A long way to go but i'm very happy to be sitting at 7-3 when you consider the schedule. A win against Denver tomorrow would cap a great road trip and let us head home at a very healthy 8-3 (7 road games in that). Will we be able to maintain this form for the entire season? Will we fall in a hole? Either way, a very promising and exciting start.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Jerry West:</div><div class="quote_post">A long way to go but i'm very happy to be sitting at 7-3 when you consider the schedule. A win against Denver tomorrow would cap a great road trip and let us head home at a very healthy 8-3 (7 road games in that). Will we be able to maintain this form for the entire season? Will we fall in a hole? Either way, a very promising and exciting start.</div> I'm really liking what the Grizzlies have done so far. I doubted the team in the offseason when they made all of those lopsided trades, but look what Jason Williams, James Posey, and Stromile Swift have gone on to do - almost nothing. Then on the other end, Eddie Jones, Bobby Jackson, and recently even Damon Stoudamire have made this team what it is. We're an older, more expeirenced team, and the chemistry is amazing. In all fairness though, we looked sloppy tonight, and Utah was playing without Kirilenko and Boozer.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Voodoo Child:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm really liking what the Grizzlies have done so far. I doubted the team in the offseason when they made all of those lopsided trades, but look what Jason Williams, James Posey, and Stromile Swift have gone on to do - almost nothing. </div> I was happy with the trades given the reason was to rid the team of cancers and bad influences however the signing of Mighty Mouse seemed to contradict that. Anyway, it's all history now. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Voodoo Child:</div><div class="quote_post"> In all fairness though, we looked sloppy tonight, and Utah was playing without Kirilenko and Boozer. </div> It was bound to happen though. We're in the middle of a tough schedule and came up against a team we were always going to beat. Tough to motivate yourself for such games. I'm sure the entire group is looking forward to getting home, hopefully with another W in the bag.
The newcomers are all playing well, and Battier and Miller have maintained their splendidness. It's no real wonder that the Grizzlies are doing as great as they are. One thing that concerns me though is Gasol's rebounding. He went from 8.9 as a rookie to 7.3 last season, and is at just 7.7 this year despite playing a career high minutes per game. Granted I haven't seen a full Grizzlies game this year, but what's wrong?
The Grizzlies are 7-3? I would have never guess. All I'm hearing from the West is the Clippers, Spurs, the Rockets problems and as usual the Kobe & Phil thing. It seems as if the experience and age has benifited the Griz's well. I just knew having veterans would bring this tem up a level, just the fact that they have veterans gives them good karma. Also I like what Gasol has been doing this season, with the new rugged look and more physical game he is starting to evolve to that next level, if he keeps this up and his team continues to win he should be an All-Star. Jerry West had done excellent job getting all of these quality players but at the end of the day the Griz will only go as far as Gasol takes them. You only hear that phrase for superstar level players, but this team still lacks that "guy" every team needs to take them to the promise land. Gasol is the only bonafied star on this team and again at the end of the day it will all fall on his shoulders as far as where this team will go.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Avery:</div><div class="quote_post">Jerry West had done excellent job getting all of these quality players but at the end of the day the Griz will only go as far as Gasol takes them. You only hear that phrase for superstar level players, but this team still lacks that "guy" every team needs to take them to the promise land. Gasol is the only bonafied star on this team and again at the end of the day it will all fall on his shoulders as far as where this team will go.</div> So I guess the Detroit Pistons made it as far as they did because they had so many superstars? It's been done before - teams can win without a cast of All-Stars. As for Gasol's rebounding, Locke, he had a really disappointing stretch of games between November 8th and November 11th where he only averaged 4.7 rpg, including a two rebound game, and that brought his averages down. I think you can chalk that up to the fatigue of playing three games in four days. If you look at the rest of his games though, he's averaging 20.7 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 3.7 apg, and 3.1 bpg. I'm really expecting him to pick up his overall averages as the year goes on.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">So I guess the Detroit Pistons made it as far as they did because they had so many superstars? It's been done before - teams can win without a cast of All-Stars.</div> But seriously though, how many times has that happened? Prior to the Pistons championship year the only team to win a championship without having what we call a superstar was the Sonics back in the 70's. Also it's not like the Grizzlies are as solid at every position like the Pistons. In addition the Grizzlies are in the Western conference where if anything they would have to go against a Spurs team led by a superstar, and that superstar is what ultimately separated themselves from their mirror image of themselves which is the Pistons. To be concise what I'm really trying to say is if the Grizzlies want to take it up a couple notch where they will be Western Conference contenders Gasol need to be what Dirk is to his team. He needs to be that "man" and be more aggressive and dominate and takeover when called upon. He has the tools to be of all of those services but it's just a matter if he's willing to do so.
Another awesome road win tonight against the Mavs, snapping their 7-game win streak and becoming the first team to beat them at home this year. Pau had an awesome game. It's a testament to his class and commitment that he doesn't get down when he struggles with the constant double-teaming. A star baller (despite what Dirk says) and a class individual.
