Grizzlies Emerge After Rocky Times

The often-puzzling Memphis Grizzlies spent all last season listening to criticism over their earlier giveaway of All-Star Pau Gasol. They were mocked this summer for obtaining the enigmatic Zach Randolph. They caught considerable grief this fall after the ill-fated signing of combustible Allen Iverson.

They have looked like a well-used dart board, a revolving door of players and coaches.

But finally the skies have parted.

The franchise that has been a virtual whipping post since entering the NBA 14 years ago, has emerged from the storm to see an enviable future. Their heads have broken water.

Iverson feels like just a bad dream now.

"It does seem now like a long time ago, but I never felt like it was all doom and gloom, like some people painted it,'' Memphis general manager Chris Wallace told FanHouse Thursday afternoon. "We're going to have a real exciting team here. We already have an exciting team, and it's getting better.''

The Grizzlies, who lost eight of their first nine games this season while wrestling with Iverson, are looking now like the most improved team in the NBA, riding the makeover of Randolph, the surprising emergence of Pau's younger brother Marc Gasol and the blossoming of young guns Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo.

The Grizzlies (19-18) are above .500 in January for the first time in four years. After winning 22, 22 and 24 games, respectively, the last three seasons, they have rediscovered how much fun basketball can be. A win Friday night against Minnesota would tie a franchise record with their seventh consecutive home victory.

They have won nine of their last 12 and 18 of their last 28 games. They are coming off the best December record (9-4) in franchise history.

They started the season as the youngest, least experienced team in the league -- 10 of their 14 players were born in 1985 or later -- but this bunch of home-grown prospects is beginning to mature nicely.

"Patience is not the easiest thing to sell -- and when you switch directions it's going to take time -- but we've turned the corner."
- Grizzlies GM
Chris Wallace They are the only team in the league with two players (Randolph and Gay) averaging at least 20 points; the only team with two (Gay and Mayo) who have scored at least 40 in a single game this season; and the only team with three players averaging at least 18 points.

"Patience is not the easiest thing to sell -- and when you switch directions it's going to take time -- but we've turned the corner,'' Wallace said. "We have a group that can grow together, and the means to add more.''

Randolph, 29, is their only starter who didn't start his NBA career in Memphis. Gay, Mayo, Gasol and Mike Conley (none older than 23) all have grown up with the losing in Memphis; they're thrilled now to be seeing the improvement.

The Grizzlies will have three first-round draft picks in June, unless they move one now before the trade deadline, which is entirely possible. They have significant salary cap space, and an open roster spot which is itching to be filled.

"We could easily do a deal (before the trade deadline next month). I wouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger if it helped our team now without taking on any long-term salary commitment,'' Wallace said. "I like what we have, but we'll continue to try and get better.''

The Grizzlies are likely to add a veteran perimeter player, preferably a shooter to help improve their three-point percentage, which is near the bottom of the league.

The addition of Randolph, which prompted considerable snickering this summer, has fast-forwarded their chase for a playoff spot. Although Randolph was considered divisive when he played for the Blazers, Knicks and Clippers, the Grizzlies have embraced the low-post scoring presence he brings.

He is averaging 20.4 points and 11.4 rebounds, joining Tim Duncan and Chris Bosh as the only other 20-10 guys in the league this season. In one five-game December stretch, Randolph averaged 28.2 points and 18.2 rebounds, becoming the first player since Shaquille O'Neal in 1993 to post those kind of numbers over a five-game period.

His inside scoring has forced opponents to double team inside, which has opened the floor for the slashing of Gay at small forward and Mayo at shooting guard. Conley, in just his second season, is just now learning the nuances of being an NBA point guard.

Gasol, whose rights came from the Lakers in the trade for his brother, has established himself as one of the league's bright young centers, bidding to win the league's Most Improved Player Award. In only his second season, he has increased his scoring from 11.9 points to 14.8 and his rebounding average from 7.4 to 9.7.

Like many young teams, they are learning first how to win at home, beating Dallas, Cleveland and Denver in Memphis. They are 12-5 at home, 7-0 at home against teams with losing records. Five of their next six are at home, where they hope to climb into the top eight in the Western Conference.

The recent success has sparked new interest in a team where interest had waned terribly the past two seasons. The winning has prompted ownership to start talking seriously about extensions for both coach Lionel Hollins, who survived the early-season Iverson fiasco, and Wallace, who started building this team upon his arrival in 2007.

"We're on the rise,'' Wallace said. "And the good thing is that we still have the flexibility to add to what we've already done. We're not going back where we were.''