<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Mike Fratello wants 28 days. In about a month, says the Grizzlies head coach, the answers about his re-tooled team will begin to crystallize. Only Fratello won't have such a reprieve. The questions begin today when the Grizzlies officially open FedExForum for another professional basketball season with media day. Players are due to report this morning and, by the afternoon, Fratello likely will have heard the same question posed many different ways. Asked point-blank over the weekend if the Pau Gasol-less Grizzlies will play an up-tempo offense, Fratello said he doesn't quite understand the continued emphasis on style of play. The roster's make-up simply dictates that he has no choice but to run, baby, run. "That's the intention," Fratello said of playing faster this season. "We intend to look at these guys, watch their athletic ability and see how we change ends of the floor. But there are two things you have to keep in mind. If you can't stop people and you're constantly taking the ball out of the net, you can't run. "And the third factor is, I don't care who you are and how much you run, at some point, you meet teams that get back and rebound with you. Then you have to be able to execute in the half court. Getting out and running to get easy baskets should be our first thought. And then when we can't get easy scores, we've got to be able to execute." Half-court execution often began and ended with Gasol -- the team's all-star and most potent low-post threat. But Gasol is expected to miss the first two months of the regular season following foot surgery. Without a 7-footer who is prolific around the basket and lures double-team defenses, Fratello said the Grizzlies' training camp-long mission will be to develop ways to keep opponents off balance. "I just don't want people to get caught up in this terminology: style of play," Fratello said. "...This league tends to be a follow-the-leader type of league. A team may be doing it a certain way because that's the type of talent they have. But that doesn't mean it's right to win a championship. "But if we can get out early on and push the ball and that's our mentality, then that will make it easier on Pau as well. It'll be that many less times that we'll have to count on him to (facilitate the offense). I'm sure he'll be the first one that would say guys getting out on the break will take a little heat off him." If there is pressure or hype surrounding anyone, it's rookie Rudy Gay. Not because of anything the eighth overall draft pick has said. Perhaps the high expectations have more to do with what the Griz did to grab him. Team president Jerry West sent Shane Battier to Houston for Stromile Swift and the rights to Gay. Since the deal, West has proclaimed Gay as an all-star in the making. The belief is he'll at least develop into a primary option. After all, West said the Griz rated Gay as the top player in the draft. Fratello, though, sounded noncommittal on whether he plans to start Gay right away. "I have no idea," Fratello said. "We'll practice and see who earns the spot. All of these young guys will get a chance. Those first four exhibition games, I might be juggling things around and doing some stuff that may not be conventional. But we've got to see different combinations on the floor." Perhaps the most encouraging signs entering training camp have to do with the team's camaraderie and commitment. "Their work ethic has been incredible. If you're not happy with this group then I don't know what's going to make you happy," Fratello said. "People who have been here for a while tell me that this is the earliest that this many (players) have come back to get ready for the season. That's a big plus. </div> Source
