SD2042 wrote:esvl wrote:SD2042 wrote:I will say this. This season the Grizzlies went through should serve as a cautionary tale to know your limits. Know the difference between confidence and arrogance. That's been the Grizzlies issue thus earning the reputation of most hated team in the league. Unfortunately, it's well deserved as some fans of other NBA teams will continue to remind the Grizzlies for the remainder. To the embarrassing defeat in the playoffs, it's karmatic as it should serve as a sobering experience and lesson this young Grizzlies team should take to heart. It's time to grow up.
As for the aftermath, I still believe this team is well part of the future for many years. As long as they realize how much advantages they have as a young team with more playoff experiences. They will need to humble themselves in a serious way. Learn how to navigate the game much better as they did this season. Approach the trash talk on the hardwood and leave it there. Never give the media any soundbites that will come back as a haunted ghost and walk you down to the abyss. Learn better productive ways to get better as players. Coaches need to learn better strategies to help your players win games. Accountability and discipline must be emphasis better with this team. So I expect the organization to take a long look in the mirror this offseason and make decisions to how to approach next season with a strong mindset, but as players individually.
There are 30 good teams in this league, in case you haven’t noticed. If you want your small crappy franchise to beat all of them, you should allow your young core to feel ambitious and equal to the proven stars. That’s how it works in real life: you challenge yourself, then you challenge the leaders, you go over the limits, that is how you get a chance to become the one. You will be hated by your competitors - it’s ok - it is an indication that they are afraid of you. If you want to stay a good boy/girl and be humble, not to irritate those on the top, that’s the path to the hole of nowhere.
The point here is that while it's great to hold confidence in yourself all the time. It doesn't mean you get to the point of allowing the ego to take over in the driver's seat and drive you over the edge to an arrogant defeat. That's what I meant by know your limits. Trash talk will always be part of the game. That part is not the issue. The issue is bringing the trash talk into the media setting, thus indirectly placing pressure on yourself and the team if the team fails to back it up. Unfortunately what did happened in the series against the Lakers. The cautionary tale to learn from is to never give the media a soundbite that may come back to haunt you at the wrong time.
That said, this team still has youth on their side. This journey is full of experiences both good and bad. On the goods, keep capitalizing on them and be accountable, tactful, and have some fun while doing what they do best. On the bad, learn from those mistakes, work even harder than necessary, take those next steps to redemption starting next season. Right now, they just need to reflect and keep working on that canvas that will one day turn into their own masterpiece.
I am just amazed how quickly ordinary fans instead of giving support and loyalty go a full moral expert mode. Why on Earth we are even discussing the moral or ego part of guys behaviour? These are OUR guys who really wanted to win - all they needed is our support. Instead, they saw THEIR fans joining corporate whores and California fans. That’s my point. I believe that disappointment was what significantly contributed to the lack of fire I saw in their eyes.
