<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Wave:</div><div class="quote_post">Do you see the Grizzlies as title contenders next season?</div> Not if they dont improve on defense and at Center.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting WhiteManCanJump:</div><div class="quote_post">As of now - no. If they get a big name free agent, like kobe bryant, anything is possible.</div> So, you think we need an All-Star? I don't. I think this team could definitely make a run at the title this season. I am not saying they will win it, but I fully expect them to come close. Ok, so you don't think they can make it. How long do you think it will be before they win the title?
You don't NEED a superstar to win a title but It certainly helps to have a bunch of star quailty players. The 10 man rotation may work now but Hubie needs to learn to give Gasol at least 35-38 minutes a game more often as the rotation theory just doesn't work in the playoffs. I guess with the Pistons winning the NBA title this year you could say you don't need a superstar but Memphis don't have the right guys to go with what Detroit did. The defense first off isn't anywhere near as good as It should be to contend for a title. Two good big men defenders and a post player could get it done but right now the best I see Memphis finishing is 6th seed again, the west is too stacked for them to make any noise unless they get a very good scorer and a defensive stopper.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">You don't NEED a superstar to win a title but It certainly helps to have a bunch of star quailty players. The 10 man rotation may work now but Hubie needs to learn to give Gasol at least 35-38 minutes a game more often as the rotation theory just doesn't work in the playoffs. I guess with the Pistons winning the NBA title this year you could say you don't need a superstar but Memphis don't have the right guys to go with what Detroit did. The defense first off isn't anywhere near as good as It should be to contend for a title. Two good big men defenders and a post player could get it done but right now the best I see Memphis finishing is 6th seed again, the west is too stacked for them to make any noise unless they get a very good scorer and a defensive stopper.</div> What if they were able to land Dampier through free agency and could resign Swift? Where would you see them finishing then?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Wave:</div><div class="quote_post">What if they were able to land Dampier through free agency and could resign Swift? Where would you see them finishing then?</div> Most likely about the same, but at this stage It's so tough to tell. Getting Dampier would improve the Grizzles roster and give them something they lacked last season, a big body downlow but other teams above them and even below them have added or will add other good players to their rosters. We also don't know how Dampier will perform next season, It was his contract year this season and he has never showed he can be so successful in past seasons. It's rather strange he would put up great numbers the year he has a new contract due. Maybe he will continue to be a 12 and 12 player but It's also possible his play wil dip. This question will be answered better when free-agency ends. Alot can change Lakers could lose Kobe and Shaq Spurs could lose Manu Nuggets could get K-mart and Q Richardson Suns could add a good center So many questions to be answered in free-agency but I don't expect to see alot of surprise changes or Memphis really changing their ranking in the seedings.
Definetly next season there could be a great chance, many teams are rebuilding... That lets Minny and the Spurs like the real contenders in our conference. Jerry West seems to point at Dampier and Artest, that would be so great but I think we need something more, maybe just time, and let Shane, Swift and Pau reach their real potential.
They won't win anything for a while. This current group, I think, could be at that level around 2008, once they've paid some playoff dues, and grown up.
