Commercial Appeal <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">It's only preseason. Yeah, right. Not to the anything-but-grisly veterans in Grizzlies camp. But there was referee Steve Javie, trying to reduce a loud gym rat to the silent mouse. Recently acquired veteran Eddie Jones wouldn't stop, though. He kept shouting at Javie during the Grizzlies' 82-78 preseason win last Saturday until a technical foul was delivered and gift-wrapped in spite. "It's only preseason," Javie yelled after becoming agitated by Jones's chastisement from the bench. Tell that to someone just content with collecting a paycheck. Jones -- whether he's planted on the bench watching the action, on the practice court or in the locker room -- always appears to be defending and scoring points. Javie saw just how Jones pays attention to the ball when it's not in his hands. The Grizzlies' coaching staff picked up on how intent Jones is on keeping the team ahead. Projected performance and practical persistence are what the Grizzlies most enjoy with their most celebrated additions: Jones, Damon Stoudamire and Bobby Jackson. The tested trio has come as advertised heading into the final 11/2 weeks of training camp. "They have all been just terrific as far as their leadership, their willingness to take on responsibility, and help some of our younger players," Griz coach Mike Fratello recently said. He later added that: "We are blessed with the fact that we have two experienced (point guards) that can get us into what we want and if we need a basket get us a big basket at any given time. Both work pretty hard at the defensive end of the floor." </div> Source
