Post#10 » by Downtown » Thu Jan 20, 2011 5:11 pm
I'm afraid they are coming full circle, in a bad way. All the talk about the new season, the reachable goal of the playoffs, a more cohesive, experienced group, etc., etc. The picture I'm seeing though is one of same old same old.
I kind of gave up my offseason opinion about the need for an upgrade at pointguard after they gave the big extention to Conley and he was producing early on. I'm back to my old rant now. With Conley this team isn't going to advance to the next level. He is uncapable of being the floor general, doesn't make his teamates better with driving, drawing defenders, and getting passes to teamates in the right places for easy looks. Nor does he come up with the big plays at key times. Despite his amount of steals he also doesn't make it hard on opposing pointguards. Sorry, in my opinion he should go. But now they are stuck with him with that big contract.
The shooting guard spot really is a bit of a mess. Is it Henry, Mayo, or Allen that should get the starters minutes and be allowed to gel with the other four? Oh that's right, it's now Sam Young at starter there. Personally I thought Tony Allen was the best fit but the wear and tear are beginning to show on his well worn knees. Maybe that's why Boston played him sparingly to preserve him for the playoffs.
Rudy Gay, despite his stats, is a disspointment to me and I think I've finally decided that there is no way he has the inner fortitude to be any sort of team leader. He does his thing but that's about it. He doesn't deserve to be an allstar in my opinion. If they were trying to get my vote by making that video it was money wasted. C'mon Rudy, show us you can put this team on your shoulders in big games and carry them to victory, like other highly paid players do. That's what makes an allstar.
Marc Gasol is a mystery this season to me. Has he regressed? Or has he been given a different role? Whichever it is he clearly isn't having the same impact as last season and may be one of the two key reasons for the teams lack of progress. But the guy does at least give you a good effort every game, just like Randolph.
As for Randolph, he has been the one bright spot and model of consistency. I find it a bit funny that the one player that gets criticized by fans around the league for his past disgretions is the one who plays with the most heart and tries to be the Grizzlies leader. Good for him.
So lack of heart, leadership, ability to close out games, execute when the pressure is on. Is that a product of the players themselves or a combination of a poor coaching strategy and preperation. Or is it the fault of a GM who can't get the players to fit into what the coach wants? Or is it the owner, who repeatedly makes it known that the buck stops with him in all decisions? I think it's a combination all around and no one in the Grizzlies organization should be feeling like they have achieved a single thing from last season.
Well there's my longwinded rant of the day. All I hope for lately with this team is that at least a couple of trades will happen buy Feb 24. But like the Grizzlies themselves, it's become same old same old with me too and things haven't changed as far as how I view this team. Come on Grizzlies, give me a reason to get excited about this team because you are losing my interest.
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