<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- Jerry West's offseason moves that seemed puzzling to many appear to be working out well for the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies' president decided to overhaul his roster after a first-round playoff loss, dumping key players Jason Williams, James Posey, Bonzi Wells and Stromile Swift. It looked as if the Grizzlies were shedding an enormous amount of talent, and many pundits suggested "The Logo" was losing his touch as one of the NBA's best executives. But the Grizzlies are off to their best start with a 13-5 record and tied with Dallas and the Los Angeles Clippers for the second-best mark in the Western Conference. "We're really a team," said starting center Lorenzen Wright, with the Grizzlies since their move to Memphis in 2001. "You keep some good guys and you add some good guys, and you're going to have a pretty good team." The Grizzlies are in the middle of a six-game winning streak, beating opponents by an average of more than 17 points, showing a new spark on defense and enjoying big nights from 3-point range. Memphis players say the biggest change from last season is the commitment to teamwork instilled by the arrival of veterans Eddie Jones, Damon Stoudamire and Bobby Jackson. "You're talking about 12 men, basically, on the active roster. It's not like football," Memphis coach Mike Fratello said. "One guy can change the makeup or the mind-set of a team." Fratello's Grizzlies are passing more and playing defense as a team. "You get that follow-the-leader type mentality," Fratello said. "One guy says, 'He's the one who passed me the ball when I was open. I'll pass it back to him. He's open now.' It's contagious." </div> Source
^^You have no business being cocky yet. The Grizzlies have steadily improved over tha past few years, but only in the regular season. They have yet to have any kind of success in the playoffs. Last year they got swept by the Suns, and by someone else I believe the year before. Stockpiling talent is great, but when few of those players have playoff success, or have been on teams that always choke in the playoffs (Bobby Jackson, Damon Stoudamire) it's no time for celebration.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Jurassic:</div><div class="quote_post">^^You have no business being cocky yet. The Grizzlies have steadily improved over tha past few years, but only in the regular season. They have yet to have any kind of success in the playoffs. Last year they got swept by the Suns, and by someone else I believe the year before. Stockpiling talent is great, but when few of those players have playoff success, or have been on teams that always choke in the playoffs (Bobby Jackson, Damon Stoudamire) it's no time for celebration.</div> I actually agree with you, TB. We're 0-8 in the playoffs all-time (granted we've played a very good Phoenix team as well as a very good San Antonio team). Until we win a series in the postseason, I'm not going to become a fan of Jerry West's. I guess I could be considered one of those "critics" that's silenced by this hot start, because I've been all of West's case the past few years, but I still don't think this start justifies some of the horrible deicision he's made in the past. Drafting Robert Archibald over Carlos Boozer and Dan Gadzuric? Signing Jake Tsakalidis to that big contract? Drafting Drew Gooden? There have been too many whacky moves made by West for me to give him my full support.
