Guess what NBA team is 27-8 straight up in 2004.

Thats right the Memphis Grizzlies. Not only do they have the 3rd best record in the NBA behind the Kings, and Pacers since the 1st of the year, they are IN every game they play. The average point differential in their 8 losses is only 5.2 points, (only 1 loss by double digits since Dec. 26th.). Ten of their 15 players are 25 or younger, and only one (Bo Outlaw) is over 30. You can thank first Jerry West, and then elder statesman Hubie Brown. Hubie took over the team from Sidney Lowe who started off 0-8. Brown known for his discipline is reputed to have mellowed with age, and seems ideal for the young Grizzlies. West has made some sharp moves also, in the past 12 months notably the trade for Mike Miller, who currently has back problems, the free-agent acquisition of James Posey, who may be this team's MVP; and the additions of Outlaw and Bonzi Wells for spare parts. With only one semi-star Paul Gasol, the team that only won 28 games all of last season, promises to to be a tough out in the up-coming playoffs.


wil.

I know he is getting up there...earlier in the year he almost passed out during a timeout, nearly fainting on his feet before someone caught him staggering....What a great job he`s done...

These elder coaches have proved something that past couple years...Vermeil and Hubie and McKeon.....someone should be calling Sparky up, I`m sure Sparky still wishes he was pulling up is uniform socks each night at 5pm!

Not like Jerry West is spending Dr.Jerry Buss` money anymore...

Hubie Brown is a ripe 70 years old. He saved my ass one night at the old Boston Garden. Hubie was then bench coach for the Atlanta Hawks, and had a big 7ft. back-up center by the name of Steve Hawkes (spell). I went to a Celts - Hawks game one night with a couple of friends, and quite natrually was pretty well oiled up by game time (as usual in those days). We had front row seats right behind the Hawks bench, and also quite natrually started harassing the Hawks from the start. Can't tell you why, but I started on Hawkes, stupid stuff, "hey Steve have you still got your bricklayers of America card" etc. Sometime in the second half Hawkes lost it, and started to step over the bench into the 3 or 4 ft. aisle that seperated us, all 7 feet of him. Being shitfaced I did the smart thing and stood up to meet the challange. Luckily Hubie quick on his feet in those days, grabbed the giant by the shirt, and screamed for him to sit back down, which luckily for me, he did. I left him alone for the rest of the night, and survived. Thank you Hubie. True story.


wil.

Memphis is doing amazingly well. But they are in the dreaded Western Conference and will get demolished in the first round of the playoffs.

wil.

Thats a good story....

....You mean to tell me, "Well respected and mild mannered ,Wilheim from TheRx" was at one time a Hellraiser ?

lots of memories, some (mostly) good, and some not so good. Now when I think about it a lot of them involved the Garden, Fenway, and the old Foxboro stadium. Another time I will regail the board with my Pat Quinn - Philly Flyer story. Another escapade in drunkedness at the garden.


wil.

The Griz play the way the game is supposed to be played. They play balls to the wall D yet still run on the break.

In an age when you have defensive teams stop teams then hold the rebound and try to bang their way to a foul and have offensive teams avoid playing D so to get offensive position all one can do is...

hope Hubie don't die.

wil, I have worked my tail off to get there.

Grizzlies putting a serious ass whippin on the New York Knicks in MSG. 91-66 at the end of the 3rd.

wil.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) The Memphis Grizzlies are accelerating toward the franchise's first playoff berth.

Memphis won its fourth straight game Friday night as Stromile Swift had 19 points and 10 rebounds and the surging Grizzlies rode a big early lead to a 109-86 victory over the Houston Rockets.

Jason Williams added 18 points as Memphis won its 12th in the last 14.

Coupled with Dallas' 119-118 overtime loss at Miami, the Grizzlies are two games ahead of the Mavericks for the fifth playoff spot in the West, and only one game behind San Antonio for fourth and home-court advantage.

''We are ready for whoever we will play against,'' said forward Pau Gasol, one of three Grizzlies who finished with 12 points. ''We feel very confident, and we're playing aggressive. We are running and we have energy, and that's giving us a lot of good things.''

The Grizzlies sprinted to a 20-point lead at the end of the first quarter, shooting 75 percent from the field including 5-of-7 from 3-point range. From there, Houston got no closer than 13, and Memphis eventually led by as many as 29.

''We weren't ready to play,'' Rockets center Yao Ming said through an interpreter. ''We feel like we've already gotten into the playoffs, so we don't have to worry. It feels like something we've already achieved.''

Steve Francis had 17 points and Yao and Jim Jackson added 14 points each for Houston. Yao grabbed seven rebounds and blocked four shots, but was 5-of-13 from the floor in part due to the physical defense of Swift and center Jake Tsakalidis.

''I don't think we pushed him around,'' Swift said. ''We just needed to get up and stay in front of him and not let him get the ball. He's a load to handle, so we just tried to stay in front of him.''

But the Memphis defense did cause headaches for Houston. The Grizzlies had 14 steals, and Houston's 20 turnovers led to 24 Memphis points. But despite the defensive pressure, the shooting from the opening tip drew everyone's attention.

''Our key guys were making their shots tonight,'' Memphis coach Hubie Brown said. ''We were making the extra pass and rotating back, and it was too far for them to come back.''

With his team surging and putting teams away early, the coach is enjoying himself

It took me forever to become a believer. I wish i would have figured it out sooner.

The Memphis Grizzlies are on the verge of securing the first postseason berth in franchise history.

Pau Gasol had 23 points and 18 rebounds, and Jason Williams scored eight points in the last three minutes to lead the Grizzlies to their fifth straight win, 94-88 over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday.

The Grizzlies can clinch a spot in the playoffs for the first time in the franchise's nine-year history as soon as Sunday night if Utah loses to the Los Angeles Lakers. Memphis can also clinch with one more win or a Portland loss.



wil.