The Memphis Grizzlies are Top 5 in the West at this point

mid-post · Post #101 » by **mid-post** » Sun Jul 25, 2010 9:17 pm

Iamtheliquor wrote:I do expect Memphis to challenge for the final playoff seed this season but when i saw the title of this thread i just laughed.

Pretty much. I expect the 6-8 race to be fairly close (like it was last year).
But to claim top 5 (on the general board no less) is to beg people to mock your opinion, your team and the fanbase. Like sending Urkel to the player-haters ball or something.

farzi · Post #102 » by **farzi** » Sun Jul 25, 2010 9:21 pm

CDM88 wrote:Lakers
Dallas
Houston
Denver
Jazz
Thunder
Spurs
Memphis

Blazers will make the playoffs

andre316 · Post #103 » by **andre316** » Sun Jul 25, 2010 9:25 pm

They had one of the best starting five in the league last year, but their bench was a letdown and has to step it up this year to get them into the playoffs.

Also, they need more outside shooting for guys like Gay and Mayo to do their thing. But I think Marc Gasol is very close to putting together an All-Star caliber season, especially now that Stoudemire and Boozer have moved East.

Downtown · Post #104 » by **Downtown** » Sun Jul 25, 2010 10:32 pm

I follow the Grizzlies and from what I see they will have the same kind of season as last years. Zach Randolph played great, and with him going into a contract year I expect him to have another stellar season. Rudy Gay has a chance to make the USA team, just signed a big contract so all eyes are on him, and I expect him to be a little better than last season. Marc Gasol seems like a player who is going to have a long career and will once again be a reliable presence in the middle. OJ Mayo should once again play well although it's gard to say if he will try to be more of a backcourt leader or just stick to being the shooting guard. Mike Conley knows that people have questioned his ability and is going into a contract year so he better elevate his game or I can see him gone by the trade deadline.

I'm not so charitable about their bench. It's no secret that the Grizzlies starters play very well together and can give any team a challenge. But adding Tony Allen and Darrell Arthur(I'll say add because he barely played last season) isn't the big change they need even though I think Allen is going to help defensively. Thabeet is still going to have ups and downs so I don't expect him to make an impact. And both their draft picks are unknowns with Henry not even signed and Vasquez now rumored to possibly be needing surgery on his ankle. Sam Young was a pleasant surprise in summer league but we know it doesn't always translate to the regular season. Demarre Carroll actually took a step backwards in summer league. Haddadi isn't a factor at all.

If Memphis finishes with a .500 record and challenges for the final playoff berth I won't be surprised. But anything above that will really surprise me. 38-44 and 9th or 10th place is where I see them finishing. Remember when Gasol went out injured near the end of the season how they fell apart. They got very lucky last season with injuries but if any of their starters go down they are in trouble. Collectively I don't know if there was another team that played their starters the same overall minutes as the Grizzlies did theirs.

iamworthy · Post #105 » by **iamworthy** » Sun Jul 25, 2010 10:38 pm

They werent even a .500 ball club last year and now they are top 5?

RipCityLives · Post #106 » by **RipCityLives** » Sun Jul 25, 2010 10:55 pm

iamworthy wrote:They werent even a .500 ball club last year and now they are top 5?

They were a .500 ball club most of season. But circunstances killed them. Iverson at first, and Marc Gasol's injury in the last 15 games. When they lost their chances to make play offs they gave up. I thought they were OKC level last season. And remember how OKC played against the Lakers. This Grizzlies team is very talented. I dont think the Suns, Rockets or Jazz are better than them at this point. I've some doubts on the old Spurs also.

CDM88 · Post #107 » by **CDM88** » Sun Jul 25, 2010 10:57 pm

farzi wrote:
CDM88 wrote:Lakers
Dallas
Houston
Denver
Jazz
Thunder
Spurs
Memphis

Blazers will make the playoffs

Yeah ur right id slot them under the thunder

LarsV8 · Post #108 » by **LarsV8** » Sun Jul 25, 2010 11:00 pm

RipCityLives wrote:They were a .500 ball club most of season. But circunstances killed them. Iverson at first, and Marc Gasol's injury in the last 15 games. When they lost their chances to make play offs they gave up. I thought they were OKC level last season. And remember how OKC played against the Lakers. This Grizzlies team is very talented. I dont think the Suns, Rockets or Jazz are better than them at this point. I've some doubts on the old Spurs also.

You cant really say "due to circumstances" they werent good, but without they will be as good as these teams. Every team has circumstances they have to deal with.

At this point, the Grizzlies are battling with the Clippers for the 9th spot in the west. The Suns may take a step backward, but every other usual suspect is clearly better than Memphis right now.

RipCityLives · Post #109 » by **RipCityLives** » Sun Jul 25, 2010 11:24 pm

LarsV8 wrote:
RipCityLives wrote:They were a .500 ball club most of season. But circunstances killed them. Iverson at first, and Marc Gasol's injury in the last 15 games. When they lost their chances to make play offs they gave up. I thought they were OKC level last season. And remember how OKC played against the Lakers. This Grizzlies team is very talented. I dont think the Suns, Rockets or Jazz are better than them at this point. I've some doubts on the old Spurs also.

You cant really say "due to circumstances" they werent good, but without they will be as good as these teams. Every team has circumstances they have to deal with.

At this point, the Grizzlies are battling with the Clippers for the 9th spot in the west. The Suns may take a step backward, but every other usual suspect is clearly better than Memphis right now.

No, experience will make them better. They lost 10-15 games leading in double digits. That was because their bench sucked big time. But you use to learn and improve the "circumstances" which made you lose the game. They remain a talented starting 5. I really like their bigs. And a great frontcourt is key on a great squad.

Sribb43 · Post #110 » by **Sribb43** » Sun Jul 25, 2010 11:28 pm

lilojmayo wrote:Man, someone beat me to this thread. I have been saying this thread for a few days now. I wanted the showcase to come so they could be some updated substance. It just so happened the Mayo and Gay were easily the best 2 players on Team USA Blue Team.

http://www.usabasketball.com/mens/natio ... 07_24.html

There will be a few threads I'll make tomorrow on similar topics you better believe it.

As if this thread couldnt get anymore ridiculous. using a scrimmage as an arguement as to the why the Grizz will be top 5 next season :lol:

GameOver25 · Post #111 » by **GameOver25** » Mon Jul 26, 2010 12:02 am

The Grizzlies make the playoffs if they get contribution from their bench. Conley isn't the answer for them at point. If he was they wouldn't be experimenting with Mayo.

BullsFan88 · Post #112 » by **BullsFan88** » Mon Jul 26, 2010 1:28 am

RipCityLives wrote:Or better. Check out, they have 3 all star caliber players IMO. Zbo (all star this season), Marc Gasol (potential all star this season) and Rudy Gay franchise player and underrated SF. Good PG rotation in Mike Conley and Jamaal Tinsley. OJ Mayo is a good SG. And they added toughness and experience in Tony Allen. Their frontcourt Randolph-Gasol was the top rebounder in the league. What do you think about the Grizz??? I really think they can be a big surprise this season.

Nope Bulls were the best rebounding team in the NBA

lilojmayo · Post #113 » by **lilojmayo** » Mon Jul 26, 2010 1:44 am

iamworthy wrote:They werent even a .500 ball club last year and now they are top 5?

Yes, again we have a bench now. Rudy is happy he is getting paid. Marc Gasol is the most underrated center in the league, he will be on everybody top 5 center list by the end of the season. Z-bo is going to be 20/10. Thabeet has made serious progress. What can't we say about OJ Mayo, he is going to be an all-star this year no doubt in my mind. They are a 2-5 th seed. nothing less.

Flipstorm · Post #114 » by **Flipstorm** » Mon Jul 26, 2010 2:00 am

I just feel bad for Grizzly fans because there is no hope for winning with their owner. He gives
Rudy a ridiculous max contract and then refuses to sign Henry over a few hundred thousand dollars? Good luck to them when OJ and Zbo come up for new contracts in a few years.

Downtown · Post #115 » by **Downtown** » Mon Jul 26, 2010 3:01 am

lilojmayo, do you honestly believe that signing Tony Allen, and drafting Xavier Henry and Greivis Vasquez gives Memphis the crucial bench depth they sorely lacked? Like I said in another post I like Allen and think he can give them some defense. But with him and Mayo at shooting guard how much can Henry impact? And Vasquez wasn't a great steal at #28. He fell right in where he should have. Unlike some I thought he was okay during summer league but he has a long ways to go before he can be considered a pointguard that can impact a game.

So I believe you are incorrect and the Grizzlies, while having a couple more bodies as backups, don't have the talent on their bench. Quality over quantity. Look at the pattern. Vasquez, Henry, Young, Carroll, Arthur, Haddadi. All paid on the lowest of levels. Even the Miami Heat, who have to look for lower paid players to cover the cost of the big three pay more for their bench.

Since the season ended the Grizzlies have made one good move, which was signing Tony Allen. That's it. The rest have been predictable and argueably laughable. There's no way to sugarcoat it. Those of us that hope to see the Grizzlies do well better hope the starters can once again come through and stay healthy.

shmoosicle · Post #116 » by **shmoosicle** » Mon Jul 26, 2010 3:10 am

BullsFan88 wrote:
RipCityLives wrote:Or better. Check out, they have 3 all star caliber players IMO. Zbo (all star this season), Marc Gasol (potential all star this season) and Rudy Gay franchise player and underrated SF. Good PG rotation in Mike Conley and Jamaal Tinsley. OJ Mayo is a good SG. And they added toughness and experience in Tony Allen. Their frontcourt Randolph-Gasol was the top rebounder in the league. What do you think about the Grizz??? I really think they can be a big surprise this season.

Nope Bulls were the best rebounding team in the NBA

He's saying Randolph and Gasol were the best rebounding duo in the NBA, and they were.

DEEP3CL · Post #117 » by **DEEP3CL** » Mon Jul 26, 2010 4:29 am

Top 5 really ?

Yet they didn't make the playoffs........humm very interesting.

iamworthy · Post #118 » by **iamworthy** » Mon Jul 26, 2010 4:34 am

lilojmayo wrote:
iamworthy wrote:They werent even a .500 ball club last year and now they are top 5?

Yes, again we have a bench now. Rudy is happy he is getting paid. Marc Gasol is the most underrated center in the league, he will be on everybody top 5 center list by the end of the season. Z-bo is going to be 20/10. Thabeet has made serious progress. What can't we say about OJ Mayo, he is going to be an all-star this year no doubt in my mind. They are a 2-5 th seed. nothing less.

Esohny · Post #119 » by **Esohny** » Mon Jul 26, 2010 4:39 am

This thread is pretty epic. Memphis will be lucky to sneak into the 8th seed.

Don Draper · Post #120 » by **Don Draper** » Mon Jul 26, 2010 4:55 am

lilojmayo wrote:
iamworthy wrote:They werent even a .500 ball club last year and now they are top 5?

Yes, again we have a bench now. Rudy is happy he is getting paid. Marc Gasol is the most underrated center in the league, he will be on everybody top 5 center list by the end of the season. Z-bo is going to be 20/10. Thabeet has made serious progress. What can't we say about OJ Mayo, he is going to be an all-star this year no doubt in my mind. They are a 2-5 th seed. nothing less.

No offense, but the Grizzlies are an average team at best. Closer to sub-par.