Indazone
12-27-2008, 12:07 PM
Iranian returns
The Grizzlies welcomed back rookie Hamed Haddadi (http://commercialappeal.sportsdirectinc.com/basketball/nba-players.aspx?page=/data/nba/players/player739853.html) from the Dakota Wizards (http://www.nba.com/dleague/dakota/) of the NBA Development League.
Hamed, a 7-2 center from Iran, played in 11 games with the Wizards. He averaged 6 points and 5.9 rebounds along with 1.55 blocked shots in 17.7 minutes.
''I heard there were times where he dominated and there were other times where he was a little out of place,'' Iavaroni said. ''That's pretty normal for a 7-foot guy from Iran.''
Haddadi, who is the first Iranian to make an NBA roster, is still looking to make his NBA debut. Iavaroni said the D-League experience helped get Haddidi in better condition.
''He ran a lot more,'' Iavaroni said. ''It's obviously a running league, a smaller man's league. He got more minutes. We're counting on him to be lighter on his feet and probably more confident overall.''
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/dec/27/francis-close-to-joining-grizzlies/
I"m thinking the Grizzlies will be a fun team to watch. They are now the Bad News Bears of the NBA. I'll bet Francis returns to form, they got Rudy Gay, Mayo, Connely, Darko, Gasol, Warrick. This team has a lot of good young talent and a really big front line. Ivaroni will know how to use Francis and integrate him into the team. This team can run and gun. They have the size to give a lot of other teams problems. Now they have three 7 footers in Haddadi, Gasol, and Darko. This could be a very dangerous team for the future.
The Grizzlies welcomed back rookie Hamed Haddadi (http://commercialappeal.sportsdirectinc.com/basketball/nba-players.aspx?page=/data/nba/players/player739853.html) from the Dakota Wizards (http://www.nba.com/dleague/dakota/) of the NBA Development League.
Hamed, a 7-2 center from Iran, played in 11 games with the Wizards. He averaged 6 points and 5.9 rebounds along with 1.55 blocked shots in 17.7 minutes.
''I heard there were times where he dominated and there were other times where he was a little out of place,'' Iavaroni said. ''That's pretty normal for a 7-foot guy from Iran.''
Haddadi, who is the first Iranian to make an NBA roster, is still looking to make his NBA debut. Iavaroni said the D-League experience helped get Haddidi in better condition.
''He ran a lot more,'' Iavaroni said. ''It's obviously a running league, a smaller man's league. He got more minutes. We're counting on him to be lighter on his feet and probably more confident overall.''
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/dec/27/francis-close-to-joining-grizzlies/
I"m thinking the Grizzlies will be a fun team to watch. They are now the Bad News Bears of the NBA. I'll bet Francis returns to form, they got Rudy Gay, Mayo, Connely, Darko, Gasol, Warrick. This team has a lot of good young talent and a really big front line. Ivaroni will know how to use Francis and integrate him into the team. This team can run and gun. They have the size to give a lot of other teams problems. Now they have three 7 footers in Haddadi, Gasol, and Darko. This could be a very dangerous team for the future.