Official: AI to Memphis PC Videos Inside Thread

[JapanAir21]

http://twitter.com/alleniverson

# I feel that they are committed to developing a winner and I know that I can help them to accomplish that. I feel that I can trust them.2 minutes ago from web

# God Chose Memphis as the place that I will continue my career. I met with Mr. Heinsley, Chris Wallace and my next head coach Lionel Hollins10 minutes ago from web

[PerkinsFor3]

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/20 ... zlies-yes/


Free-agent guard Allen Iverson informed the Grizzlies this morning that he will accept a one-year offer to bring his explosive scoring to FedExForum this season, according to an NBA source.

Iverson’s decision came following a Monday night meeting in Atlanta with Griz owner Michael Heisley, general manager Chris Wallace and head coach Lionel Hollins. Iverson, a 34-year-old, 13-year veteran, will play for a contract that pays $3.5 million (what the Griz have left under the salary cap) and the deal will be loaded with incentives.

Memphis emerged as Iverson’s only option over the past two weeks.

The face-to-face Labor Day meeting was Iverson’s first with Griz brass, who had only talked to his agent throughout the free-agent period.

Both sides left convinced that the improbable marriage can work.

NBA training camps begin in three weeks.

[GrizzledGrizzFan]

For better or worse - he's comin' to Mempho! Gotta admit, it will make the season much, MUCH more interesting if nothing else. Can't wait to experience the energy level at the home opener this season...

[dark-child]

Can't wait for the presser and the 730 am Mafia reaction.

[funkatron101]

Seriously, I have no idea what to expect from the Grizzlies this season. Given the personalities, it almost seems like a recipe for disaster, but they may make it work beautifully.

[It_Was_Typed]

Ugh...

[GuyverADL]

Great. Conely to the bench and Mayo at the point.

Loving this.

If these guys don't let their egos run wild they could surprise alot of teams.

[noone]

Great. Conely to the bench and Mayo at the point.

Loving this.

If these guys don't let their egos run wild they could surprise alot of teams.

Hopefully for the sake of the team and for Iverson's sake, the coach doesn't waver from their earlier demand of bringing Iverson off the bench.

To start the game, the ball is going to be in Mayo's hands and there being so many scorers in the starting lineup, it'll render Iverson almost useless offensively, and to add to it, he's already always been a liability defensively.

Iverson starting worked in Denver because he and Melo were the only scorers in the starting lineup, so they shared the ball/shots. Carter/Martin/Camby got the leftovers. For the exact opposite reason it didn't work in Detroit. They had too many guys that could score the ball.

You put shooters and to a lesser extent (at least one) ball handler around Iverson on the second unit and it'll work great.

[kedineking]

we all know A.I is good dont listen to the people that think its not going to work remember he does NOT want to be remember as the player of last year he will do his best and it will work not to be that person

[Downtown]

Grizzlies fans have to at least admit it's going to make the upcoming season alot more interesting than last year. Heisley invested $3.5mil to try and generate more fan interest. I think from that view he made a good move. Let's face it, with the Tigers being the more popular team attendance suffered. This should generate a better gate I would hope.

As for how well Iverson plays and how the trio of him, Mayo, and Conley work together remains to be seen. Only time will tell and all the outsiders who will come in here and say that they know for sure it's going to be a disaster can easily be dimissed and ignored.

I wonder what's going through the minds of Conley and Mayo, if they see it as a positive or not? And Marcus Williams probably isn't thrilled signing a contract thinking he was going to kickstart his career with decent backup minutes to now looking like he's relegated to the end of the bench.

And I don't agree with the Denver comparison(although I'm looking at last season rather than the one before when they still had Camby). They also had JR Smith who rarely gives the ball up. Plus Martin and Nene hung onto the ball and looked to score instead of passing the ball back out, much the same way Zach Randolph does. I have said it before and I'll say it again, I see some comparisons between Denver and Memphis in that they both have a larger number of iso type players and scoring points is more important than stopping opponents from scoring, althouhg Billups is a far superior floor general, coach George Karl has the ear of the players and they more or less stick to his plan, and the Nuggets play better defense when they actually want to. But there are similarities. And I said that before they contemplated signing Iverson.

[vanjulio]

most people criticize this move with the assumption that Grizzlies are a huge joke franchise and will always be and this is another move that will secure us as always a joke.

but the facts are that we improved a lot last year even though our win record tally was not very impressive.

we hope to actually be significantly improved this year. right?

this could be a great way of REALLY competing THIS YEAR assuming we really are a better team. It's not like AI is signed to a 5 year deal and $60M. He's just an add-on - a temporary gun for hire to put us a little higher hopefully. Even if we are terrible and a trainwreck - all the critics would have had us at that point now regardless of AI. I think it's a fun risk to take and SHOULD pay off this year with some great basketball games.

It should be the best Grizzlies team of all time.

[noone]

For the majority of Iverson's stay, the starting lineup in Denver consisted of Carter/Iverson/Melo/Martin/Camby. Carter, Martin, and Camby can't create for themselves and scored by being spoon-fed for dunks, by taking wide open 20 footers off kickouts, and/or by putbacks. On top of that, Melo isn't much of a ball handler, so Iverson starting and handling the ball so much worked out very well. That being said, just like in Detroit, with Memphis having so many offensive weapons that want/need the ball, Iverson starting won't work out so well. Put a player in like Conley who would be more apt to spreading around the ball.

Then coming in off the bench to make up the second unit were the likes of JR Smith, Najera, and Kleiza - all three point shooters and one ball handler in JR. Thatunit, in terms of ball movement and offensive cohesivity looked the best of any of Denver's units. You had Iverson/JR controlling the ball, wreaking havoc in the driving lanes, and then kicking out to the 3 point shooters.

Personally, I think this is the model the Grizzlies should emulate between the end of the first (and third) quarter and beginning of the third (and fourth) quarter bringing Iverson in off the bench. Put the ball in Iverson's hands, run on every possession, and let him create. Then when it's time to bring the first unit back to finish the halves, play your best 5 guys, I'm assuming Mayo/Iverson/Gay/Randolph/Gasol. I feel that would best maximize the talents of the roster.

[It_Was_Typed]

It should be the best Grizzlies team of all time.

LMAO.

[24K_Gold]

what is the bar to say that it worked or not?35 -40 wins?gizz make the playoffs? it's going to be people who say that if they don't make the playoffs it wasn't worth it.or if they're in the conversation of playoff teams come the end of the season,that it cost them some ping pong balls.

would you guys rather for the team to be fighting for the 8th seed in april or would you rather them to get the highest pick possible?

good luck to all parties involved iverson,gizz,fans.can't really say that the talent ain't there cause 1-7 is pretty damn good talent wise.although we all know that the nba is about more than just talent.the funny thing is that this just might work out.

[TheMan44]

Since when did Memphis become gangster AND1 streetballer headquarters?

Iverson?
Mayo?
Rudy?
Zack?

come on. Give me a break. That's 48 shots for each player - minimum.

Might as well make the entire season a giant mixtape...

u gangsters...

[24K_Gold]

Since when did Memphis become gangster AND1 streetballer headquarters?

Iverson?
Mayo?
Rudy?
Zack?

come on. Give me a break. That's 48 shots for each player - minimum.

Might as well make the entire season a giant mixtape...

u gangsters...

you've must not have ever seen any real gangsters before...these guys are far from that.they may do silly stuff off the court but you seem to be out of touch with reality and spoiled,rich basketball players.

[Mumbles]

Since when did Memphis become gangster AND1 streetballer headquarters?

Iverson?
Mayo?
Rudy?
Zack?

come on. Give me a break. That's 48 shots for each player - minimum.

Might as well make the entire season a giant mixtape...

u gangsters...

wtf do gangsters and criminality have to do with this? Quit trolling.

[Forte IV]

The Grizzlies theme this season should be : "This Season, We're Doing It For The Lulz"

[BarbaGrizz]

I think we had a pretty damn good Offseason.

(I´ll want to check this post in April)

[christian72589]

lol @ clippers fan acting like his team is relevant enough to mock the grizzlies