Memphis Grizzlies

Predicted Record
25-57 (Tom), 32-50 (GR)

Last Year’s Record
22-60

Tom’s Commentary
Jerry West’s era of building a team of support players for some fantasy 7’2” 30/15 mega-star that seemingly only played for the team in Jerry West’s mind has ended with the Grizzlies giving Marc Iavaroni a chance to whip something palatable together from the leftovers. Two hot young point guards in Kyle Lowry and Mike Conley should make the Grizz that team that makes an early December run before fading in late January. Pau Gasol feels ready to take one of those Jermaine O’Neal-sized step downward in production where the coaches all rave that he’s actually a better player. Memphis remains the city that you think you’d like to live despite everyone you know who has lived there telling you you’re crazy, and their basketball team struggles along in the spirit of that early-strike disappointment.

Rejoinder From Gil
They’re trying to mimic the Phoenix Suns style, except without a topflight point guard and few three-point threats. Which is sorta like my trying to be like Stravinsky, despite not knowing how to read music.

Damon Stoudamire’s still in the league? And he led this team in assists last year (at 4.8)?

Gratuitous Comics Connection
Bill Day has been the editorial cartoonist at the Commercial-Appeal since 1998.

Gratuitous Pharma Connection
Viral Antigens, a scary sounding company, was based in Memphis before it got bought by Meridian Life Sciences.

The Bottom Line
Adding Darko is good for 10 wins. I have spoken.

Also, I’ve heard that Stromile Swift is one of the dumbest players in the league. I’m not talking about not being able to pick up plays. I mean flat-out dumb. –GR

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