to fit in with the Grizzlies because the only way he contributes to a team is by playing.  That is the Allen Iverson we have come to know and despise over the past 13 seasons.  I wanted to believe his words when he arrived here, but I have no sympathy for an egomaniac who knowingly enters a situation in which he cannot be the star and still tries to play the victim.  He knew full well he would not start here.  I guess since the Grizzlies are young, Iverson figured he could take on a leadership role, but his view of leadership is skewed.  By all definitions, he does not fit the profile of someone I would want to lead anything.  The Grizzlies could use some veteran leadership, but Iverson doesn't cut it.Continue reading "Iverson likely to retire"

Iverson takes leave of absence posted by Brad Hurt

Allen Iverson has left the Memphis Grizzlies to deal with a "personal matter".  There is no telling what the "matter" is.  I can't in good conscience say he is leaving because he is miffed about his role on the team and isn't man enough to accept it because he very well could have something going on in his personal life.  I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, but if he goes AWOL I will not be shocked.  He clearly doesn't want to come off the bench for this team, and while Lionel Hollins says he may try to work Iverson into the starting lineup, he probably won't be starting every night if that happens.  I hope Iverson gets his issues straightened out and returns to the team because he can be a good contributor when he puts his mind to it.Continue reading "Iverson takes leave of absence"

Lakers loom as Grizz road trip nears end posted by Brad Hurt

Although it is usually a highlight of Lakers-Grizzlies meetings, the Gasol Brothers will not face off tonight when Pau's Lakers host Marc's Grizzlies.  Pau will miss tonight's game as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury, although by all accounts it seems to be completely healed.  As with Allen Iverson's situation, though, with a hamstring you can never be too careful.  Last season, Pau held a slight edge over his younger brother, averaging 16 ppg in the teams' four matchups, all Laker wins, while Marc averaged 13 ppg.  However, Marc outscored Pau in each of the last two meetings, 17-13 and 14-12, respectively.

The Lakers may be somewhat fatigued as they enter tonight's game coming off consecutive overtime games against Oklahoma City and Houston.  I wouldn't count on it, but if the Grizzlies can get off to another quick start and punish the Lakers physically with Zach Randolph and Marc, they could hang around.  They just have to be consistent and efficient on offense.  They absolutely must limit their turnovers because they are going to need all the extra possessions they can get.

So far the Grizzlies' offense has been balanced, with several players averaging at least 20 ppg.  That is a good sign because they will need contributions from many different sources tonight.  If the bench wanted to choose a night to explode, tonight wouldn't be a bad choice.

The Grizzlies may not get the calls they managed to get against the Kings, but they have to shoot better from the line when they do get there.  You can't find easier points than that.

Warriors 113, Grizzlies 105 posted by Brad Hurt

In order to be successful in basketball, a team has to protect the ball, play solid defense and make free throws, among other things.  The Grizzlies did none of those on Wednesday as they fell to Golden State.  Specifically, the Grizzlies need to figure out how to play from ahead.  They know plenty about playing from behind, but they can't seem to hold on to their lead.  This season they are getting off to good starts but allowing their opponents to chip away at their lead, and it happened again against the Warriors.

The Grizzlies led by as many as 13 points in the first quarter, but the lead shrank steadily from there.  Anthony Morrow tied the game with a 3-pointer at the 5-minute mark of the second quarter, and the lead went back and forth into the third.  The Warriors then pulled away with an 11-2 run late in the third.  Until that point, the Grizzlies had played a good third quarter by their standards.

This was Rudy Gay's night.  Allen Iverson got the Grizzlies started, but Rudy took over hitting clutch jumpers to save countless possessions.  He finished with 29 points on 11-of-18 shooting.  It's a shame that he most likely will not be in a Memphis uniform next season unless negotiations pick up.  I don't think the Grizzlies are going to give him the money he wants, which is typical of this organization.  Plus, I'm sure Rudy wants to play for a playoff contender, and the Grizzlies are still not at that point.  He is streaky, but when he is hot, as he was in this game, he can take over.

Allen Iverson Is Unhappy (again) posted by Scott Shepherd

From the who-didn’t-see-this-coming-department, Allen Iverson is not happy with his role after his first game in with the Memphis Grizzlies.

After coming off the bench and playing just 18 minutes in the Grizzlies 127-116 overtime loss to the Sacramento Kings last night, Iverson dropped this gem to reporters after the game:

 “Go look at my resume and that will show you that I’m not a sixth man,” Iverson said. “I don’t think it has anything to do with me being selfish. It’s just who I am. I don’t want to change what gave me all the success that I’ve had since I’ve been in this league.” 

First of all, what did Iverson expect? He barely played in the preseason and then missed the first three regular season games with a partially torn hamstring. Even superstars would be eased back into the rotation after something like that. Iverson is far from a superstar these days. 

Secondly, if A.I. could guard anyone anymore maybe there would be more minutes for him. Kevin Martin scored 48 points on the Grizzlies last night. I doubt Lionel Hollins was thinking, “This guy is scoring at will on us right now. Maybe I should put my old, injured, six-foot, one-dimensional malcontent out there to slow him down.” 

The Grizzlies are a terrible fit for Iverson, and everyone can see it. They already have three ball-stopping scorers on the floor at all times in Rudy Gay, O.J. Mayo, and Zach Randolph. There is no need to play a fourth. 

Iverson isn’t dumb, he realized this all summer and held off on signing with Memphis as long as he could hoping that some other team would make him an offer. But that’s what happens when you burn bridges everywhere you go. Eventually, no one wants you anymore. 

Grizzlies fall in OT; Iverson gripes posted by Brad Hurt

I was wrong about Allen Iverson.  I gave him too much credit.  I bought into his offseason talk about just wanting to play somewhere for the love of the game.  When he signed here, I bought his statement that he would do whatever the team needed him to do.  His caveat, of course, was that the team had to win games.  Four games, and three losses, into the season, we have our first disgruntled Iverson outburst.  Iverson now says he is not a bench player, not a sixth man, and he doesn't want to change anything about himself.  I'm sure someone has videotape of him saying just the opposite at his introductory press conference, and I would love to see his reaction to viewing that.  But we knew this would happen eventually.  It's his nature.  I am just surprised it has happened so soon.  Iverson has played on bad teams before.  He just can't fit his ego around the fact that he is not the star in town. 

Iverson played 17 minutes on Monday in Sacramento, scoring 11 points in the Grizzlies' 127-116 overtime loss.  Once again, the Kings' Kevin Martin lit up the Grizzlies for 48 points.  I don't care how good he is, there is no excuse for allowing anyone not named Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, or Michael Jordan to score 48 points against you.  Defense is proving to be the Grizzlies' Achilles' heel.  They have no problem scoring this season.  They just can't keep their opponents from scoring.  They are now giving up 115.8 points per game.  Even though scoring has been up across the league over the last few years, unless the Grizzlies can consistently score 116, there is no excuse for allowing so many points.  Although they are shooting the ball well, they are just not consistent enough offensively to score 116 every night.  Interior defense is probably the strongest area for the Grizzlies.  Zach Randolph has been impressive.  They just need to stop transition and guard the perimeter better.

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