Youth Is No Excuse

Shapecity · Oct 10, 2008

From Marc Iavaroni's seat, that spiel about the Grizzlies' youth and inexperience stunting performances already is getting old. The baby Grizzlies better grow up and mature quickly. Their head coach is tuning out nursery-rhyme rationalizations, and he's suggesting his troops do the same.

"I don't want to talk about being young," Iavaroni said. "That's an excuse. We're not going to use it as one."

The Grizzlies' core group is essentially made up of players 23 years old and younger with three or fewer years of NBA experience. But that doesn't preclude sharing the basketball, taking good shots and following instructions from the bench.

To that end, Iavaroni would like to see the Griz put their pedestrian play from Wednesday night -- an 89-80 loss to the Washington Wizards -- behind them and show progress tonight when they host the Charlotte Bobcats.

"You need to relax, get to your spot, get on the same page and not force things," said Iavaroni.

Albeit in only two preseason games, the Griz are averaging 86.5 points on 38-percent shooting -- thanks in part to questionable shot selection.

The loss to the Wizards was a case study in selfishness. When they couldn't run and were forced to execute half-court sets, the Griz too often relied on one-on-one play and ill-advised shots.

Rudy Gay and rookie O.J. Mayo, the team's main offensive weapons, were the main culprits as the Griz lacked ball movement.

"Guys have to get with it a little more, watch tape and know spots," Iavaroni said. "We're not tight yet. It's only going to happen more quickly if people are doing their jobs."

Iavaroni stopped short of saying the Griz took a day off in the second game of a back-to-back set. After racing up and down the floor and expending great defensive energy for most of Tuesday's 96-93 loss at Houston, the Grizzlies' intensity waned as the game wore on Wednesday.

"We have to play harder," Iavaroni said. "I don't think we played hard enough (against the Wizards). We've got to work very hard everyday. We've got a new cast. We have to be disciplined."

Part of Gay's and Mayo's frustration has been due to foul trouble. Mayo picked up two fouls in the game's first two minutes against the Wizards. Early foul trouble has made it difficult for him to get into a rhythm.

"I'm going to try to fulfill my role and be a team player," Mayo said following the loss to Washington. "It's the second preseason game. I don't think it's time to push an emergency button yet. We're all trying to get better and get ready for the season."

The Griz have amassed 27 assists and 28 turnovers with their core players logging significant playing time.

"We've got to learn to play together as a unit before we get the individual stuff going," point guard Mike Conley said.

On the positive side, Conley, forward Hakim Warrick and center Marc Gasol have made the games an extension of their practices so far. Gasol, despite his foul trouble, is averaging 5.5 rebounds and displaying defensive toughness.

Warrick's 43-percent shooting isn't on par with his scoring ability, but he's performed well in every other aspect. The fourth-year player is trying to earn the starting power forward job and is making an impression with strong rebounding -- and he's already rejected seven shots.

"I'm just trying to let the game come to me and be aggressive on defense," said Warrick, who also is tied for the team lead with 15 free-throw attempts. "I'm out there playing hard and trying to get every rebound."

Warrick's early performances are only rivaled by Conley's. The second-year floor general is displaying improved shooting and aggressiveness on dribble drives. Conley also is going after rebounds -- a good sign for a team that needs to work the boards by committee.
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Source: Memphis Commercial Appeal

DynastYWarrioR6 · Oct 13, 2008

These guys will be one of the up and coming young teams in the league, however, they can bloom like Atlanta did last year and how Portland will OR they can crash like Chicago did.

La Bomba · Oct 13, 2008

I don't expect us to do anything special this year to tell you the truth. Hopefully I can prove myself wrong.

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Youth Is No Excuse

Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

DynastYWarrioR6 JBB SmurfY

La Bomba The Future

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Youth Is No Excuse

Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

DynastYWarrioR6 JBB SmurfY

La Bomba The Future

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