Comments on: Counting Down the Five Worst Teams in the Western Conference – Memphis Grizzlies http://www.emptythebench.com/2008/11/05/counting-down-the-five-worst-teams-in-the-western-conference-memphis-grizzlies/ The season's over. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:07:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Andrew Thell http://www.emptythebench.com/2008/11/05/counting-down-the-five-worst-teams-in-the-western-conference-memphis-grizzlies/comment-page-1/#comment-33260 Andrew Thell Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:11:31 +0000 http://www.emptythebench.com/2008/11/05/counting-down-the-five-worst-teams-in-the-western-conference-memphis-grizzlies/#comment-33260 *Points to nose* You'll just have to wait and see. We'll announce number three first thing tomorrow morning. *Points to nose*

You’ll just have to wait and see. We’ll announce number three first thing tomorrow morning.

]]> By: Ace http://www.emptythebench.com/2008/11/05/counting-down-the-five-worst-teams-in-the-western-conference-memphis-grizzlies/comment-page-1/#comment-33257 Ace Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:42:09 +0000 http://www.emptythebench.com/2008/11/05/counting-down-the-five-worst-teams-in-the-western-conference-memphis-grizzlies/#comment-33257 let me guess the remanding teams, the clippers, thunder, and kings. i don't know which order they are gonna be in but they should be the 3 worst in the west let me guess the remanding teams, the clippers, thunder, and kings. i don’t know which order they are gonna be in but they should be the 3 worst in the west

]]> By: Andrew Thell http://www.emptythebench.com/2008/11/05/counting-down-the-five-worst-teams-in-the-western-conference-memphis-grizzlies/comment-page-1/#comment-32646 Andrew Thell Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:58:08 +0000 http://www.emptythebench.com/2008/11/05/counting-down-the-five-worst-teams-in-the-western-conference-memphis-grizzlies/#comment-32646 Say Chip, what are the odds Lowry becomes the starter in Memphis this season? After last night I think we can say, for right now at least, that he looks more prepared to contribute this season than Conley. Say Chip, what are the odds Lowry becomes the starter in Memphis this season? After last night I think we can say, for right now at least, that he looks more prepared to contribute this season than Conley.

]]> By: Andrew Thell http://www.emptythebench.com/2008/11/05/counting-down-the-five-worst-teams-in-the-western-conference-memphis-grizzlies/comment-page-1/#comment-32644 Andrew Thell Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:49:38 +0000 http://www.emptythebench.com/2008/11/05/counting-down-the-five-worst-teams-in-the-western-conference-memphis-grizzlies/#comment-32644 Monsignor Chip- Your concerns are duly noted. The assignment, that I admittedly set for myself, was to discuss the five worst teams in the West and then to detail the good, bad and ugly. I totally agree with you on the youth and financial flexibility points - they have both in spades, and I could easily have played those up more in the Good section. No hate or ill will intended, I actually enjoy watching the Grizz. So it's not personal - in fact, up next on the docket are my beloved and hometown Minnesota Timberwolves. Thanks for reading though and weighing in with some solid, well-reasoned opinions. We always appreciate it. Monsignor Chip-

Your concerns are duly noted. The assignment, that I admittedly set for myself, was to discuss the five worst teams in the West and then to detail the good, bad and ugly. I totally agree with you on the youth and financial flexibility points – they have both in spades, and I could easily have played those up more in the Good section.

No hate or ill will intended, I actually enjoy watching the Grizz. So it’s not personal – in fact, up next on the docket are my beloved and hometown Minnesota Timberwolves.

Thanks for reading though and weighing in with some solid, well-reasoned opinions. We always appreciate it.

]]> By: Chip Crain http://www.emptythebench.com/2008/11/05/counting-down-the-five-worst-teams-in-the-western-conference-memphis-grizzlies/comment-page-1/#comment-32642 Chip Crain Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:37:03 +0000 http://www.emptythebench.com/2008/11/05/counting-down-the-five-worst-teams-in-the-western-conference-memphis-grizzlies/#comment-32642 Interesting observations. I think you are being a bit harsh on the city of Memphis however. I have to agree that Memphis isn't a Chicago, New York or LA type of place but there is also no state income tax here which means players keep a larger portion of their paychecks. The cost of living in Memphis is far below the levels of other NBA cities as well. Money means more than city population for these guy's careers and they get to keep more in Memphis than anywhere else. Memphis' basketball history isn't great (as you said they haven't won a playoff series yet or even a playoff game) but they did manage to make the playoffs three successive seasons not to long ago. The team is rebuilding on a three year plan. Conley has started the season slow but no one expected the team to be 2-3 at this point of the season either so he is doing something right. The team is starting 3 rookies, a 2nd yr player (who missed 29 games his rookie season) and a 3rd year player. Their starting ages are 20, 21 (as of yesterday), 22, 20 and 23. No one in the league has a younger starting five. The first players off the bench are 22, 23 and 25 (Lowry, Milicic and Warrick). The future looks brighter than the present in Memphis and development of the young players is obviously a huge part of the expectations Memphis fans have for their team. Walker's contract will not be renewed this season and neither will Greg Buckner's. Darko's contract expires after next season. They have the lowest payroll in the league, a huge amount of cap space available to recruit free agents and an owner who has shown a willingness to spend money on the team in the past. The question now is have we seen all that Darrell Arthur, Marc Gasol and O J Mayo have to offer after 5 games or can they develop into better players. Has Conley shown all he has after 57 games and only 20 years of age? Can Gay round out his game to be more than just an offensive scorer? If the answers are yes then Memphis is a threat 2-3 years down the road. If not then Memphis will struggle mightily. Interesting observations. I think you are being a bit harsh on the city of Memphis however. I have to agree that Memphis isn’t a Chicago, New York or LA type of place but there is also no state income tax here which means players keep a larger portion of their paychecks. The cost of living in Memphis is far below the levels of other NBA cities as well. Money means more than city population for these guy’s careers and they get to keep more in Memphis than anywhere else.

Memphis’ basketball history isn’t great (as you said they haven’t won a playoff series yet or even a playoff game) but they did manage to make the playoffs three successive seasons not to long ago. The team is rebuilding on a three year plan. Conley has started the season slow but no one expected the team to be 2-3 at this point of the season either so he is doing something right. The team is starting 3 rookies, a 2nd yr player (who missed 29 games his rookie season) and a 3rd year player. Their starting ages are 20, 21 (as of yesterday), 22, 20 and 23. No one in the league has a younger starting five. The first players off the bench are 22, 23 and 25 (Lowry, Milicic and Warrick).

The future looks brighter than the present in Memphis and development of the young players is obviously a huge part of the expectations Memphis fans have for their team. Walker’s contract will not be renewed this season and neither will Greg Buckner’s. Darko’s contract expires after next season. They have the lowest payroll in the league, a huge amount of cap space available to recruit free agents and an owner who has shown a willingness to spend money on the team in the past. The question now is have we seen all that Darrell Arthur, Marc Gasol and O J Mayo have to offer after 5 games or can they develop into better players. Has Conley shown all he has after 57 games and only 20 years of age? Can Gay round out his game to be more than just an offensive scorer? If the answers are yes then Memphis is a threat 2-3 years down the road. If not then Memphis will struggle mightily.

]]> By: Brian Spencer http://www.emptythebench.com/2008/11/05/counting-down-the-five-worst-teams-in-the-western-conference-memphis-grizzlies/comment-page-1/#comment-32613 Brian Spencer Thu, 06 Nov 2008 06:00:31 +0000 http://www.emptythebench.com/2008/11/05/counting-down-the-five-worst-teams-in-the-western-conference-memphis-grizzlies/#comment-32613 Matt, I think you've had one too many beers. Matt, I think you’ve had one too many beers.

]]> By: Andrew Thell http://www.emptythebench.com/2008/11/05/counting-down-the-five-worst-teams-in-the-western-conference-memphis-grizzlies/comment-page-1/#comment-32608 Andrew Thell Thu, 06 Nov 2008 05:43:57 +0000 http://www.emptythebench.com/2008/11/05/counting-down-the-five-worst-teams-in-the-western-conference-memphis-grizzlies/#comment-32608 I'm not sure where the Detroit comparison is coming from. That team has a long and proud tradition of basketball success (NBA titles in 1989, 1990 and 2004, six consecutive Eastern Conference Finals appearances, the best GM in basketball). Memphis has never been out of the first round. Detroit has a metro-area population of 4.5 million, Memphis checks in at 1.2 million. It's apples and potatoes. I wouldn't put too much stock in this season, but that said, where is the improvement each game for Conley? He's at 6 points, 3.5 assists and 0.8 steals on dismal 32.1% FGs and 16.7% three-pointers for the year. That's significantly worse than last season for him, a year where he actually REGRESSED significantly after the All Star break (which the splits bear out). He could be a solid player someday, but you just can't say he's "improving quite a bit with each game" right now. He's not, and it's cause for concern. For Gasol, it was a great game. I scooped him up on my fantasy squad and gave him credit in the article. But it's one game, we need to see more. I’m not sure where the Detroit comparison is coming from. That team has a long and proud tradition of basketball success (NBA titles in 1989, 1990 and 2004, six consecutive Eastern Conference Finals appearances, the best GM in basketball). Memphis has never been out of the first round. Detroit has a metro-area population of 4.5 million, Memphis checks in at 1.2 million. It’s apples and potatoes.

I wouldn’t put too much stock in this season, but that said, where is the improvement each game for Conley? He’s at 6 points, 3.5 assists and 0.8 steals on dismal 32.1% FGs and 16.7% three-pointers for the year. That’s significantly worse than last season for him, a year where he actually REGRESSED significantly after the All Star break (which the splits bear out). He could be a solid player someday, but you just can’t say he’s “improving quite a bit with each game” right now. He’s not, and it’s cause for concern.

For Gasol, it was a great game. I scooped him up on my fantasy squad and gave him credit in the article. But it’s one game, we need to see more.

]]> By: Matt Moore http://www.emptythebench.com/2008/11/05/counting-down-the-five-worst-teams-in-the-western-conference-memphis-grizzlies/comment-page-1/#comment-32603 Matt Moore Thu, 06 Nov 2008 04:47:55 +0000 http://www.emptythebench.com/2008/11/05/counting-down-the-five-worst-teams-in-the-western-conference-memphis-grizzlies/#comment-32603 "Arthur and Gasol don’t figure to be big performers on the offensive end." 27 points in his third game? Gasol has a wide offensive repertoire and can grind more than the elder. Addtionally, is Detroit some sort of paradise? Am I missing out on the beaches, the culture? If you pay players and build a team that can win, the agents will come. Grizzlies are much better than advertised.35 wins this year. Book it. They're definitely a bottom 5 west team, but you guys are off a bit. Conley's still developing and is improving quite a bit with each game. You're spot on with Darko. “Arthur and Gasol don’t figure to be big performers on the offensive end.”

27 points in his third game? Gasol has a wide offensive repertoire and can grind more than the elder.

Addtionally, is Detroit some sort of paradise? Am I missing out on the beaches, the culture? If you pay players and build a team that can win, the agents will come.

Grizzlies are much better than advertised.35 wins this year. Book it.

They’re definitely a bottom 5 west team, but you guys are off a bit. Conley’s still developing and is improving quite a bit with each game.

You’re spot on with Darko.

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