Frustrated with how they have played so far. Iowa or Memag you guys going to game 3 or 4?

No, I'm going to be out of town so won't be going.

Maybe both.
Saturday for sure, if I haven't grown too old during this layoff.

May not want to go Monday if they don't win Saturday.

I'm hoping this turns like the Clippers series, and I would say that would never happen with Pop coaching.
Except that last years Thunder v. Spurs series did.

Iowa I know it hurts to be down 2-0 but you got think they started to figure it out towards the end of that game.

Looks like a lot of teams are going to be making a run at Hollins this offseason.

Yes, so far it has nearly followed the Clips series.

1. 20+ blowout game 1.
2. Close loss in game 2.
3. Me shaking my head about where the Grizz can generate enough offense while wondering how they can slow down the offense of the other team.
4. Me wondering if Rudy being on the team would help after seeing Prince be a non-factor, or even a negative factor, on the floor.

If somehow they can win games 3 and 4 we have a series again.

I thought Hollins had a pretty funny line in the post game.


Coach Lionel Hollins talked before the game about wanting the Grizzlies — getting increased attention in their first Western Conference finals appearance — to avoid being like a boy in junior high school who suddenly decides he needs to change once he gets noticed by a pretty girl.

"We're who we are and we have to stay who we are, and we have to understand that no matter who's coming and talking to us, we have to be true to our identity," Hollins said, "and we can't go changing and shaving and taking a bath when we haven't taken one all along."

If the Grizzlies lose this series, do you see this as a Del Negro situation where the team has their best season and the coach still gets canned?

Would the manner of losing affect the outcome? For example, if all the games are within 10 points would he still stay but if there were 2 blowouts would he be gone?

Admittedly I do not watch much Grizzlies basketball so I cannot say how the team and organization react to the coach but I do find it interesting that Hollins not being with the Grizz next year is even a possibility. We could have 2 coaches who had statistically great years for their teams be fired after losing in the playoffs.

I would assume Hollins will be offered a new contract after taking this team to at least the Conference Finals. Stranger things have happened though.

I bring it up because Wilbon seemed mad that the Grizzlies haven't already reupped him for a long term contract.

Hollins is a pretty no-nonsense kind of guy. He's kinda surly in his media interviews, like Pop, but without the humor and sarcasm.


I could see the Nets making a run at Hollins, and the Grizzlies won't be able to match their salary offer, and while Hollins will probably want to stay in the area and would give a hometown team a discount, he's not going to leave a ton of money on the table.



The Grizzlies were proactive on signing Gasol and Conley. They waited on Gay and ZBo, waiting to sign them at full market value, but because of Heisley's wisdom, he signed them above full market value. I could see the same thing happening with Hollins.

Bucks and Clips are hot for him too apparently.

It was a good run this year guys.

Wonder what offseason moves are made? Its clear in my opinion that we need more role players that can score from distance. While I understand the need for defense in Hollins' system, this series with the Spurs points out that you've got to have reliable outside shooting to loosen up the middle for the big men and to open up lanes/spacing for Conley. We should be emulating what SA has done by bringing in role players that can shoot and spread the floor.

We've gotten nothing offensively in this series from Dooling, ARthur, Prince, Davis, Leuer, Wroten, Daye and you can't really expect to get anything from them either because they aren't good offensive players, or because Hollins doesn't give them enough PT. That's too many roster spots IMO taken up by guys that can't score or can't be trusted to play and try to score.



[This message has been edited by MemAg92 (edited 5/25/2013 11:11p).]

[This message has been edited by MemAg92 (edited 5/25/2013 11:17p).]

There's a lot of free agents out there but will Memphis pay for them or would they try to trade for one instead? Guys like Kyle Korver and Nate Robinson are available and can provide scoring.

Not sure what to expect with this new ownership group...

Hollins is one hell of a coach. He did a ton without a true player who could spread the floor.

It was a truly fun season to watch. It's painful to see it end the way that it has but it is what it is. Hopefully we can get a true shooter this offseason.

I'm not a buyer on the Gay trade, and still would like to have seen a playoff run with a healthy Gay and Randolph.

This team was about 16-10 against playoff teams before the trade.
This team was about 8-7 against playoff teams after the trade.

We got to face a lot more powder puffs positioning themselves for the lottery down the stretch. And, fortunately, we got to face a Clipper team that melted down (and wasn't as good as the previous year IMO) and a Thunder team without Westbrook.

Hollins greatest strength is management of egos and getting players to play hard.

However, he's not an offensive genius, although the coaching staff has a pretty good defensive mindset.

Hollins can be pretty impatient with young players, especially point guards. As much stability as the starters have basically had the last couple of years, the perimeter subs have been a revolving door of characters.

Another thing I don't understand is playing two defensive players (Allen and Prince) at the same time. Since trading Gay, they really have no player that can individually get a great shot off.

While he's not in the same league as Pop, I think the real problem is that the whole front office in Memphis seems like amateur hour, especially when compared to the Spurs (and Pacers)

quote:

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As much stability as the starters have basically had the last couple of years, the perimeter subs have been a revolving door of characters.

Another thing I don't understand is playing two defensive players (Allen and Prince) at the same time. Since trading Gay, they really have no player that can individually get a great shot off.

While he's not in the same league as Pop, I think the real problem is that the whole front office in Memphis seems like amateur hour, especially when compared to the Spurs (and Pacers)

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Pretty much echo this.

First of all, I'm thrilled that the Grizzlies took a step further in the playoffs this year, we did get some good fortune with the Westbrook injury. That OKC series should have been an alert of sorts for how we might fare vs. the Spurs given how close those games truly were with an all star point guard for OKC out hurt and Memphis having inability to run away with any of the games.

My main "frustration" if that's the right word is that we were sitting here this same time last year saying we needed more outside shooting and offensive firepower and a backup for Conley as last year we had no one that could back him up and he would get worn down. We managed to do OK with platooning Bayless, Wroten, and Dooling this year as Conley backups but we still lack credible offensive firepower.

Our defense is enough most nights to carry us but if we truly want to take a next step to compete for our division, improve our seeding, and ultimately a championship around a core group of Conley, Randolph, and Gasol then we are going to have to bring in shooters that can space the floor, even if that means sacrificing something on the defensive side.

The Grizz had them.

Kyle Lowry was the backup before being traded for draft rights to DeMarre Carroll.


Greivis Vasquez was solid, and a big part of the 2011 playoffs.
At least he was traded for a solid contributor (Q Pon).

That's 2 NBA starters that were backing up Conley that the team moved on. I heard Lowry was a little bit toxic backing up Conley, especially since his BFF was Rudy, but that guy was a damn competitor.

Miracle Whip Bayless and OJ Mayo would have been fine combo guards to play (like a Manu role) if they could handle the ball, but that's kind of a big deal at the NBA level.




[This message has been edited by Iowaggie (edited 5/26/2013 11:10p).]

Well it is officially over now. Who do you guys want to be the starting 5 for next year?
Conley
Allen
???
Z Bo?
Gasol

I'm OK with never seeing Prince again. I have nothing against him but he just can't score and you can't have 2 guys in your starting lineup in Allen and Prince that can't shoot not to mention having only Bayless and Pondexter as offense off the bench. Maybe Pondexter can start a SF next year. He at least gives us a chance to space the floor a bit.

I think you have to keep zbo. He and tony really set the tone for what this team is, a physical and scrappy basketball team. Hopefully they can get a proven scorer for the 3. Maybe get a gem in the draft. If Pondexter continues to progress then I have no issues with him being a potential starter.

No guarantee that Allen or Bayless will be back.

I do think Rudy would have helped in these playoffs. I'm still pretty bummed to never see a healthy Gasol, Zach, and Rudy in the playoffs together.


Also no guarantee that Hollins comes back.

I would be happy with
Conley
Allen
Pondexter
Randolph
Gasol

Gotta get a few role players in the draft and free agency.

I think you have to pay Allen his money. He's too good of a defender to let go. He's also the spark plug this team needs.

As for hollins, I don't know how you don't give him a new deal. I don't care if they got swept this series. He's turned this team around. Just a few years ago this team was in the cellar of not just the west but the entire nba.