Big Jake Finally Finds Minutes

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Two summers ago, center Jake Tsakalidis signed an offer sheet from the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The next day, the Grizzlies matched the offer.

Whether he wanted it or not, Tsakalidis would remain the property of the Grizzlies.
"Right now, yes (I'm happy), said Tsakalidis, who has become a starter and put up double figures in points and rebounds in two of his past three games. "But when it happened, no. My agent was going to find me a team."

In this case, "a team" is code for "an opportunity."

Tsakalidis didn't feel he had that here until recently.

He had spent three seasons with the Phoenix Suns and started more often than not. The Grizzlies acquired the 7-2, 290-pound native of the Republic of Georgia -- a part of the former Soviet Union -- before the 2003-2004 season. His first season in Memphis, Tsakalidis played in 40 games and started 28, but averaged only 13 minutes a game. Last season, he played in 31, made only one start, and was left off the playoff roster.

So, Cleveland looked beautiful this time of year -- or any other.

But this season, as Grizzlies coach Mike Fratello began subtracting minutes from starting center Lorenzen Wright, Tsakalidis began to get more playing time. And then on Feb. 24 against San Antonio, Tsakalidis became the starter. When he's introduced tonight at FedExForum against the Boston Celtics, it will be his 10th start in a row.

A player who once looked as tentative as he was large, is now more aggressive, more agile and, most of all, more confident than at any time since he came here.

"Since my first season in Memphis, I didn't play until now," said Tsakalidis, who matched his season high of 17 points -- with 12 rebounds -- last Sunday in a three-point loss to Philadelphia. "When you know you're going to play, you can feel the game."

His teammates can see -- and feel -- the difference.

Eddie Jones, new to the Grizzlies this year, said, "I definitely don't remember him (from before). But once I actually got here and saw him, I thought he was pretty good around the basket. For him to get his chance now, he's performing.

"All these young guys need to look at him. He waited for his opportunity and now he's stepping it up."

And opportunity is everything.

"The big fella's playing well and giving us a great inside presence," Shane Battier said. "He's giving us a toughness down low.

"When you play well, everything is better. When you walk on the court, you know you're going to do something. And that's where Jake is at right now."

And that's had a ripple effect on the Grizzlies.

"It makes our team a lot deeper," Mike Miller said.

"A lot of teams tend to overcompensate for Pau (Gasol)," said Jones, "and now Jake's finding those little spots around the basket and making himself available. It opens up a lot of things for Pau. And that comes from the contribution Jake is making." </div>

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