The Memphis Grizzlies...

[JamStone]

Fair enough. We'll see. (in response to weneedlength)

[JamStone]

I haven't watched enough of Houston this season or Memphis since Battier was traded. Is Battier still that good of a defender? Tony Allen is overrated as a defender. He's a hack that got away with a lot of when he played on the Celtics. He bites on pump fakes. It's just that he's very physical. I think Westbrook would destroy Tony Allen. Even in the last two losses to Memphis, Westbrook averaged 24 points on 50% shooting. And again, Rudy Gay hasn't even played in the recent impressive wins Memphis has had. They might be a better team without Gay.

Would it appease the Memphis bandwagon if I said the Memphis would lose in 5 games against any of the top 4 teams, instead of saying they'd get swept?

[Jt.ONE]

gotta love our JV team man

[Killakobe81]

I haven't watched enough of Houston this season or Memphis since Battier was traded. Is Battier still that good of a defender? Tony Allen is overrated as a defender. He's a hack that got away with a lot of when he played on the Celtics. He bites on pump fakes. It's just that he's very physical. I think Westbrook would destroy Tony Allen. Even in the last two losses to Memphis, Westbrook averaged 24 points on 50% shooting. And again, Rudy Gay hasn't even played in the recent impressive wins Memphis has had. They might be a better team without Gay.

Of course Battier has lost a step ...it would be hard not to he was never a truly gifted athlete anyway. But he is still a good defender and very smart. Tony you are correct got away with a lot in Boston ... but I think to say he is JUST a hack is unfair. Yes, he is overly aggressive and bites on head fakes ...but at least he gives you the effort and as you said is EXTREMELY physical. I think he has the tools and the willingness to be a much better defender, problem is he doesnt play smart. I could see him playing up on Russ instead of playing off a half-a-step because his bball IQ is not very high and he seems like the "macho" type ...
But I still think they can win ONE game ...

[JamStone]

If the point you're trying to argue is that Memphis is capable of winning "one game" in a playoff series against the top 4 teams in the West instead of getting swept, I think you're arguing in vain. Still means they're outmatched against those top teams, which is the point I'm trying to get across. I can concede they "could" win "one game" against the top 4 teams in a playoff series. To me, that's not saying much. I'll even go so far as saying they could be very compe ive against Oklahoma City. I think the Spurs, Lakers, and Mavs are a class above the rest of the teams in the West. And those are the teams I was directing my initial comment about.

[Mugen]

i think DAL/SA/LA all take MEM out in 5. But it'll be a physical 5 games that will all be close.

Conley always go off against the Lakers, like most quick PGs who can score at all and every Memphis scrub goes off against the Spurs (Arthur, Young, Allen, etc.)

They're an athletic and physical squad who rebounds very well but i'd still rather see them than a team like Portland or even New Orleans.

IMO, easiest 1st round matchup will still be Denver.

[mikeschy55]

They're definitely a team on the rise... they could use a big man, but I see them making a splash the next couple of years.

[cobbler]

sooooo... 3 years after "the gift" the Grizz have gone from a 15-50 cellar dwellar record at this stage of the season to 36-29 playoff position and all of you are talkiing about their bright future and a possible 1st round upset. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm...

[Greg Oden]

sooooo... 3 years after "the gift" the Grizz have gone from a 15-50 cellar dwellar record at this stage of the season to 36-29 playoff position and all of you are talkiing about their bright future and a possible 1st round upset. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm...

yeah Javaris Crittenton is leading this charge.

[cobbler]

yeah Javaris Crittenton is leading this charge.

Filler... nothing more. Are you denying that the Grizz have improved since the trade and that said trade had anything to do with it?

[Greg Oden]

Filler

rofl revising history. neat.

[cobbler]

rofl revising history. neat.

Are you sayihg Critt was a key component? He simply wasn't. Kwame's expiring was and nothing you say changes that or the fact that with that expiring and Marc they have turned their team around. Nice try. Many of us pointed all this out at the time but it was often unheard of or laughed at due to the excessive whining going on. Who's laughing now?

[Greg Oden]

they sure weren't trading because Pau's overweight little brother was some stud. But it's always funny to see you get so defensive. Is that a setback for all handicaps?

[hater]

It was collusion 2 years ago and is collusion today.

[cobbler]

they sure weren't trading because Pau's overweight little brother was some stud. But it's always funny to see you get so defensive. Is that a setback for all handicaps?

I'll consider this your surrender.

Not defensive at all... just pointing out the obvious that I pointed out 3 years ago. I certainly didn't expect a moron like yourself to come up with anything substancial other than getting personal. Par for the course.

[cobbler]

It was collusion 2 years ago and is collusion today.

Proof?

Trade worked out GREAT for both parties involved. Pau was on the block well over a year and it is doc ented. End of story.

[Mugen]

Yea, cuz that was the best deal MEM could get for Pau Gasol...

[cobbler]

Yea, cuz that was the best deal MEM could get for Pau Gasol...

Looks like it turned out pretty well for them now didn't it? They wanted the highest expiring to play with. Kwame was the highest. They played with it and now all you are here talking about their bright future.

Go figure...

[Greg Oden]

so exactly where is Marc Gasol on the list of the Grizzlies' best players?

[Greg Oden]

I'll consider this your surrender.

Not defensive at all... just pointing out the obvious that I pointed out 3 years ago. I certainly didn't expect a moron like yourself to come up with anything substancial other than getting personal. Par for the course.

defensive, as usual.

[cobbler]

so exactly where is Marc Gasol on the list of the Grizzlies' best players?

Could care less. Is he an important component in their team and its rising success? Any answer other than yes is pure BS and you know it. Have a wonderful day!

[Greg Oden]

[Kyle Orton]

Are you sayihg Critt was a key component?

At the time of the trade, Lakerfan was saying that involving Crittenton is what made it a fair trade. There was no mention of Marc Gasol from lakerfan till he debuted in the NBA and played well. It's not like yallz were calling it from the get go Gasol would be a good NBA center (which he is, and in hindsight it was a good trade, but at the time Lakerfan's argument was Crittenton's upside).

[Kyle Orton]

And both sides are guilty of revising history. Lakerfan is guilty of saying they always knew Crittenton sucked and they knew Marc Gasol was the main component of the deal. The collusion krew is guilty of acting like the Grizzlies traded the double double machine Pau is today who defends the pick and roll extremely well and is maybe the NBA's most well rounded big man on offense. At the time of the trade, Gasol had yet to have a season where he averaged double double (or win a playoff game), he was a really soft and lazy defender who other teams made an effort to pick on, and his jumper was such that you didn't have to guard him outside of 5 feet. My guess is the Grizzlies would have never traded today's Pau Gasol for that package as season ticket holders in Memphis wouldn't have been fed up with him the way they were.

[cobbler]

At the time of the trade, Lakerfan was saying that involving Crittenton is what made it a fair trade. There was no mention of Marc Gasol from lakerfan till he debuted in the NBA and played well. It's not like yallz were calling it from the get go Gasol would be a good NBA center (which he is, and in hindsight it was a good trade, but at the time Lakerfan's argument was Crittenton's upside).

No doubt Critt was over valued and Marc undervalued by many. However, there were several of us who stood our ground when you were all laughing and I said we will see when it's all said and done. Alanon was one who shared my opinion on Marc. Whatever happened to him?

Anyway, All is said and done and it was a great trade for all involved. Collusion smollusion... just crybaby tears to me.