NBA FanHouse

Allen Iverson Leaves Grizzlies Leaving Many Questions, Few Answers

Rob Peterson — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:39:00 EST

When Allen Iverson signed a contract with the Memphis Grizzlies this offseason, you just had a feeling it wouldn't end well.

If most reports from Saturday night are true, you were right.

On Saturday, the Memphis Grizzlies granted the one-time league MVP his leave from the team for personal reasons. Yahoo's Marc Spears and ESPN.com's Chad Ford have both reported that Iverson's leave is indefinite and no timetable has been set for his return.

"Allen Iverson has left the Memphis Grizzlies and is not expected to return anytime soon," Spears wrote, "if at all, a source close to the situation told Yahoo! Sports on Saturday."

Mr. Ford?

"Head coach Lionel Hollins said Saturday night that Iverson's departure was "indefinite," Ford wrote on True Hoop. "Owner Michael Heisley said Iverson's absence has nothing to do with his displeasure about his role on the team. "

If it is, as Heisley notes, a personal matter that Iverson needs to take care of, then you have the hope that everything will be OK and that Iverson can get it settled in order to return to the Grizzlies as soon as possible.

But as Spears and Ford are reporting, it seems to be more of a personnel matter than a personal matter. And as anyone who knows anything about Iverson during his career is that he's a spotlight guy. Riding the pine isn't in Iverson's DNA.

Last season, he had problems coming off the bench for the Detroit Pistons, a team that had been to six consecutive Eastern Conference finals. Can you imagine the indignity he must have felt coming off the bench for the Grizzlies, a team that has never won a playoff game?

You don't even need to imagine, really. You can read for yourself. FanHouse's Matt Steinmetz caught up with A.I., who had played his first game after injuring his hamstring, on the recent Grizzlies road trip.

"I had no problems (with the hamstring)," Iverson said afterward. "I had a problem with my butt from sitting on that bench so long. That's the only thing I got a problem with."

Understood. You have two NBA All-Star Game MVPs and more points (24,020) than any active players not named Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. Please, continue.

"Yeah, I'll be disappointed (if he's a sub this season)," Iverson said. "I'm not a reserve basketball player. I've never been a reserve all my life and I'm not going to start looking at myself as a reserve. ... To answer the question, 'No, I'm not a bench player. I'm not a sixth man. Go look at my resume and that will show you I'm not a sixth man."

Did you expect anything less from Iverson, who has been a, quote-unquote: warrior, for his entire career? He may not like to practice, but he liked to play. He wanted a ring -- validation for all he had given to the game: heart, soul and body -- and was going to be dragged kicking and screaming into retirement. If anything signaled desire to play, at any cost (and in this case a discount at $3M per), it was signing with the Grizzlies in the first place.

But as of Saturday night, it seems as if Iverson was not going to leave it all on the court. Instead of going down fighting, his career has started to echo those far sadder words said by Gen. Douglas MacArthur soon after Harry S Truman fired him for insubordination: "Old soldiers never die, they just fade away."

Allen Iverson Leaves Grizzlies Leaving Many Questions, Few Answers originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:39:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Doing Lines: Kobe and Wade Go for 40

Brett Pollakoff — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:01:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies, Heat, Hornets, Lakers, Mavericks, Nuggets, Rockets, Suns, NBA Last Night

Every night there are some stupendous, silly, stupid, or downright outlandish individual lines from around the lig. Doing Lines lets you know which one tops the list.

The last time we got together, three different players scored 40 points or more on the same night. Well, maybe it's not as rare of an occurrence as we thought, since we were just a single point away from it happening again on Wednesday.

Chris Paul missed by one with 39, but Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade each delivered, with 41 and 40 respectively.

Dwyane Wade's 40 points, four rebounds, and five assists were just enough to carry his team to a close road victory over the Wizards. Gilbert Arenas had 32 of his own in the loss, but did it on a far less attractive 9-for-27 shooting line, as opposed to Wade's 14-for-26.

Chris Paul was dazzling, and had 39 points (on 14-for-23 shooting), five rebounds, seven assists, and a couple of steals. On the other end of the court, Jason Terry had 18 in the fourth quarter (and 35 in the game), on 12-18 shooting and 4-5 from three-point land, But ultimately, his two missed free throws down the stretch may have done as more to influence the game's final outcome than his scoring did.

Kobe Bryant had an outstanding line of 41 points, six rebounds, four assists, and four steals. He did it by shooting a tidy 50 percent from the field, and you could tell from the opening minutes that even on the second night of a back-to-back, that Bryant wouldn't allow himself to be outshined by his former teammate, Trevor Ariza.

Speaking of Ariza, he and Ron Artest basically canceled each other out. Besides the pair picking up double technicals early, there weren't any fireworks to report, and both finished with an identical 15 points. Not only were their numbers similar, so was their play: each hit a clutch three-pointer with under 30 seconds left in regulation, Ariza's coming after Artest's to send the game into overtime.

Other notable numbers from Wednesday's action:

Carmelo Anthony finally cooled off a bit, managing just 22 points on 8-24 shooting. But when you have rookie Ty Lawson coming off the bench for 23 points in 28 minutes, on 9-10 shooting, the end result was still a blowout win for the Nuggets.

Derek Fisher played 34 minutes, and somehow managed to record 0 points, 0 rebounds, and 0 assists -- and he's the point guard! But he did manage two steals, including the one on the game's final play where he stripped the ball from Trevor Ariza.

Allen Iverson once again came off the bench, but in his second game of the season, was more productive in that role. A.I. scored 18 points (on 8-12 shooting) and handed out seven assists in 28 minutes of action.

Amar'e Stoudemire had 19 points and 11 rebounds in the first half against the Orlando Magic. It was the first flash of the old, explosive Amar'e we were used to seeing before his injury last February. Unfortunately, it didn't last in the second half, as he finished with 25 and 14, and the Suns suffered their first loss of the season.

Doing Lines: Kobe and Wade Go for 40 originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hollins Already Tired of Iverson Talk

Matt Steinmetz — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:45:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Four games into the Memphis Grizzlies' season, head coach Lionel Hollins says he's done talking about Allen Iverson.

Well, not done all together. But apparently done talking about what Iverson says. Two days ago, Iverson complained about a lack of playing time after he made his Grizzlies' debut in Sacramento, and it was clear those statements didn't sit well with Hollins.

"I'm not commenting on Allen," Hollins said Wednesday when asked if he was surprised by Iverson's comments. "I'm done commenting on what Allen says. Allen has a right to say whatever he wants to say. ... Most of you are ready to leave now, huh?"

Iverson missed the first three regular-season games and all of training camp with a partial tear in his hamstring. He scored 11 points in 18 minutes in an overtime loss to the Kings on Monday.

"I want to talk about the Memphis Grizzlies, and even when Allen was out, I was having to talk about Allen. That's my frustration. I want to talk about the Memphis Grizzlies."
- Lionel Hollins After the game, Iverson was asked about his hamstring.

"I had no problems (with the hamstring)," Iverson responded. "I had a problem with my butt from sitting on that bench so long. That's the only thing I got a problem with."

When Hollins met the media 90 minutes before Tuesday's tip-off against the Warriors, the first topic that came up was Iverson. Hollins eventually expounded on why he was tired of the Iverson topic already.

"My frustration is I have to talk about Allen Iverson in every press setting," Hollins said. "I want to talk about the Memphis Grizzlies, and even when Allen was out, I was having to talk about Allen. That's my frustration. I want to talk about the Memphis Grizzlies.

"If Allen plays well and you want to ask me how he played, that's great. Or if he plays poorly and you want to ask me how he played poorly, that's great, too."

If there's one thing Hollins was emphatic about it's that things aren't likely to change anytime soon.

"Allen has played 20 minutes in two months," Hollins said. "There's no way we're making a change and going in a different direction right now. You want to talk to me about the Memphis Grizzlies as a team? I'm not standing here talking about Allen Iverson. I'm sorry."

More Steinmetz on Twitter: @matt_steinmetz

Hollins Already Tired of Iverson Talk originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hasheem Thabeet a Work in Progress

Chris Tomasson — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies

Raw Like Sushi was the name of a Neneh Cherry album. It also could end up being the title for the Hasheem Thabeet rookie highlight video.

Of course, if you think this guy is green now, Memphis coach Lionel Hollins says you should have been around for his first workout after the Grizzlies took the 7-foot-3, 267-pound Connecticut center with the No. 2 pick in last June's draft.

"He was really bad,'' Hollins said. "Even though he's a shot blocker, he only had to stand in the paint in college. Now you've got guys attacking you and how you have to go meet them, he knew none of that. He had no footwork. He had no jump hook. He had nothing. And I can say that out of all the rookies in this draft, he probably has come the farthest. He has the farthest to go, and he still has a long ways to go.''

So perhaps there has been progress in that it took Thabeet 12 minutes to foul out of Sunday's game in Denver. Before, he might have been done in six minutes.

After everybody's top player, Blake Griffin, was ticketed to be taken No. 1 by the Clippers in the draft, the Grizzlies were in a bit of a quandary over what to do next. They had agreed to trade for power forward Zach Randolph and they were armed with a fine young pair of wing players in O.J. Mayo and Rudy Gay, so it pretty much came down to a center or a point guard.

The Grizzlies, who have a point guard who could develop into something in Mike Conley, considered Ricky Rubio before going with Thabeet. Since Rubio has elected to stay in Spain for the next two years, it can't be said at this point Memphis blew it.

Then again, available was point guard Tyreke Evans, who played with the University of Memphis and would have needed only to provide a ball boy with a nominal tip to take his belongings from one FedEx Forum locker room to another.

But check back in two years. Thabeet can't look as freshly starched then as he does now.

"You want to talk about a project,'' Hollins said. "There's a guy that's a project. I knew that when we drafted him. I never thought he was a guy who was going to dominate and do things this year. But, with the way the draft was, we felt he was the best option for us, and we go forward looking toward the future.''

So far, you need a microscope to see some of Thabeet's statistics. He's played in three of Memphis' four games, averaging 7/10ths of a point, 2.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks over 8.3 minutes.

To find a top-two pick who figures be as unproductive as a rookie as Thabeet, one can go back to 2003 No. 2 selection Darko Milicic, who was staple gunned to the bench in Detroit. The difference, of course, was the Pistons were a title team that season while the Grizzlies are locked in a battle to win 30 games.

"I've got to learn,'' said Thabeet, the first native of Tanzania to play in the NBA "I want to come here and play well and help the team win. But it's my first year. It doesn't matter how many minutes I play. I just want to get better and then maybe next year [have a bigger role].''

The Grizzlies are now in no hurry to play Thabeet. Starting center Marc Gasol showed up for training camp having shed 20 pounds, and is averaging an impressive 19.0 points and 12.3 rebounds. And Memphis picked up some insurance at the spot last August in Steven Hunter.

So that leaves Thabeet to fight for minutes with another massive project, 7-2, 254-pound Hamed Haddadi, who almost certainly due to FAA regulations can't sit on the same side of the plane as Thabeet. But Thabeet insists he doesn't listen to critics who believe he should be providing more as a No. 2 pick.

"I don't look at it that way,'' he said. "I'm a young guy. I'm learning every day. Whatever [people] are going to say, it doesn't really affect me.''

One scout said, if everything works out for Thabeet, he could be another Dikembe Mutombo. If it doesn't, the scout said he could be another DeSagana Diop.

Thabeet is athletic. He grew up playing soccer, and Phoenix guard Steve Nash, quite accomplished in that sport, remarked how good Thabeet looked in a charity game Nash held over the summer.

In basketball, though, Thabeet sometimes looks lost. He was grabbing at everything when he picked up his six fouls against the Nuggets.

"He needs to learn to play defense in the NBA without his hands,'' Hunter said. "But he's learning a lot. He's very raw, but he has great physical gifts. ... He's going to be good one day. He's going to be a great shot blocker some day.''

For now, though, Thabeet isn't throwing much fear into teams. It was clear Sunday his name wasn't exactly underlined twice on Denver's scouting report.

"He's big,'' was about the only assessment Nuggets coach George Karl had of Thabeet before the game.

Just call Thabeet The Big Construction Site because it's going to be a long time before this project is ready.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com and is on Twitter @christomasson.

Hasheem Thabeet a Work in Progress originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No Extension for Grizzlies' Rudy Gay

Matt Steinmetz — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 03:00:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Rudy Gay didn't get his contract extension from the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday, but to hear him tell it, he's fine with that. The Grizzlies and Gay had until midnight on Monday to hammer out an extension but didn't do so.

As it is, Gay will become a restricted free agent at the end of the season.

"We just didn't agree upon it," Gay said after the Grizzlies' 126-117 overtime loss to the Kings. "That's all it was. It's a business."

Gay told Fanhouse on Sunday that he thought he should be paid in the vicinity of $10 million per year for five years.

Obviously, Memphis never made such an offer. Still, Gay said not getting the extension doesn't change his long-term thinking about playing for the Grizzlies.

"No, because there's still a possibility I'm going to be here," Gay said. "My mind is open. I'm thinking the same way I've been thinking. I'm a man. I'm a grown man. That doesn't distract me. If that little something distracts me, think about how many other things can distract me then in my life."

More Steinmetz on Twitter: @matt_steinmetz

No Extension for Grizzlies' Rudy Gay originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 03:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Iverson Returns, Unhappy About Role

Matt Steinmetz — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:15:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Allen Iverson made his debut for the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night in Sacramento, and for someone who hasn't played in a month or so, it wasn't too bad of one. Iverson, returning from a partial left hamstring tear, had 11 points in 18 minutes in the Memphis' 127-116 overtime loss.

He said the hamstring felt fine. But it was another part of his body that Iverson wasn't feeling so good.

"I had no problems (with the hamstring)," Iverson said afterward. "I had a problem with my butt from sitting on that bench so long. That's the only thing I got a problem with."

Iverson checked into Monday's game with four-and-a-half minutes remaining in the first quarter and finished up the period. But he didn't return until the third quarter, and that's when he strung some buckets together.

But Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins took out Iverson down the stretch of the fourth quarter, allowing Mike Conley to finish up regulation. Iverson's postgame comments seem to make it clear that he wants to be a starter for the Grizzlies -- and maybe someday he will be.

"I'm not a reserve basketball player. I've never been a reserve all my life and I'm not going to start looking at myself as a reserve."
- Allen Iverson But Hollins seemed incredulous before the game when he was asked if Iverson would be in the starting lineup against the Kings.

"He hasn't even been with the team until just a couple of days ago," Hollins said. "He's going to come off the bench. He hasn't played all preseason, hasn't played the three regular-season games (leading up to Sacramento). He only practiced three days in training camp before he got hurt so there's no way I would trot him out there in a starting role."

Apparently, Hollins might want to think about doing it for Wednesday's game against the Warriors. Iverson made it clear he doesn't fashion himself a sixth man; never has.

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"Yeah, I'll be disappointed (if he's a sub this season)," Iverson said. "I'm not a reserve basketball player. I've never been a reserve all my life and I'm not going to start looking at myself as a reserve. ... To answer the question, 'No, I'm not a bench player. I'm not a sixth man. Go look at my resume and that will show you I'm not a sixth man."

Hollins said afterward he doesn't think a three-guard lineup with Mike Conley, O.J. Mayo and Iverson will work. It's got too many defensive deficiencies, according to the coach. Maybe so. But Iverson already seems to be putting the pressure on.

When asked how he felt out there, Iverson responded: "It felt like me. I've been playing basketball 26 years. That's what I do. I'm a professional at it. It felt like me."

And there's no doubt, Iverson feels like he's a starter.

More Steinmetz on Twitter: @matt_steinmetz

Iverson Returns, Unhappy About Role originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Doing Lines: Kobe, 'Melo, Mayo Drop 40

Brett Pollakoff — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies, Hawks, Lakers, Magic, Nuggets, Raptors, Suns, NBA Last Night

Every night there are some stupendous, silly, stupid, or downright outlandish individual lines from around the lig. Doing Lines lets you know which one tops the list.

It's not every day that we get to see a player hit for 40 points or more in an NBA game. So on Sunday, when we had three different players meet or surpass the mark, it's definitely something worth discussing.

Especially when two of them did it in the same game.

Anytime the Grizzlies take the court, you can just throw defense right on out the window, because no matter what you do, Memphis is going to light it up with their dizzying array of deadly scorers.

Okay, not usually. But the Grizz had no trouble keeping pace with the Nuggets for most of the night, led by a career-high 40 points from O.J. Mayo. Mayo got there by going 17-25 from the field, and also grabbed five rebounds and handed out four assists.

On any other night, Memphis probably leaves with a win. But not when Carmelo Anthony is on the opposing team, and puts up 42 points of his own, on 15-26 shooting, with seven boards and five assists. It was the first time in his career that Anthony has posted consecutive 40-point games, after going for 41 in his team's Thursday night victory at the Rose Garden over the Blazers.

One more 40-point performance to mention, and that was Kobe Bryant going for 41 against a plucky Atlanta Hawks team. Bryant also had eight rebounds, five steals, and three assists -- all to make sure that the defending champion Lakers didn't dip below .500 after the team's first three games.

Other notable numbers from Sunday's action:

Joe Johnson had 18 points in the first quarter for the Hawks, but finished with just 27.

Chris Bosh had 35 points and 16 rebounds in a losing effort to the Orlando Magic. Dwight Howard had 24 and 11, but most importantly, he hit 14 of his 16 free throw attempts.

Channing Frye had 25 points and five rebounds, but that's not the interesting part: he made six three-pointers for the second straight game (this time on 10 attempts), and now has 13 threes on the season. This is a season career-high for him in made threes, after only three games as a Phoenix Sun.

Doing Lines: Kobe, 'Melo, Mayo Drop 40 originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rudy Gay Seeks Five-Year, $50 Million Contract Extension

Chris Tomasson — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:24:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies, FanHouse Exclusive

DENVER -- With Monday the deadline to sign a contract extension, Memphis forward Rudy Gay said it will take a deal of about $50 million over five years to get his signature.

"I think I should be in that range,'' Gay told FanHouse before his team's 133-123 loss to Denver on Sunday night at the Pepsi Center.

However, Gay said the Grizzlies have yet to offer a deal worth as much as $50 million over five years.

"Yeah, you're right,'' he said.

Monday at midnight ET is the deadline for Gay and other first-round picks from 2006 to sign extensions that would kick in for the 2010-11 season. If Gay and other eligible players don't sign, they become restricted free agents next summer.

Gay said his agent, Jeff Austin, told him Friday it's "50-50'' an extension will be reached by the deadline, and he planned to talk with him again late Sunday night. Gay said he's putting much of the responsibility upon Austin to come up with a suitable contract and had told Austin he only wanted to hear from him in recent days if a deal was close.

"If it's not 50, if it's more, I stand behind him,'' said Gay, speaking of Austin being able to negotiate a contract in excess of $50 million over five years. "I'm not going to turn it down.''

If the Grizzlies don't end up meeting Gay's price, he said he's not concerned about playing out this season and becoming a restricted free agent.

"I've been playing for four years,'' said Gay, who scored 18 points Sunday to raise his average to 17.0. "I only know how to play one way. It's not going to change whether I have a contract or not.''

Gay, drafted No. 8, and Boston guard Rajon Rando, taken No. 21, were the only players from the 2006 class known as of Sunday night to still be involved in discussions regarding possible extensions.

A source confirmed to FanHouse the deadline is expected to pass without Washington guard Randy Foye getting an deal done, but that has been expected for the past week. Foye, taken No. 7 in that draft, did look good Saturday with 17 points and eight assists after moving into the Wizards' starting lineup.

Only five players so far -- Toronto's Andrea Bargnani, LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy of Portland, Oklahoma City's Thabo Sefolosha and Denver's Renaldo Balkman -- have signed extensions. That makes it quite possible a record low will be set since this format started with the 1995 draft (draftees from 1995-97 became unrestricted free agents after three seasons so there was much more urgency). The 2005 draft class got just seven extensions before last fall's deadline.

Balkman's extension was considered a surprise. But Balkman, knowing what a tough economy this is, didn't hold out for more money next summer, and accepted a three-year deal worth around $5 million.

"I feel great,'' said Balkman, apparently now minding less that he hasn't played due to a coach's decision in Denver's first three games.

If the Grizzlies meet Gay's price, he might be feeling great himself by Monday's end.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com.

Rudy Gay Seeks Five-Year, $50 Million Contract Extension originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:24:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Iranian and Israeli Players Could Face Off For First Time

Chris Tomasson — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:52:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies, Kings, FanHouse Exclusive

DENVER -- Forget about a Tar Heel against a Dukie or a Kentucky Wildcat against a Louisville Cardinal. This is a lot different.

On Monday night in Sacramento, an Israeli player could face a player from a rival Middle East Muslim nation for the first time ever in the NBA.

Kings forward Omri Casspi is the first man from Israel ever to play in the NBA, and has three games under his belt. His team at Arco Arena next plays Memphis, which features center Hamed Haddadi, a second-year man from Iran.

Before his Grizzlies met Denver on Sunday night, Haddadi told FanHouse he never has faced an Israeli player on the court because teams from his Iran, which does not recognize the Jewish nation, are not allowed to play Israel. In 2005, Haddadi said his Iranian team was not allowed to go to Argentina for the 2005 FIBA World Championship for Young Men because of the possibility of Israel being an opponent.

But Haddadi has no problems with facing Casspi.

"It is just a sport,'' he said. "I don't know what happened with the two countries. I don't care. I just do my job. I don't think about politics ... I do not think what the two positions of Iran and Israel is.''

But Haddadi realizes the high-profile position he is in as an NBA player. In order to make a statement that this is indeed just sport, he was asked if he would shake Casspi's hand before the game.

"Why not? Which is his number? Haddadi said of Casspi, who wears No. 18. "I think it could be good (to make a positive statement).''

Casspi could not be reached Sunday. However, he was asked last July at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas about the possibility of facing Haddadi this season.

"It's not a problem for me,'' said Casspi, whose Kings and Haddadi's Grizzlies both were in the summer league but did not meet. "I don't know about him.''

There are players in the NBA from Turkey and Senegal, but both those nations have diplomatic relations with Israel. Iran is the world's only predominately Muslim country that has an NBA player and does not recognize Israel.

"As one of the biggest cliches regarding the Israel-Arab conflict would say, 'It's not the people of Israel and Iran who hate each other, it's the leaders,''' said Eran Soroka, basketball writer for the Israeli newspaper Ma'ariv. "A lot of people emigrated from Iran to Israel during the last decades, and you can find Israeli and Iranian citizens dancing to the same music in clubs in, for example, Turkey. The NBA is also a frame which is completely different from the Middle East tension: Haddadi, for that matter, is an Americanized Iranian... He already accepted the challenge of playing for his country's nemesis (the United States).''

Tensions between Iran and Israel have risen in recent years due to Iran attempting to develop nuclear technology. Iran refers to Israel's government as the "Zionist regime'' and the land is referred to as "occupied territories.''

In 2006, Iranian president Mahmoud Admadinejad said he wanted to "wipe Israel off the map'' and was said to have called the Holocaust, Nazi German's extermination of 6 million Jews during World War II, a "myth.'' He later denied he made comments that the Holocaust did not happen.

Haddadi has tried to steer clear of all this.

"I don't want politics into sports,'' said Haddadi, 24. "I think it should be separated.''

In 2005, Haddadi learned the hard way that it isn't in Iran. He was ready to go to Argentina for international competition until the trip was abruptly canceled.

"We don't go to Argentina because (Israel was playing),'' Haddadi said. "I was young. I was (20). I didn't know about politics or anything. I can't say, 'I want to go to Argentina.''

But Haddadi opted to push politics aside at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Even though Iran insisted its representatives have no contact with Israelis, Haddadi was among Iranian players who shook hands with David Blatt, the Israeli coach of Russia's Olympic team. It happened after Russia easily beat Iran 71-49 in a first-round game.

"After the interview, I shake his hand,'' Haddadi said of the post-game media session. "I don't care. It is just sport.''

After the game, Blatt told Israel's Sports Channel, "That's the beauty of Olympic Games. They go beyond the issue of nationality. Only here can an Israeli coach shake hands with the players and coach of the Iranian team.''

But there hardly has always been harmony at the Olympics between Iranians and Israelis.

"The most famous cases happen in the Olympic games and big international tourneys,'' Soroka said. "In 2004, an Iranian, Arash Miresmaeili, was one of the surest bets for a gold medal (in judo), but then, the draw confronted him with Israeli Ehud Vaks. Arash withdrew (he officially was disqualified due to being overweight but it's generally believed that was intentional), and became a hero in the eyes of the Iranian leaders. Vaks won by forfeit.

"In Beijing 2008, swimmer Mohammad Alirezaei pulled out of a heat with Israeli Tom Be'eri because of (what Alirezaei claimed was) illness... This is the Iranian formal policy of athletes who represent that country. Haddadi is representing mainly the Memphis Grizzlies in (Monday's) game, I believe.''

There is plenty of international harmony in the NBA. The league announced last week that opening-day rosters feature a record-tying 83 international players from 36 countries.

It is no certainty Casspi and Haddadi, both reserves, will take the court at the same time Monday. Casspi is averaging 18.0 minutes in his three games while Haddadi is averaging 3.7 in Memphis' first three.

But the teams will meet again Nov. 23 in Memphis and March 22 in Sacramento.

"I don't know,'' Haddadi said when asked whether people in Iran will care if he plays against Casspi. "The government, they don't like to play (Israel in sports competitions).''

One thing is for sure. Like the Kings' previous three games, Monday's game will be watched closely on television in Israel even though it starts at 5 a.m. local time.

Hopefully, Casspi and Haddadi will shake hands before it begins. After all, it is just sport.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com.

Iranian and Israeli Players Could Face Off For First Time originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:52:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Could Las Vegas Be the Next NBA City?

Tim Povtak — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:15:00 EST

Filed under: Bobcats, Bucks, Grizzlies, NBA Gambling

You have to give Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman an "A" for persistence. Neither the bad economy, nor the bad publicity from the All-Star Game in 2007 -- or even the stepped-up anti-gambling push after the snake-like Tim Donaghy raised his head -- has deterred Goodman from continuing his push for an NBA franchise.

He does make a lot of sense. Las Vegas really would be NBA heaven.

Goodman at his weekly press conference Thursday brought up the issue again of moving forward with plans for a new downtown arena in hopes of luring an NBA franchise to his city.

Considering Las Vegas has successfully hosted NBA exhibition games for many years, and it has been hosting the NBA-sanctioned Summer League, Vegas really would be a great place for the league to put a franchise.

Many NBA players spend time and money in town there during the off-season. Owners in Vegas would have no trouble luring free agents. And it sure beats Milwaukee or Toronto in January.

"I believe as soon as we have an arena -- this is my belief, I have nothing that is signed in blood, there's no contract -- but I believe we'll have a team,'' Goodman told reporters at his press conference Thursday.

Goodman wants his Las Vegas city council next week to give exclusive contract for the development of a downtown arena project to the Cordish Company, a Baltimore-based real estate developer.

The NBA has long been intrigued by the prospect of adding Las Vegas to its club, but there currently are no plans for expansion beyond the 30 teams it already has and the league keeps discouraging the movement of existing franchises.

Kansas City has been trying for years to get into the NBA mix and it already has a new arena waiting for a tenant. Seattle, which just lost its team to Oklahoma City, has made noise about wanting another team, and possibly building a new arena. Yet Las Vegas -- with a new arena -- would blow everyone else out of the water.

Teams all over the league are looking for ways to cuts costs now. Even commissioner David Stern has said he expects a significant drop in league revenues this season.

Yet Vegas wants to move forward in a bad economy, which really accentuates its desire for a team. Current teams in Charlotte and Memphis are struggling badly to sell tickets, and they likely would welcome a pitch from an arena-ready Las Vegas.

The 2007 All-Star Weekend in Vegas was filled with problems when fans went overboard in their enthusiasm, and the city police weren't ready to handle it. There were fights, shootings and other lawlessness from fans that flooded the city and caught everyone off guard. Yet those were easily correctable problems.

Goodman thinks the NBA would thrive in Las Vegas.

And he's ready to prove it with a new arena.

Could Las Vegas Be the Next NBA City? originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBA Draft Class of 2006 Not Cashing In

Chris Tomasson — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:45:00 EST

Filed under: Bulls, Celtics, Grizzlies, Jazz, Lakers, Raptors, Trail Blazers, Thunder

Saturday is Halloween, but don't expect many NBA owners and general managers in this shaky economy to dress up as Bill Gates and throw money around.

Oct. 31 is the annual deadline for one-time first-round picks entering their fourth seasons to be eligible to sign extensions that would kick in for their fifth seasons. For stars, it's a chance to land their first really big contract.

But much is silent as the deadline approaches, meaning the overwhelming number of eligible players from the 2006 first round will become restricted free agents next summer. Three players from that draft -- Andrea Bargnani of Toronto and LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy of Portland -- have inked extensions, but not a lot more activity is expected.

An agent who represents a 2006 first-round pick told FanHouse on Monday it's his understanding only three other players from that draft -- Memphis' Rudy Gay, Utah's Ronnie Brewer and Boston's Rajon Rando -- are even still involved in serious negotiations to reach a deal by Saturday.

Even if all three signed extensions by Saturday, that would make the total of six an all-time low since this format started with the 1998 draft (draftees from 1995-97 became unrestricted free agents after three seasons so there was much more urgency). The 2005 class got just seven extensions before Oct. 31, 2008.

Two agents confirmed to FanHouse on Monday their former lottery picks won't sign extensions by Saturday and will become restricted free agents next summer. While it's pretty much confirming the obvious, Mark Bartelstein said Adam Morrison, the No. 3 pick in 2006, won't reach a deal with the Lakers. Guy Zucker said the same is true with his client, Oklahoma City's Thebo Sefolosha, taken No. 13 in that draft.

Indications are Tyrus Thomas, who went No. 4 in 2006 to Chicago, won't sign an extension with the Bulls. Thomas' agent, Brian Elfus, wouldn't offer a confirmation of anything that will happen to his client. But he said he wouldn't consider it a setback if no agreement reached by Saturday.

"I wouldn't be considering it a huge deal (if Thomas doesn't sign by Saturday),'' Elfus said.

With Nos. 1 and 2 selections Bargnani and Aldridge locked up, the highest pick from 2006 bound to be a restricted free agent is Morrison. While there never has been any serious discussion about an extension, Bartelstein said he and Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak decided early this offseason that the team would continue to evaluate Morrison into this season.

"We want to give him this year to get his feet back under him,'' Bartelstein said of Morrison, who was traded by Charlotte to the Lakers last February and then played sparingly, not getting into a single playoff game during their title run. "(The Lakers) have a good feeling about him (for the future).''

Three of the 14 lottery picks from 2006 aren't even eligible for extensions due to having previously not had options on their original contracts picked up. Those busts are No. 5 Shelden Williams, No. 9 Patrick O'Bryant and No. 10 Mouhamed Sene.

Thabo Sefolosha, like Morrison, has been dealt, but a trade doesn't change anything when it comes to eligibility for an extension if the rookie contract third- and fourth-year options get picked up. Zucker said there were talks about the Thunder possibly extending Seflosaha, who started 22 of 23 games after being acquired last February from Chicago while averaging 8.5 points.

Update: Sefolosha Signs Extension with Thunder

"We had some discussions, but it didn't result in any conclusions,'' Zucker said. "But (team officials) like (Seflosha) for the future even though we weren't able to reach any financial arrangements.''

With teams wary about costs due to the economy, that has cut down on the number of extensions. So has fears about the salary cap going down significantly next summer and teams losing flexibility.

"Teams know that a player will be restricted next summer and they can still match an offer on him,'' Bartelstein said of the lack of extensions being handed out. "Each team has a unique set of circumstances and some are trying to create cap room and have flexibility. I would say those factors, cap room, the player becoming restricted, and the economy.''

Also, 2006 won't exactly go down as a landmark draft in NBA history. Roy, a two-time participant, is the only player picked that night who has made an All-Star Game, although Aldridge is knocking hard on the door. Bargnani, No. 7 pick Randy Foye, No. 8 Gay, No. 14 Brewer and No. 21 Rondo are also all very much on the rise, but after that the first-round list drops off at the pace of an Acapulco cliff diver.

Here's a look at the 14 lottery picks and No. 21 Rondo and how they stand as Saturday's extension deadline approaches:

No. 1 Andrea Bargnani, Toronto: Has signed a five-year, $50 million extension.

No. 2 LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland: Has signed five-year, $65 million extension.

No. 3 Adam Morrison, Lakers: It remains to be seen if there's any chance of a Lakers return after he becomes a restricted free agent next summer.

No. 4 Tyrus Thomas, Chicago: Unlikely to receive extension after averaging 7.7 points in three seasons. He will have ample chance this season to continue to prove himself.

No. 5 Shelden Williams, Boston: Originally chosen by Atlanta and then traded to Sacramento, but his third-year option for 2009-10 wasn't picked up the Kings last year. So he's not a candidate for an extension.

No. 6 Brandon Roy, Portland: Has signed a five-year maximum extension that could be worth more than $80 million.

No. 7 Randy Foye, Washington: Unlikely to sign extension, with a so-so preseason not helping. The Wizards will continue to evaluate Foye, acquired last June from Minnesota, in his first season with the team.

No. 8 Rudy Gay, Memphis: After averaging 16.7 points in three seasons, he's definitely in the Grizzlies' future. The sides are talking, and it's 50-50 a deal can be reached.

No. 9 Patrick O'Bryant, Toronto: Originally chosen by Golden State, such a colossal mistake that his third-year option for 2008-09 wasn't picked up before the Oct. 31, 2007 deadline. So he's not a candidate for an extension.

No. 10 Mouhamed Sene, out of NBA: Originally chosen by Seattle, which moved to Oklahoma City, but his option for 2009-10 wasn't picked up and he was waived last February. He's now playing in France.

No. 11 J.J. Redick, Orlando: Unlikely to sign extension. Might be looking for a new home next summer.

No. 12 Hilton Armstrong, New Orleans: Unlikely to sign extension. Might want to change his name to Red Roof Armstrong after he's averaged 3.6 points in three seasons and put his long-term future with the Hornets very much in doubt.

No. 13 Thabo Sefolosha, Oklahoma City: While he won't be extended, he could be another young piece Thunder officials might want to hold on to after he becomes a restricted free agent next summer.

No. 14 Ronnie Brewer, Utah: An intriguing athletic player on a team that always has been short on athleticism. It wouldn't be a surprise if an 11th-hour agreement were to be reached on an extension.

No. 21 Rajon Rondo, Boston: The steal of the 2006 draft, having developed into an upper-echelon point guard. The sides are talking, and it's not out of the question a deal could be hammered out by Saturday.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com.

NBA Draft Class of 2006 Not Cashing In originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tip-Off Timer: 14 Teams Without a Title

Matt Watson — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bobcats, Cavaliers, Clippers, Grizzlies, Hornets, Jazz, Magic, Mavericks, Nets, Nuggets, Pacers, Raptors, Suns, Timberwolves

Tip-Off Timer counts down the days until the first game of the 2009-10 season. On Tuesday, there are 14 days remaining.

For everything the NBA has done to level the playing field -- the draft lottery, the salary cap, the dollar-for-dollar luxury tax -- only a select handful of teams have a legitimate chance to win the championship in any given year.

I know optimism is supposed to reign supreme in October, but here's a harsh dose of reality: in the past 26 years, only seven different organizations have hoisted the Larry O'Brien, and six of those teams have won more than once. In fact, in a league where fluke success is rare and dynasties are the norm, there are 14 teams that have yet to win a title.

Will any of these perennial losers buck their unfortunate losing streaks in the near future? While the Lakers, Spurs and Celtics (winners of nine of the last 11 titles) would disagree, it's a very real possibility.

While many expect the Lakers to repeat -- and at least one Celtic has predicted Boston will win 72 games -- the Magic and Cavaliers have re-tooled through trades and free agency after finishing last season as the two strongest teams in the East.

In fact, this might be Cleveland's last chance in a long time -- if LeBron James can't close the deal this year, he might bolt via free agency (surely you've heard, right?), adding a sense of desperation to their usual motivation. If the Cavs can't separate from the pack early, don't be surprised to see Danny Ferry make wholesale changes by the trade deadline.

The Magic are somewhat better positioned for long-term success, although they mortgaged their future by swapping the promising Courtney Lee in a package for the aging Vince Carter. It also remains to be seen how they perform with the expectations of being an elite team now that they're no longer able to play the underdog role, although you can never accuse a Stan Van Gundy team of being unprepared.

But if Cleveland and Orlando fall short, are we destined to watch yet another dynasty stamp their name in the NBA record book? The Denver Nuggets, who took the eventual champion Lakers to six games in the Western Conference finals last year, beg to differ, as do fellow non-champions like the Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz and New Orleans Hornets.

As for the Clippers, Grizzlies and Timberwolves? They all fall into the never-were and never-will-be categories (or at least not-anytime-soon). Same goes for the Suns, who don't seem to know if they're building for the future or playing for today, as well as the Nets and Pacers, who have some interesting building blocks but not much else.

The Raptors and Bobcats hope their rebuilding process is nearing completion, but they'll be considered a success if they simply reach the playoffs, let alone win a game or two in the first round. And if there's anything we can learn from past champions, it's that the real winners are built to last and are never content to simply be there.

Tip-Off Timer: 14 Teams Without a Title originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Allen Iverson Will Miss 3 Weeks

Matt Moore — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies

It's only a tweaked hamstring; it should be fine. It'll probably heal and not bother him the rest of the season. There's no reason to suspect that this is indicative of anything.

Even so, the fact remains that the Allen Iverson era in Memphis has not started well ... or more accurately, at all. An MRI earlier this week revealed a slight tear in Iverson's left hamstring, putting the former All-Star on the sidelines for the next three weeks.

For what it's worth, Iverson is maintaining a positive attitude, finding a silver lining in the timing of the injury:

"The way I see it, I'm glad it's happening right now rather than in the season," Iverson said in a pregame press conference [on Wednesday]. "That's the only positive thing I can take out of the whole thing."

The Grizzlies have gambled heavily this season trying to get back to respectability, adding Zach Randoph and his 20-10 game (and possessions like these), along with Iverson, who had a difficult time finding a team this summer after clashing with Detroit's coaching staff last season.

The Grizzlies eventually took a flyer on him -- perhaps figuring that, after picking up Randolph, there's no move they could make that could be considered worse.

So this injury will likely be nothing, so long as you don't consider it a bad omen. With the Grizzlies' notorious luck, that shouldn't be a concern, right? Nothing to see here! Move along!

Allen Iverson Will Miss 3 Weeks originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No Iverson, Lots of Thabeet for Grizzlies

David Steele — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:15:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies, Wizards

RICHMOND, Va. -- Half of the announced crowd of 7,500 at Virginia Commonwealth's on-campus arena Tuesday night showed up to see Allen Iverson's debut with the Memphis Grizzlies. The other half was curious to see what Gilbert Arenas looked like after nearly two full seasons out with knee injuries.

So it was easy for Hasheem Thabeet to slip under the radar, easy even for someone 7-foot-3, 265 pounds and the second overall pick in last June's NBA Draft. As it turned out, in the preseason opener for the Grizzlies and the Washington Wizards, Thabeet stood out more than Iverson, who did not dress because of a strained left hamstring, and Arenas, who proved that while he is back, he is far from all the way back.

Wizards 101, Grizzlies 92: Box Score
Grizzlies Team Preview | Watch: Marc Gasol

The Wizards won, 101-92, and did it by coming back in the fourth quarter mostly while Thabeet was on the floor. Nevertheless, Thabeet made his presence known and felt in his first NBA game; in just over 15 minutes off the bench, he had four blocks, four rebounds (three offensive), six points and five fouls, few of them cheap. He was altering Wizards' shots within minutes of his entry with 3:55 left in the first quarter and officially notched his first block with 1:50 to go, on an Antawn Jamison runner in the lane.

It was about the loudest performance in an otherwise typically-sloppy first preseason game, and it came from someone who wasn't trying to put pressure on himself, and whom the Grizzlies have not tried to rush.

"Coach told me just to stay active,'' Thabeet said, referring to Memphis head coach Lionel Hollins. "They told me to focus on what I do, and everything else will come. I'm trying to establish myself and blend in with the team.''

Hollins said before the game that he had seen improvement in Thabeet -- still raw in most areas even after such a stellar career at Connecticut -- just since the start of training camp. The Grizzlies don't plan to rush him; Marc Gasol is the returning starter at center, and they also used 7-2 Iranian center Hamed Haddadi, who spent most of last season in the D-League, for 14 minutes in the opener. But, Hollins said, Thabeet has impressed in a short time.

"He's come a long way,'' Hollins said. "His footwork and confidence in handling the ball around the basket have been improved. The last three days of training camp, he's finally overcome the work load. It was tough for him physically and mentally, and the light finally came on for him and he was pretty good the last three days.''

The All-American from Connecticut and the Big East co-player of the year last season, hit two of the three shots he took, both jump-hooks in the lane that looked very comfortable. Thabeet looked even more comfortable patrolling the other lane; when the Wizards chased down the rebound of his initial block, 7-foot Brendan Haywood wildly overcompensated on a drive on Thabeet, although Caron Butler followed that with a tip-in. A minute and a half later, Thabeet dropped in a jump hook from the right baseline, and on the ensuing Washington possession, Randy Foye, acquired just before the draft from Minnesota, saw his very first shot as a Wizard, a one-hander in the lane, thrown back at him -- yet, again, Butler (15 points) hit the follow.

Thabeet also picked up three fouls before sitting two minutes into the second quarter, going out with four points and three blocks in his first six minutes of action.

Iverson watched from the end of the bench, in uniform but unable to play after straining the hamstring in practice Saturday; Hollins said Iverson likely would sit for a week and definitely would not play in Wednesday's game in Memphis against Oklahoma City. "If it was Game 7 of the Finals, I wouldn't be able to go,'' Iverson said, adding that he was "frustrated'' at missing the game in front of a virtual home crowd.

All of the drama of Grizzlies training camp has centered on Iverson's late-summer free-agent signing, and the prospect of him opening (on his fourth NBA team) some 90 minutes from his hometown of Hampton, and two hours in the other direction from where he starred at Georgetown, pulled in the crowd -- many of whom didn't find out until arrival that he wouldn't play. Midway through the first quarter, during a stoppage for free throws, a fan shouted, "Where's AI?''

Arenas played 24 minutes and had 10 assists, but scored five points and missed four of his five shots, many of them layups in which he beat his man and got to the rim but did not finish. On the other hand, he showed no deference to a left knee that underwent three operations in the previous 2 1/2 years when, with 8:40 left in the first quarter, he leaped onto the scorer's table and launched himself into the first row of seats in pursuit of a loose ball. He declined to speak to reporters afterward.

No Iverson, Lots of Thabeet for Grizzlies originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Player to Watch: Marc Gasol

Matt Moore — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies

FanHouse previews a player to watch from each NBA team in advance of the 2009-10 season.

Marc Gasol is svelt. No lie. Gasol spent the summer running up mountains in Spain. I've never run up a mountain anywhere, much less mountains in Spain. You always hear stories about players losing weight coming into camp, but Gasol's slimming is evident. He doesn't look like the same player. The big knock on him last season was that he lacked explosiveness. So Gasol shed 25-30 pounds to improve his speed and agility. It was a wise move by Gasol, who will fight for playing time with Zach Randolph and Hasheem Thabeet. But when you get down to it, if the Grizzlies are going to make significant progress this season, Gasol will have to be a large part of that journey.

Last year, Gasol cleared a specifically challenging conditioning test in 62 seconds. His coach wanted him to hit 60. This year, he cleared it in 58. Being able to get up and down the floor could be huge for Gasol as Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins has promised to make this a running club. With Randolph expected to do most of the post work, Gasol would do well to hustle and fill in the lanes as a running big man.

The biggest advantage to the new lean look for Gasol may be his endurance, which he said was an issue last year. A look at Gasol's per 36-minute numbers (13.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, 2.3 turnovers) show a picture of a solid rookie season. But perusing the game logs, you see the sun and the shadow a lot. This wasn't a case of a rookie coming in, putting his token 13 and then heading on his way. His season high was 30, but he also hit 27 twice, and 20+ four more times. His ceiling is obviously higher than his stats would suggest, but he's also unlikely to make that ceiling his average. If he can develop more consistency he should be able to stave off Thabeet (who will likely struggle with the adjustment to the NBA), and develop his game.

Gasol's post work is actually one of the stronger parts of his game. He shows the same kind of footwork and touch that his older brother does, but combines it with a physical approach that you could call downright nasty. His passing from the high block could be huge this season. With Michael Conley's shooting improving and O.J. Mayo taking the next step (along with Allen Iverson zipping in and out of lanes, and if he miraculously decides not to absorb all the possessions), using Gasol as a lynchpin would provide a wrinkle that accentuates the strongest components of the Grizzlies' offense.

This is all contingent on Grizzlies' management and coaching staff realizing what they have in Gasol, which is not evident considering they drafted Thabeet and traded for Randolph. The likely scenario is that the Grizzlies will look for Gasol to provide a body on defense and as a complementary piece. Which is, honestly, a huge waste of his potential, and perfectly within the guidelines of Grizzlies policy.

Defensively, Gasol provides terrific length and a solid frame. Even with the new slimmer model, Gasol's still capable of being a truck. And with his experience in Spain, he plays with a high basketball IQ, which the Grizzlies certainly need.

If you're a fan of the Memphis Grizzlies and you want what's best for your franchise, your hopes should lie with the development of O.J. Mayo, Mike Conley, and Marc Gasol. If given the chance, Gasol can develop into a quality starter for a contending club. Hopefully he'll be able to develop enough to keep his time on the floor and stave off the other high-hype, high-risk options in Memphis.

Player to Watch: Marc Gasol originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse Preview: Grizzlies

Matt Moore — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies, NBA Preseason, NBA Previews

FanHouse previews all 30 NBA teams in advance of the 2009-10 season.

The Grizzlies are not a joke. They are the punchline. That's where they've fallen to. They aren't even the setup for the joke. They're just mentioned as the end point.

A little under two years ago, Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace (and by that, we mean owner Michael Heisley) traded Pau Gasol for cap room and some loose junk. The only valuable component they got out of the deal was Marc Gasol. The move elicited everything from mockery to outrage from pundits and even league personnel. Things have not improved considerably since.

From there, the management team put together a three year plan to get the Grizzlies back to contention. They drafted O.J. Mayo, plugged in Marc Gasol, and went with youth. The results were what you'd expect from a young team rebuilding. But after frustrations over defense never improved, Heisley fired coach Marc Iavaroni and installed new old coach Lionel Hollins. The results were not considerably better, though underwhelming point guard Mike Conley seemed to flourish.

The plan had been built on the foundation of improving through the draft, developing a foundation of young players. Apparently, Michael Heisley made the decision that meant trading for older players with histories of being combustible for chemistry. Going into the offseason, the Los Angeles Clippers thought they'd need a miracle to get rid of Zach Randolph's contract. The Grizzlies, much like they were for the Lakers, were their salvation. Then they followed that up with Allen Iverson, who despite a storied legacy had been essentially blackballed from even workouts with other teams.

It's hard to know for sure what the plan is now in Memphis. Randolph and Iverson surely don't represent the future, and considering their performance in the last few years, it's hard to think that they'll capture lightning in a bottle. But we know the negative side. Let's imagine how it would be if things did come together. The big plug for Randolph, Memphis fans say, is that he's a 20-10 guy. Which is defintely true. In fact, if you just look at Randolph on paper, he's just what the Grizzlies are looking for. A low-post scorer who can produce points. Of course he can also produce this.

Is there any need to spell out what Iverson can bring? Iverson can be the kind of playmaker who knows how to win that the Grizzlies have been looking for. He can also be a huge headache who goes off in pursuit of his own agenda and is known to put his own desires ahead of that of the team, and I'm not just talking about practice.

The question of course is where these two fit in? The Grizzlies invested their #2 overall draft pick in Hasheem "Really Tall Guy" Thabeet, and also feature Gasol, who was arguably their second best player last season behind O.J. Mayo. So Randolph is going to create a situation in Memphis where something's got to give. A similar situation exists in the backcourt. The Grizzlies made a serious commitment to Mike Conley at point guard last year, trading back-up Kyle Lowry to Houston for peanuts. And O.J. Mayo is probably the best player the Grizzlies have, on pace for record rookie PER before hitting the wall in March. For now, Iverson says he has no problem coming off the bench, but we heard the same noise last year in Detroit.

With promising rookies Sam Young and Demarre Carroll, the Grizzlies have the potential to make significant strides this season. It's hard to see them competing for a playoff spot, but maybe they'll defy expectations and at least be in contention for a spot. The worst-case scenario is much darker. Randolph's history of locker room cancerous behavior follows him to Memphis and combusts with Iverson to create an inferno that not only results in losses which compound frustrations, but stunt the growth of Gasol, Conley, and Mayo, opening the door for Rudy Gay to attempt to escape Memphis when his contract is up. The Grizzlies will need a lot to go right, and a lot of people's expectations to go awry, to come out of this season feeling good.

Last Season By the Numbers

Record: 24-58 (11-30 under Marc Iavaroni, 0-2 under Johnny Davis, 13-26 under Lionel Hollins), finished 5th in Southwest Division, tied for 11th in Western Conference.

Offense: 103.5 points per 100 possessions, 28th in NBA. Finished 23rd in shooting, 27th in turnover rate, 20th in offensive rebounding, 9th in free throw rate.

Defense: 109.5 points per 100 possessions, 21st in NBA. Finished 26th in shooting defense, 7th in opponent turnover rate, 16th in defensive rebounding, 19th in opponent free throw rate.

Top Performers: Rudy Gay scored 18.9 points per game, and rookie O.J. Mayo scored 18.5 points per game. Marc Gasol led the team with 7.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. Mike Conley led the team with 4.3 assists per game and 40.6% shooting on three-pointers. The team leaders in PER were Hakim Warrick (16.9), Gasol (16.7) and Gay (15.3).

All statistics via Basketball-Reference.com.

Player to Watch

FanHouse's Matt Moore and Tom Ziller preview one player to watch from each team. Here's a snippet of Moore's post on Memphis center Marc Gasol.

Gasol's post work is actually one of the stronger parts of his game. He shows the same kind of footwork and touch that his older brother does, but combines it with a physical approach that you could call downright nasty. His passing from the high block could be huge this season. ... [U]sing Gasol as a lynchpin would provide a wrinkle that accentuates the strongest components of the Grizzlies' offense.

This is all contingent on Grizzlies' management and coaching realizing what they have in Gasol, which is not evident after picking up both Thabeet and Randolph. The more likely scenario is that the Grizzlies will look for Gasol to provide a body on defense and as a complimentary piece. Which is, honestly, a huge waste of his potential, and perfectly within the guidelines of Grizzlies policy.

See Moore's full post on Gasol.

Offseason Tracker

IN: Zach Randolph (trade), Allen Iverson (free agency), Hasheem Thabeet (draft), DeMarre Carroll (draft), Sam Young (draft).
OUT: Darko Milicic (trade), Hakim Warrick (free agency).

See FanHouse's full NBA Offseason Tracker.

FanHouse Preview: Grizzlies originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tip-Off Timer: Amazing 23-Game Losing Streaks for Grizzlies, Nuggets

Tom Ziller — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies, Nuggets

Tip-Off Timer counts down the days until the first game of the 2009-10 season. On Sunday, there are 23 days remaining.

The inaugural Vancouver Grizzlies of 1995-96 were not a handsome team -- and that's not just a Bryant Reeves joke. The expansion club was flawed in ohsomany ways, with the primary flaw being that the roster had very, very little talent.

The 1998 Denver Nuggets were every bit as bad ... without the expansion excuse to fall back on. Top to bottom, the Nuggets lacked talent and finished with only 11 wins. In an 82-game season. But other than being completely awful, these two teams have another unfortunate bond: they share the record for longest single-season losing streak at 23 games.

Denver's epic fail began December 9, 1997, when the team began a road swing in Detroit. Expectations were low, no doubt, as the Nuggets brought a magnificent record of 2-15 into the game. But that third win ... it didn't come around for quite a while, in which "six weeks" qualifies as "a while." The Nuggets dropped 23 straight contests before cracking out Win No. 3 on January 24, 1998, against (who else?) the Clippers in L.A., on what was mathematically the final game of the first half of the season. The victory brought the Nuggets to a record of 3-38, which is a winning percentage of 0.073. The 23-game fail string reigned over two other awful Nuggets streaks that season: a 12-game losing streak to open the campaign, and a 16-game losing streak which began fairly soon after the end of the 23-gamer. By the middle of March, the Nuggets had a record of 5-58, which makes it all the more miraculous that the team was able to squeeze six wins in the final 19 games.

The Grizzlies also got their losing out of the way early. Vancouver began its history, incredibly, with a 2-0 record. (Remember that when the Wolves or some such pox begins their season with a couple wins.) Then came the 19-game losing streak, which took the Grizz all the up to December 13, 1995. Vancouver went 9-18 over the next six weeks, and opened the post-All Star Weekend sessions with a win over Sacramento. The team's record was 11-37. Then it fell apart. The Grizzlies got stuck on those 11 wins, not earning its 12th until April 3, 1996. But hey, if you take out the two ridiculously long streaks, the Grizzlies would have went 15-25! Not so bad.

Tip-Off Timer: Amazing 23-Game Losing Streaks for Grizzlies, Nuggets originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sun, 04 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBA Hair Watch: New Looks for Iverson, Andre Miller, and Sasha Vujacic

Brett Pollakoff — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 20:25:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies, Lakers, Trail Blazers, NBA Hair Watch

Training camps by themselves provide a fresh start for every NBA team, but sometimes, players feel the need to take things to a more personal level to cleanse themselves of the previous season.

This was certainly the case for Allen Iverson, who has gone back to his trademark braids after a year where he was traded to the Pistons, and was unceremoniously used as one of the scapegoats for his new (now old) team's horrific downward spiral.

It was a pretty big deal when Iverson cut his braids at the All-Star break last season, mainly because they had become a fashion statement that other players in the league looked to emulate over the years. But no one can blame him for reverting back to his old look, especially after a disastrous season in Detroit, one that Iverson is still bitter about to this day.

Andre Miller, the big offseason acquisition of the Portland Trail Blazers, also had a surprise in store in terms of his hair style at training camp. But while Iverson's look comes off as classic, Miller's can only be described as some sort of ridiculous abomination.

Thankfully, as reported by Joe Freeman of The Oregonian, Miller's look is only temporary.

"This is a routine every training camp," Miller said. "I've been doing this ever since I was little; letting my hair grow. Some guys wear five or six shirts. Some guys where three pair of socks. Some guys wear three pairs of shorts. I just wear stuff with my hair every now and then. Like I said, it's been a routine since I've been playing basketball. I don't really care what people think."

Miller said he usually sticks with the hairstyle through the first week of camp but trims it short for the season to "try and keep it more professional."

One player's look that should stick around more permanently is that of the Lakers' Sasha Vujacic.

Despite the fact that his team took home the title last season, Sasha can't honestly say that he was exactly a key component in that Lakers championship, uh, "machine."

One reason for his sub-par play, at least according to Phil Jackson, might have been the fact that Vujacic was too preoccupied with his hair to focus all of his attention on the game at hand.

"Sasha played with his hair last year more than he played on the court," Jackson said.

Vujacic agreed.

"Now, it's not in my eyes anymore and I don't have that compulsion thing going," Vujacic said.

Sure, Sahsha: it was the hair that made you miss all those wide open looks. Got it. *Whew.* Glad we got that straightened out, and just in time for the Lakers' title defense, too.

NBA Hair Watch: New Looks for Iverson, Andre Miller, and Sasha Vujacic originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 20:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Allen Iverson Still Bitter About Last Year

Matt Watson — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:45:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies, Pistons

Allen Iverson's brief time in Detroit was a regrettable experience for all parties involved; fairly or not, he was the most obvious scapegoat (for Pistons fans, his teammates and the coaching staff) during a season in which nearly everything went wrong.

But instead of letting old wounds heal, focusing on a new year and the monumental task at hand of making the Grizzlies relevant, let alone a playoff contender, Iverson ripped off the Band-Aid today by re-living the experience in a scathing interview with ESPN's Scoop Jackson.

SI.com: Dumars' Latest Makeover Falls Flat

From the interview:

"They told me, straight up, 'Allen, we would never disrespect you or your career like that' by making me come off the bench," Iverson said in an interview with ESPN.com Page 2 columnist Scoop Jackson. "That's what they told me to my face. And after that, I never thought about it again. I just went back to playing. Then, they came to me saying that they felt it would be in the 'best interest of the team' if I came off of the bench behind Rip [Richard Hamilton].

"... After that, they told me that if I didn't come off the bench -- the team was going to lie down [not play] on me.

Iverson's pride is legendary, but it's creating a monumental blind spot: no matter the organization's plans early in the year, the Pistons were just 22-28 with Iverson in the starting lineup and almost certainly would have missed the playoffs if they didn't shake things up.

That said, Iverson has every right to be upset at the coaching staff -- just not for the reasons he's stating. He continued:

"... I don't have [anything] bad to say about the organization, especially Joe [Dumars]. I never had a problem with Joe. He's a stand-up person that I have love for and respect. He was not part of any of the problems I had in Detroit.

"But for [the coach] to tell me these things and for him to go back on his word like that, it was the hardest and the roughest season I've ever had."

Detroit biggest problem was that Michael Curry simply didn't know how to use Iverson -- or the rest of his roster, for that matter -- not that he flip-flopped on his decision as to who should start.

By insisting on a slow half-court offense (Detroit played at the second-slowest offensive pace in the league last year) without emphasizing any sort of consistent three-point threat, the Pistons were woefully inefficient. Opponents were allowed to jog back on defense and clog the lane; there was rarely a threat the Pistons would run, and there was rarely a reason to protect the three-point line.

For a player who's made a career out of beating his man off the dribble and finishing at the rim, Iverson was doomed from the start. And if he harbors any ill-will toward Curry, well, get in line; Curry reportedly feuded with Rip Hamilton for much of the season, and he was unceremoniously dumped this summer after a single season on the job.

But the past is the past, and Iverson's a changed man, right? Let's just hope that the Grizzlies didn't make the mistake of promising how he would be used. Despite his lofty goal of getting into the playoffs, the Grizzlies could improve upon last year's 24-58 record by 20 games and still miss the cut.

If it becomes apparent in the second half that the team isn't winning, wouldn't the team be best-served by giving O.J. Mayo and Michael Conley as many minutes as possible instead of an aging veteran on a one-year deal? Will Iverson be giving the same juicy quotes a year from now, this time throwing Lionel Hollins under the bus instead of Curry? Stay tuned.

Allen Iverson Still Bitter About Last Year originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Three Teams Cheaper Than the Grizzlies

Tom Ziller — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies, Kings, Trail Blazers, Thunder

I, among others, have given Michael Heisley and the Memphis Grizzlies some gruff over the franchise's thrift this summer. While the team did take on Zach Randolph's hefty contract and eventually signed Allen Iverson, the perception remains that the Grizz exist only to suck the lives out of anxious prospects and to serve as financial lubricant for the rest of the NBA.

Part of that is, unfortunately, still valid. But with the acquisition of A.I., the Grizzlies find themselves at the threshold of the salary cap. Memphis will no longer be able to help the teams in contention execute swaps as a third party.

Luckily, three teams remain under the cap -- yes, three teams actually look to be cheaper than the Grizzlies this season. Check them out, after the jump.

Oklahoma City Thunder. Barring a major trade or an offer sheet to someone like David Lee, OKC will enter the season with the cheapest payroll in the land. (That's probably good, considering the financial trouble lead owner Clay Bennett has had over the past year.) According to ShamSports (the most trustworthy contract repository on the web), the Thunder have $50.7 million in payroll locked up this season. No Thunder player will be paid more than Etan Thomas's $7.9 million. The projected starting five -- Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic -- will earn a combined $21 million. (By comparison, Boston's starting five will make $61.7 million next season.)

The Thunder are still two seasons away from writing a massive check to Durant. He is eligible to negotiate a contract extension next July, but such an extension would not take effect until the 2011-12 season. OKC is being tagged as a playoff contender in the West this season.

Sacramento Kings. The Kings, however, are not being tagged as a playoff contender in the West this season. Sacramento expects to have the second lowest payroll in the NBA this season, currently tabbed at $52.3 million with second-round pick Jon Brockman still officially unsigned. (When -- not if, when -- he does sign, he'll only add roughly $500,000-$800,000 to the ledger.) Sacramento also expects to have something like 25 wins, an improvement over the 17 wins of 2008-09, but still way far off the rat race.

It remains to be seen what will make the Kings spend, and when. There's the idea the team is seeing what happens with the Tyreke Evans/Kevin Martin pairing, and is waiting to find out if Spencer Hawes and/or Jason Thompson will provide what the team needs long-term, and that the franchise will adjust (with its checkbook) from there. That could take longer than one season to sort out, so here's an opinion that the Kings may not actually be ready to spend in the summer of 2010, and that this team could be back on this list this time next year.

Portland Trail Blazers. It amazes me that Portland, which spent its entire free agency period trying to give away money, ends up with what will be the third lowest payroll this season. What's better is that this team is a legit NBA title contender. Darius Miles will take up the biggest chunk of salary this season -- yes, if not for the Miles stint in Memphis, the Blazers would have had an additional $9 million to fritter under the cap this July -- with Brandon Roy's payday waiting until 2009-10.

All told, the Blazers are in incredibly reasonable position in 2009-10 in terms of salary, too. The team won't likely be under the cap next July, as the extensions for Roy and (perhaps) LaMarcus Aldridge kick in. But the team won't be anywhere near the tax line either. Only Travis Outlaw and Steve Blake will be free agents come next summer, and the team should be able to deal with him (extensions or replacements) without breaking the bank.

This is all to say that the Blazers may be the most brilliantly run franchise in the NBA right now. A team that costs less than the Memphis Grizzlies and might win 60 games? Unbelievable.

Three Teams Cheaper Than the Grizzlies originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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