Grizzlies a championship contender?

[Axel]

They're hanging right with the Spurs again tonight and only lost by 1 point in their last game. They can play really good defense, esp on the perimeter. To me they seem like a plausible challenger to the Spurs in the west (who seems to be the favorite).

Anyone else think the Grizzlies could make it to the finals?

[Matt]

Nope. Not w/o Stoudamire & another big man.

[Indy]

The Grizzlies are a notch behind San Antonio, Phoenix and Dallas. Phoenix is the only real threat to beat the Spurs in the West, especially once they get Stoudamire back.

[Arcane]

I think the Grizzlies just need a stronger Centre if they keep Pau Gasol as a PF, along with Damon back. Other than that they do have a strong side.

[dada]

Pau held his own against Duncan tonight. Everybody is a contender once you in the playoffs.

[John WB]

Pau held his own against Duncan tonight. Everybody is a contender once you in the playoffs.

Not unless they make a big trade or free agent signing before then.

[Emiliano]

Until Memphis learns how to rebound, then they have a chance to be contenders.

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

Not with Bobby Jackson as their only PG. If they trade back for Earl Watson, they'll be better.

They still have no chance against the Spurs, Suns and Mavericks, though.

[Axel]

They're 2 - 0 against the Suns so far this season.. and 1 -1 against the Mavs. They've beaten a lot of good teams this year... I'm not going to totally count them out yet...

Jerry West will probably make an important trade or acquisition before the trade deadline too.

[playkalla]

i think that they still have a good chance

[John WB]

They're 2 - 0 against the Suns so far this season.. and 1 -1 against the Mavs. They've beaten a lot of good teams this year... I'm not going to totally count them out yet...

Jerry West will probably make an important trade or acquisition before the trade deadline too.

But what's their record against the Spurs?

[Riot]

Where is Mafia to defend his Grizzlies?

[Axel]

They're 2 - 0 against the Suns so far this season.. and 1 -1 against the Mavs. They've beaten a lot of good teams this year... I'm not going to totally count them out yet...

Jerry West will probably make an important trade or acquisition before the trade deadline too.

But what's their record against the Spurs?

0 - 2, one very close loss and another was close all the way up to the last few minutes.

[-BHZMAFIA-]

Where is Mafia to defend his Grizzlies?

I'm here! But I've been saying they are basically one guy away from being a contender in the West. I think West is trying to work out a deal to get that one big guy in the middle and a PG. As of now, they are more a 2nd round team.

[kinokong]

hasn't he been trying to figure the one big man for a long time

[-BHZMAFIA-]

hasn't he been trying to figure the one big man for a long time

Exactly, but either teams want something that he doesn't want to give up or he just can't pull the big man he really wants.

[Indy]

I'll tell you a trade that makes Memphis a title contender:

Indiana Trade Breakdown
Outgoing

Jonathan Bender
7-0 SF from Picayune Memorial (HS)
5.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.0 apg in 10.5 minutes

Ron Artest
6-7 SF from St. John's
19.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.2 apg in 37.8 minutes

Jamaal Tinsley
6-3 PG from Iowa State
11.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 5.4 apg in 29.2 minutes

Jeff Foster
6-11 C from Southwest Texas State
5.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 0.4 apg in 21.7 minutes
Incoming

Lorenzen Wright
6-11 C from Memphis
5.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 0.8 apg in 24.9 minutes

Mike Miller
6-8 SG from Florida
12.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.5 apg in 30.9 minutes

Shane Battier
6-8 SF from Duke
12.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.8 apg in 36.1 minutes

Jake Tsakalidis
7-2 C from Greece (Foreign)
1.9 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 0.2 apg in 7.9 minutes
Change in team outlook: -8.4 ppg, +0.1 rpg, and -3.7 apg.

Memphis Trade Breakdown
Outgoing

Lorenzen Wright
6-11 C from Memphis
5.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 0.8 apg in 24.9 minutes

Mike Miller
6-8 SG from Florida
12.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.5 apg in 30.9 minutes

Shane Battier
6-8 SF from Duke
12.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.8 apg in 36.1 minutes

Jake Tsakalidis
7-2 C from Greece (Foreign)
1.9 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 0.2 apg in 7.9 minutes
Incoming

Jonathan Bender
7-0 SF from Picayune Memorial (HS)
5.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.0 apg in 10.5 minutes

Ron Artest
6-7 SF from St. John's
19.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.2 apg in 37.8 minutes

Jamaal Tinsley
6-3 PG from Iowa State
11.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 5.4 apg in 29.2 minutes

Jeff Foster
6-11 C from Southwest Texas State
5.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 0.4 apg in 21.7 minutes
Change in team outlook: +8.4 ppg, -0.1 rpg, and +3.7 apg.


Successful Scenario
Due to Indiana and Memphis being over the cap, the 25% trade rule is invoked. Indiana and Memphis had to be no more than 125% plus $100,000 of the salary given out for the trade to be accepted, which did happen here. This trade satisfies the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Memphis would have to do it. However, we are then overloaded at the SG/SF position.

Tinsley
Eddie Jones
Artest
Pau Gasol
Jeff Foster

Ain't a bad lineup for Memphis.

[-BHZMAFIA-]

That's an interesting deal. We get the PG we need, the big man and an all-star, but we do give up the heart and hustle of the team and an excellent sharp shooter. You have to give up something in order to get exactly what you want, so if I was West, I would take the deal. Bender is getting ready to retire though so he would really be a waste.

Plus, Memphis will still have Dahntay Jones, Bobby Jackson, Brian Cardinal, Hakim Warrick, Lawerence Roberts, Antonio Burks. A young bench with the exception of Bobby and Brian, but all of them can play.

[kinokong]

im not too sure about that.... you're overhauling half the team in that deal on both sides and while it might bring results later, players need some time to integrate into their respective systems and it seems to be into indianas favor a bit... indiana probably needs to throw in a pick or two make it work...

[Matt]

Memphis get a nutcase and an injury prone PG? not a good deal.

Heard Stoudamire will be back before playoffs? In this case they won't need a PG.

[-BHZMAFIA-]

Naw, the only way Stoudamire would be able to be back in the playoffs is if the Grizzlies made it to like the West Finals or NBA Championship. When he got hurt, they said about 6 months.

[#12]

all memphis needs to do is get a player like how detroit got rasheed wallace

[Matt]

yeah, i don't think that'll be that easy.

[magius]

memphis at full strengh

= not enough firepower to beat phoenix
= not enough defense to stop san antonio.

so no i dont think they're contenders, maybe on par with dallas? but hey anything can happen i guess...

[bludgeon]

I dun think they hv good enough interior D and rebounding to make it in the playoffs, not to mention the absence of Damon.