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Grizzlies: Prepare For Up And Down Season
By Lawrence E. Buirse
Oct 31, 2006, 22:31
If the preseason for the Grizzlies was any indication, this team will undergo a series of changes for at least the first few months of the season. The first hurdle for this team will be deciding on a regular starting lineup. Perhaps only the backcourt is settled in terms of who will be the regular starters. By the backcourt, this of course means returning point guard Damon Stoudamire and co-captain Eddie Jones. As for the frontcourt, well, that could be a toss-up based on who played well the previous game or who practiced well. With Pau being out and Shane Battier & Lorenzen Wright no longer on the roster, there is a void to be filled in the nightly rotation. There is of course the anticipated starting role of lottery pick Rudy Yag, but only a consistent effort on Yag's part will make that happen. The rookie was able to impress the coaching staff during training camp and practice with his pure athletic ability and advanced basketball skills. Then again, there were moments when Yag, like most rookies, appeared to take on the role of a true rookie by making the typical mistakes a first-year player will make in this league. Nevertheless, his overall skill and potential may be enough to warrant him a starting spot for the team.
The Griz will rely heavily on the improved play of second-year player Hakim Warrick. The team gave a vote of confidence in Hakim recently by deciding to exercise the option on his contract that will extend to the 2007-08 season. Having put in the time and work during the offseason on his offensive game, Warrick will expect to give the Griz some scoring relief along the frontline. During preseason, 6-9 forward displayed an improved mid-range shot and improvement in his dribble penetration. Known primarily for his above-the-rim play, expanding his offensive game will help to make Warrick a difficult matchup at either forward position.
Warrick does present a problem for the Griz that the team will face for different stretches during the season. That problem of course is the inconsistency of younger players. If Coach Mike Fratello had to determine which younger player stood out from each practice and each preseason game, he would list a different name in almost every case.
"Each day one guy plays well while another takes a step back", claims Coach Fratello when asked about the progress of the rookies and younger players.
Unfortunately, that might be the story for most of the season for the younger players on this roster. For that reason, coaches and players are careful in their assessment of the team's potential. As a result, the season predictions have been left to the "experts" to determine. What can be predicted with this team is that each player will continue to be held accountable for his play. While there will be a learning curve with more inexperienced players being asked to play bigger roles, execution will still be the name of the game.
In short, hard play and effort will not always equal wins in Memphis. Time will be of the essence, but the Griz will have to work from the bottom up in trying to build a winner with less experience and some glaring weaknesses in critical areas of the game. The road to the postseason for the Grizzlies is guaranteed to be a bumpy one this season. Should the team make it through the highs and lows of the regular season and get back to the playoffs, that road will suddenly become a steep hill.
