Memphis Grizzlies 2010-11 Season Preview

Zack Randolph

Memphis Grizzlies 2009-2010 Facts:

• Western Conference 10th  Place
• South West Division: 4th Place
• Record: 40 Wins 42 Loses
• Playoffs: Did Not Make Playoffs

Key Moves:
Incoming

• G Tony Allen
• F Xavier Henry
• G Greivis Vasquez

Outgoing

• G Ronnie Brewer
• G Marcus Williams
• G Jamaal Tinsley

         
                  The Memphis Grizzlies have put together a young and talented team that could make some noise in the Western Conference. Looking at the summer for the Grizzlies it was good and bad. The good was resigning and Rudy Gay and signing Tony Allen. The bad was taking forever to sign Xavier Henry and Greivis Vasquez making them ineligible for the summer league. Zack Randolph will look to have another solid year leading the Grizzlies. Marc Gasol is hoping to stay healthy down the stretch because he‘s there monster in the middle. O.J. Mayo will go back to shooting guard where he’ll play much better, but the Grizzlies have way to many players for him to make a major impact.  Mike Conley Jr. will start at point guard, but if he doesn’t become a solid contributor he’ll be gone by the trade deadline.

• Back Court:

Mike Conley Jr. is still young, but this looks like this could be his make or break year for the Grizzlies. Conley needs to improve and be more consistent on a regular basis if he wants to stay the starter in Memphis. O.J. Mayo is a solid scorer, but he’s the third option on offense in Memphis and isn’t the best defender. Mayo will likely lose minute to Tony Allen who can come in and play defense against the opposite teams best player. Xavier Henry will see a little bit of playing time because he’s the Grizzlies best three point threat. Greivis Vasquez has great talent, but is a defensive liability. Vasquez is a good playmaker, but he has no chance of making an impact this season.

• Front Court:

Marc Gasol is an all-star caliber center, with great size and skills. Gasol is a solid rebounder, defender, and low post scorer. The problem for Gasol is that Zack Randolph is the star in the middle for the Grizzlies. Randolph is in a contract year and he’ll once again be a 20-10 machine. Hasheem Thabeet will play solid defense and rebound the basketball, but he’s an offensive liability.  The rest of the minutes are up for grabs between Hamed Haddadi,  Darrell Arthur and DeMarre Carroll. Rudy Gay got paid an expensive contract over the summer and he’s going to have to play really well to warrant the deal.  Gay is a solid offensive player, but rarely plays on the defensive end and he’ll need to if the Grizzlies want to contend for the 8th seed this season.

• 2010-11 Predictions:
• Predicted Starting Line-Up:
• Center: Marc Gasol
• Power Forward: Zack Randolph
• Small Forward: Rudy Gay
• Shooting Guard: OJ Mayo
• Point Guard: Mike Conley Jr.
• Sixth Man: Tony Allen

Bench: Xavier Henry, Hasheem Thabeet, Greivis Vasquez, Marko Jaric, Hamed Haddadi, Darrell Arthur, DeMarre Carroll, Lester Hudson, Steve Hunter, Acie Law, Marcus Williams, Josh Davis, Luke Jackson, Tre Kelley, Kenny Thomas, Damien Wilkins,  and Sam Young.

• All-Star Player:  Rudy Gay
• Best Veteran Player:  Zack Randolph
• Best Asset: Marc Gasol
• Best New Addition: Tony Allen
• Key Player:  OJ Mayo

• Western Conference: 10 Seed
• Southwest Division: 4th Place

            The Memphis Grizzlies will be a tough team to play this season, but the West is really good so it will be tough for them to make it into the playoffs. The Grizzlies are still a player away from contending, but if they slid into the 7th or 8th seed  I wouldn’t be surprised. I say give them one more year to jell and add a piece and the Grizzlies will make some noise in the Western Conference.

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