(Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
The Memphis Grizzlies are one of the NBA's most forgotten teams. Having had the 2nd-worst attendance in the league (again) last year, the Grizzlies have had the worst overall turnstile counts over the last five years, only climbing above the 2nd-worst once.
Most Memphis fans are baffled by the question:
What is the missing piece to the Memphis Grizzlies' puzzle?
Well, let's have a look at the Grizzlies' GM, coach and players.
GM: Chris Wallace
Review: Wallace started out in Boston, being hired there in 1997, and four years later being given the job as GM in the 2000-'01 season.
The next season, Wallace would make a trade-deadline-deal with the Phoenix Suns of Joe Johnson for Tony Delk and Rodney Rogers, among others, which would help get the Celtics to their first Eastern Conference Finals in over a decade. One other good thing that Wallace did while he was in Boston was drafting Paul Pierce.
In the 2007-2008 season Wallace was hired by the Grizzlies to replace Jerry West. Than Micheal Heisly went and hired Mark Iavoroni, whom he later fired in the 2008-'09 season, as head coach. Iavaroni was fired as Memphis was fading in the standings. Wallace hired as inten head coach. Two days later, Lionel Hollins was brought in to coach, all on Micheal Heisly's account.
The Good: He made a good move in trading Kevin Love for O.J. Mayo. Mayo is a player that Memphis can build around. Has a superior offensive skill set. This turned out looking to be a good deal in 2009, but of course we won't know for sure until five years later.
The Bad: Many were puzzled about how easily Pau Gasol was traded to the Lakers. I am sure that the Lakers could have lured in Gasol much easier than just his brother Marc Gasol and a 2008 First Round Pick, like Donte' Green, and 2010 First Round Pick.
He traded for Zach Randolph, who is quite possibly the worst locker room/team chemistry guy in the NBA today. He demands the ball no matter who is on the team, points fingers after losses, punched and injured a teammate in 2003, famously feuded with Nate Robinson on the bench during games in New York, and is an organizational nightmare off the court, including multiple lawsuits, guns, drugs, gangs, DUIs, a crazy sexual assault accusation in 2007, and time in juvie back in HS for stealing guns.
All-In-All: Wallace has done below average, he has made a couple good trade but overall hasn't helped Memphis all that much.
Coach: Lionel Hollins
Review: Lionel Holllons played twelve seasons in the NBA. He played for five teams all together: the Portland Trailblazers, Philadelphia 76'ers, San Diego Clippers, Detroit Pistons, and Houston Rockets. Hollins averaged 11.5 PPG, and 5.4 APG in his career, wining one championship in Portland and having one All-Star apperance, both during the 1976-'77 season.
On April 18th, 2007 The Blazers Retired his jersey, number fourteen.
Hollins has been a head coach three different times in his career, all for the Memphis Organization. Hollins was hired in the 1999-2000 season as an interim head coach, then again hired in the 2004-'05 season as interim coach. Finally, in 2009 he got the permanent head coaching job.
Strengths: He is a great x's and o's coach, and he also has the ability to connect with players. He brings great experience and commitment to the city of Memphis.
Weakness: He is most pronounced in half-court sets.
Starting Line-Up:
PG: Mike Conley, Jr.
The Spin: Conley has done average as a point guard for Memphis in the past two seasons. Many people are wondering if he will live up to the potential he has. The hiring of Hollins should help that.
We're going to send you the most entertaining Memphis Grizzlies articles, videos, and podcasts from around the web.
132 Comments
Loading more comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete