Got Gasol back healthy. Added Darko, Navarro. Rudy Gay is older and better. Hired highly regarded new coach. And yet they stink. Why? What's missing? My answer: Spoiler
I completely agree. It's why Battier is one of three untouchables on this team. Yep. To the Eastern Conference, that is.
They can't opt out of their lease for another seven years (presuming attendance doesn't pick up), and even then, It'll cost them over $100 million.
I am actually a grizzlies fan and I believe that their are several reasons why the grizzlies suck. Yes, I said it. 1. Pau Gasol is not a closer and he still doesn't understand how to effectively play at the end of the game when possessions are at a premium. He has to be able to get positive points EVERY time down court, which he never does. 2. Defense. Here is where Battier was great for this team. But Battier is not the only guy we lost. We also lost ball pressure defense when we let Posey go and Earl Watson. To a certain extent, Lo Wright was a part of our defense as well. He was like the all around good defender. These three guys guys along with Battier made our team defense tough, especially in ten man rotations, which is what we played back then. We would simply grind on teams. 3. Jason Williams. Our team was at its very best when we had a scoring guard and passer like him on the team. If Williams was lighting it up, you couldn't beat us. Now, we have Damon and though he is a pretty good scorer he is inconsistent and can't play defense and he is only marginally able to get out on the break. 4. We are a young team in a new system. The grizzlies are in the mist of some serious growing pains and we are going to have to learn each other. Defense is the key. We need to start playing better defense and thats all there is to it.
I am disappointed with Iavaroni. He hasn't instilled a defensive mindset within this team. I expected a lot more out of him. This team is best suited in the half court so Gasol and Darko can dominate. Fratello is the right man for this job.
Conley is nowhere near ready to initiate and control a half-court set offense like Memphis. I am watching him get burned on almost every step by Deron Williams right now, he even looks lost spacing the perimeter *(which is imperitive in the half court set they run). Maybe one day but he belongs on the bench right now. Whoever said Gasol is not a closer is right. He obviously has the touch and size to be devastating and is proving a decent compliment to Darko. This team IMO would be perfect for a scoring minded point guard who looks to score first and loves the ball in his hands (AI anyone?). Some would say the same is true of the Rockets and they would be right, hell it's a true statement about most teams in the NBA. But they are really getting outplayed at the 1 right now, it seems like the perfect spot to begin assessing blame. Some may say Conley could be that, but so far I've seen nothing to convince myself of that. Miller is a great role player but has been stuck playing 2nd star. IMO he would be more effective if say, a certain Rudy Gay, would emerge as the point-forward type offensive playmaker we all know he can be. He threw one sick dunk down in the first half and appears to be maturing defensively, but he has two or three levels to climb in terms of getting his teammates involved. The athleticism doesn't appear to be shrinking either so maybe this is his breakout year. All in all, Memphis has so many pieces that could be phenomenal if motivated and Iavaroni might not have the balls to shape up shop. Darko, Stromile, Conley, Gay, Navarro are all underachievers. They need a real personality in the worst way and I don't see anyone on this roster bringing that.
Rudy Gay is not a playmaker who sets up others. He is a finisher who plays off of others. The Grizz better hope Conley or Lowry develop into playmakers who can help Gasol be more effective in crunch time. Teams cannot be successful at finishing games without a very good or great perimeter player who rises to the occasion. How exactly are Gay and Conley "underachievers"? Conley hasn't played but 4 games and Gay is just in his 2nd year. It's going to be a tough year for Memphis. They are going to be on the wrong side of many beat-downs.
You are right. Conley hasn't had opportunity to be labeled a bust or underachiever and Gay with only one year is the same, so underachiever is a premature label. I meant they all appear they COULD fulfill a specific role on the team that they currently are not. Conley and Gay both need to learn to facilitate, and they are obviously at the dawning of both of their careers so the jury is still out. I think it Conley hits open shots and facilitates, and Gay forces defenses to cover him by way of athletic-overload dominance, and if Darko performs up to potential down on the block, AND stromile contributes rebounding help and runs the floor effectively, THEN this team could compete even in the west. I said underachiever because I think they can do more (and likely will) and that Iavoroni is not the motivator needed in that camp. They have alot to motivate and desperately need leadership.
Darko isn't a good player, Navarro has yet to prove anything. Gay is still 5 games into his 2nd year and will be inconsistent still. Iavaroni is still a first time head coach.
From a guy who was absolutely devastated when the Rox traded Gay go for Battier, I have to say I'm nothing buy happy. I had really high expectations for Gay; none of which he's been able to fulfill. I'm a Morey convert.
Darko will continue to disappoint. He just ain't got it. The Magic did good by letting him go. If you are very lucky, Darko could turn out to be a serviceable starter. If Lowry or Conley don't come up big, your team is going nowhere for a while.
When I see a team full of such talent, my first thought is the coaching staff. If they had a championship-quality coach, they'd be a helluva lot tougher. I don't think they'd be champion contenders, but they've be tough.
Actually, talent is one thing, but more and more, I really feel that our role players and second talents have lost confidence in Gasol and Gasol himself may have lost confidence in himself. He is definitely isn't the same player that he once was. Like I said in my previous post, the grizzlies will do nothing until they can play some ball pressure defense and get a guard that can score and run the break and put pressure on the opposing point guard. Basically we need a chris paul. I think the grizzlies are in transition right now and all the players are looking for that leader. Similar to what Vince Young did with the Titans. Maybe it will be Rudy Gay, but I suspect it is going to be an outstanding guard.
...and they still need a starting-calibre point guard, plus stromile's already missed a game due to injury.
Darko Milicic:bad player. Pau Gasol's: not really a superstar. Miller: no defense. Lowry, Conley, Gay, Warrick: too young Mighty Mouse: too old Stro: ADD Navarro: still learning the NBA game Iavaroni: unproven Western Conference: kick-azz
