Memphis Grizzlies preview by Ryan McNeill
1. What can the Grizzlies learn from the 2006-07 season to help them improve their 2007-08 campaign?
Is there a way they can avoid the injury bug? I think the lesson learned last season came in the form of the experience that their younger players received when the team was decimated by injuries. Players like Tarence Kinsey, Hakim Warrick, and Rudy Gay all thrived when given extended minutes.
The main hurdle for the team last season was a lack of depth at the point guard position - Kyle Lowry and Damon Stoudmire missed 92 games combined - and the loss of Pau Gasol proved to be lethal. I could be blinded by optimism, but I feel that if the team is able to stay healthy they have a chance to sniff 50 wins.
2. What was the Grizzlies best and/or worst move during the offseason, either by free agency, trade, or draft?
I think the addition of Darko Blipicic could be either a brilliant or boneheaded move depending on where his head is at. If he comes into it expecting a starting spot and becomes sour if that doesn’t happen, it’s a move that could cost the team any chance at the playoffs. However, on the flipside, if he’s able to be a legit man and earn 30 minutes per game this team could be another reincarnation of the Phoenix Suns or Golden State Warriors. Milicic has the ability to be a lethal passer out of the post that can drag opposing bigs out to the three-point arc while Memphis’ point guard rotation is deep and talented. In fact, look for Memphis to throw two point guards out on the floor at the same time as they are well stocked with Kyle Lowry, Damon Stoudamire, Juan Carlos Navarro and 2007's top pick Mike Conley Jr. Throw high flyers Rudy Gay and Stromile Swift into the mix alongside deep threat Mike Miller and the Grizzlies have a nice mix of players.
3. Who is the Most Important Player on Memphis? The MIP is not necessarily the most talented, but the one that makes the biggest difference in his team doing well each game.
Pau Gasol. He’s by far the heart of the franchise and if he goes down they don’t have another legit option at power forward that can log significant minutes.
4. What needs to go right for the Grizzlies to succeed this coming season?
First, they gotta avoid the injury bug. Second, they need one or two of their young point guards to develop into a player that can run their offense while playing 30 plus minutes per night. Third, they need to hope and pray that Darko can go through the season without having a meltdown like he did this summer during the EuroBasket tournament.
5. Who are the contenders for the NBA Championship and who do you see taking the title?
The only teams with a chance of hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy are the San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets. Who will it all? I’m going with San Antonio because as Ric Flair once said, "to be the man you gotta beat the man." Until someone proves they can knock off San Antonio I’m sticking with the champs.
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