And yet the Grizzlies are a game and a half ahead of the Houston Rockets in the standings - and our team kind of sucks. And I'm not feeding the myth that they're lucky. Lucky for what? Lucky because they'll probably miss the NBA draft lottery only to be bounced out of the 1st round? No. I'm of the opinion the Memphis Grizzlies are currently rather mediocre but they could possibly have a bright future. I'm still not sold on that though as I don't have a high opinion of either Gay or Randolph. Whereas I have a very high opinion of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Honestly, you talk about how deep your team is by saying people are constantly asking about the Grizzlies players but our team is definitely mediocre and the only guy on that roster I KNOW I'd be interested in is Marc Gasol (and we desperately need a legit center with height). However, if Morey was interested in OJ Mayo or Xavier Henry I'd take his word for it.
I just have to say that my new keyboard is not working out. I have so many typos, it's hideous to even look at. My avant prime was nearly 15 years old when I replaced it and now I've gone from that to this Das keyboard, which is extremely compact, the keys are squished together. Does anybody know how long it takes to get used to another keyboard? Anyway, back to the subject. I wasn't trying to derail the thread with grizz talk, it might have seemed that way. But I do find that many people rank the grizzlies so absurdly low, while by comparison having such a ridiculously out-of-whack praise for the Thunder (who while I admit are an exciting team, aren't that far from the grizzlies either in the standings or in talent, I might add) that the mere mention of them does strike my ire, I have to say. Sure we can argue back and forth on who has the better talent, but I sense that the argument to those who prefer the thunder is almost laughable to those who are on the side of the grizzlies, they don't even see the grizzlies in the same stratosphere with that team. Which is strange since the grizzlies hold such a favorable record against not only that team, but with all of the top teams in the east or the west. What about the grizzlies turns you cold? If the grizzlies were willing to trade any of our players, you guys would take: Rudy, no question about it and laugh at us for trading him, yall would kill for Tony Allen, Marc Gasol and OJ Mayo. And that's only an example of the players we have. Is it because the grizzlies executed a salary dump and now whatever else they do is suspect? Or is it a media thing? The thunder certainly get press. I for example am a big fan of the Indiana Pacers, and I don't need the media to anoint them to know that they are an up and coming team in the league. They have great pieces in my opinion. Yet the grizzlies, they are going to get swept in the playoffs, etc.
There's players on EVERY team we would kill for. Tony Allen, Marc Gasol, OJ Mayo, these guys would be on the second or third tier for guys we'd want anyway.
Rudy? I guess. I'm not denying Rudy's bad, he's alright, could be a good second option. But when you start trumpeting how he's superior to Kevin Durant and is more or less a top 5 player in this league, then of course I'm going to start laughing at you. Allen? Why would we want Tony Allen? We have Courtney Lee already. Gasol? Well, we would take anyone over 7 feet who isn't a complete and total stiff and doesn't have an absurd contract like Haywood. Heck, Thabeet shows that we might take them even if they are stiffs. Mayo? For free, sure. But I wouldn't break the bank to get him, as we already have one young dynamic wing player who can play both sides of the ball but doesn't get any playing time because he's kind of an idiot.
It's a wonder how the grizzlies even win games at all with such marginal talent, barely better than a stiff.
They're of a generally similar talent level to the Rockets, and somewhat better as Gasol is better than Hayes. That isn't bad persay, as we're winning games too. I mean, those four players you mentioned above would be playing if they were on the Rockets ( in contrast to the puppies whom I follow, whom have two or maybe only three guys I would actually want on the Rockets.) But while the Grizzlies have player that would be nice to obtain at a reasonable price, they don't have anyone I would go exactly go gaga to get. I would trade the entire team for Durant if I could. I would trade a lot of players for someone like Melo, or Bosh. The Grizzlies don't have anyone like that. That doesn't mean they're a bad team, but it doesn't mean that they're this awesome contending team that will just destroy San Antonio and LA like you're making it out to be.
To answer your first question, it's probably that they've never won a playoff series. It's hard to take a team/organization seriously when they've never even seen the second round. We Rockets fans are extremely disappointed in our teams performance since the Hakeem era ended, but we at least made it to the second round once a few years ago. Still, many talk about how hard it has been to be a Rockets fan over the last 15 years. If it's hard to be a Rockets fan.... As for the second part, I'm sure many Rockets fans would jump at the chance of Rudy Gay - hell, there are still some who regularly whine about the Gay for Battier trade. I, however, wouldn't want the guy. He makes maximum dollars but does not have a maximum impact. He is the kind of guy who celebrates a dunk when his team is down by 20 points. Is he an extremely talented player? Sure. But he's nowhere near the level of the elite players in the league and wouldn't help the Rockets get anywhere. And Tony Allen? Are you serious? What would we want him for? Yes. He's a solid veteran and he's been playing well - but we've got an abundance of those. Hell, we just shipped you one of ours for Thabeet and a pick. Personally, I like Courtney Lee better. So while Tony Allen is the type of guy I would like to have on our team, we have absolutely no need for him. He wouldn't improve our team. OJ Mayo? I have mixed feelings about him. He seems talented but stupid. Stupid players can only go so far. If he could reach his full potential, he might be worth acquiring - but who would he beat out on the Rockets for playing time? Lowry? Martin? Lee? I doubt it. Again, we don't really need the guy. Again, Marc Gasol is literally the only guy on your roster I'm remotely interested in. P.S. I like how you completely ignored the fact that Rockets fans are totally disappointed in our team's performance this year but we're only a couple games behind your team that apparently is not to be slept on.
I live in Oklahoma(unfortunately) and have been able to watch all the Thunder games, which has been nice since I've been going through Rocket withdrawal. They are more than exciting, Durant and Westbrook are superstars still on the rise, and Scott Brooks is a great coach, always preaching the extra pass and defense. The defense has improved a lot since Perkins and Mohammed started playing, and Ibaka was able to slide over to his natural 4 position, he's blocking even more shots than he did last year and the first half of this year. They have depth, 2 deep at every position, and hustle players like collison and sefalosha as great compliments to KD and Westbrook. Maynor has done a great job running that second unit, he is a true pass first point guard, and for a first rounder in his second year, that's impressive. I am a fan and I wouldn't say they are second in the west yet, but third is arguable, a close fourth is probable. That said, they could definitely win a 7 game series with any team in the west, Lakers included.(although that is a loooonnnnnggg shot)
I think Scott Brooks is an overrated coach. OKC's sets on offense are very basic and uncreative which leads to them going stagnant more often than they need to. The giant drop in defensive intensity to start the season showed Ron Adams was mainly responsible for their great defense last season. Another thing that irritates me is the way Harden gets ignored in late game situations even when he is on fire. Brooks will let them waste 20 seconds of the shot clock trying to get KD the ball instead of letting Harden destroy his man one-on-one. I could go on and on but you get the point.
Seeing how the thread asked a question is the thunder top 2 in the west and the grizzlies are, the last i checked, a part of the west. I'd have to say absolutely not. But if that's the way you feel ....
The Thunder will definitely be my favorite team during the playoffs if the Rockets don't make it. The Bulls will be my next favorite. Then Orlando.
Are the Grizzlies top 2 in the West? Thunder would probably be my 2nd team after the Spurs to root for. I've always felt it kind of strange rooting for well, what is fundamentally Seattle after that happened between us in the 90s.
