Tag: Mike Conley

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Sports Sports Feature

Marc Gasol’s Jersey is Retired in a Night of Appreciation

Marc Gasol reacts during the Marc Gasol jersey retirement on April 6, 2024 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Wes Hale)

It wasn’t the basketball game that drew over 17,000 spectators to the FedExForum on Saturday and caused all the excitement. The extremely short-handed Memphis Grizzlies lost to the Philadelphia 76ers, 116-96. 

The reason the fans were there was for a more joyous occasion as the franchise retired Marc Gasol’s No. 33 jersey. Just two players in team history have had their jersey numbers retired: Zach Randolph on December 11, 2021, and Gasol, who now joins him.

Marc Gasol’s jersey is risen during the Marc Gasol jersey retirement on April 6, 2024 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Wes Hale)

As the lights went out inside the arena, the music blared, DJ Paul of Three Six Mafia began rapping, “Now ever since I can remember, I’ve been poppin’ my collar. Poppin’-poppin’ my collar, poppin’-poppin’ my collar,” and there stood the “Core Four” together again in one place for the first time since the spring of 2017: Gasol, Randolph, Tony Allen, and Mike Conley. They were met with a standing ovation. 

When it came to doing things the right way as a team, Gasol wasn’t really concerned about individual accolades. Appropriately, he chose to share the night alongside the three men who had been instrumental in his — and the franchise’s — greatest success. These men spent seven seasons together, won the very first playoff game in franchise history in 2011, and went on to make it to the 2013 Western Conference finals. 

All four players reflected on their shared memories of playing in the Grindhouse.

Gasol thanked his Memphis coaches and teammates, with his family by his side. The All-Star big man also thanked the fans and the city of Memphis for their unwavering support throughout his stay in the Bluff City. 

Marc Gasol and his family look on during the Marc Gasol jersey retirement on April 6, 2024 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Wes Hale)

His brother (and former Grizzlies star) Pau Gasol spoke to the media prior to the game: “I am very proud of what we’ve be able to accomplish, and what Marc has been able to accomplish, and how he came here as a 16-year old, had to leave school and everything back home, to the kind of follow the big brother’s dream and just brought about what he has been able to do.”

Hall of Famer, Pau Gasol speaking to the media prior to the jersey retirement ceremony (Photo by: Sharon Brown)

The two-time NBA champion continued: “How we approach everything is his character, his determination, the mark he left, the legacy, what he was able to do here and throughout his career, representing the city of Memphis the way he did for so many years with all  those guys, Mike [Conley] Zach [Randolph] Tony [Allen] and many others. Tonight is a special night for our family that brings back a lot of memories.”

A host of former Grizzlies were in attendance, including Mike Miller, Rudy Gay, Quincy Pondexter, Beno Udrih, Darrell Arthur, Jon Leuer and Tayshaun Prince. Former Grizzlies head coach Dave Joerger was also there, and former Grizzly Kyle Lowry, who stayed after the game. 

Fellow Spaniard, and Grizzlies forward, Santi Aldama, spoke about the Gasol brothers: “I think since day one, obviously making it to the NBA is a child’s dream,” Aldama said. “But getting drafted by Memphis and being here and seeing what [the Gasols] have done for the franchise and the city has been awesome. Just being able to talk to them and kind of see their life here and now me kind of experiencing that is incredible.”

Elizabeth Smith has been a season ticket holder since 2011. “Marc Gasol isn’t just a player who played for my favorite basketball team; he is an integral part of the fabric of the city of Memphis and the Grizzlies,” Smith said. “Marc’s impact on the court speaks for itself, but it’s more than just his basketball accomplishments that make him special. He was the center of the Grizzlies for over a decade in more ways than the obvious.”

“Big Spain embodies everything I love about the Grizzlies and what I expect from my favorite team: a passion for the game, a heart for the community, and a refusal to accept defeat without fighting til the bitter end. Marc, along with TA, ZBo, and Mike, were the catalysts for my casual appreciation for basketball evolving into a deep love of the game. I have said many times that those four will forever be my favorites. That wouldn’t be possible without Marc, one of the cornerstones of that era of Grizzlies basketball, for fans like me.”

“My favorite moment of the night that brought tears to my eyes was the showing of his Toronto championship ring that had “GRIT N GRIND” engraved in it,” said longtime fan Sheri Dunlap Hensley.  

“We were able to celebrate with the Gasols after the ceremony,” Hensley explained. “It was nice speaking with his parents. I asked them when they would be traveling back home and I said “I am sure you are ready to get back home.”  His mom said “Oh no! We love Memphis! The city embraced us and Memphis put smiles on my son’s faces!”  She went on about how thankful she will forever be to Memphis and the fans.”

Hensley even had a chance to reminisce with Gasol, himself. 

Sheri Hensley chatting with Marc Gasol.

Adrian Shavers has been a Grizzlies season ticket holder for a long time. The night was very special for him. Shavers said, “It was awesome — felt like a family reunion. It felt really good seeing and chatting with old friends. One thing about our players, they love us fans and remember us. It was a real family feel, and that’s what I felt that night.”

Grizzlies fan Adrian Shavers posing in front Gasol’s banner. (Photo by: Adrian Shavers)

One of the most talented players to ever suit up for Memphis, Marc Gasol’s legacy is now sealed with his jersey hanging from the rafters. It has been a pleasure, Big Spain. GNG Forever.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Playoff Preview: Grizzlies vs. Jazz

Photo courtesy of ESPN Stats and Info via Twitter

The young, gritty, and resilient Memphis Grizzlies squad defied all odds and expectations to secure a spot in the NBA playoffs after knocking off the San Antonio Spurs and stunning the Golden State Warriors in the NBA’s play-in tournament.

Memphis will have a first-round matchup against a hot Utah Jazz, who had the league’s best record in the regular season. How do you prepare for a team most viewers didn’t give a chance of winning against the Warriors in San Francisco?

The Grizzlies will be the underdogs in the series, but the Jazz should in no way underestimate them. Memphis players are not just going to have a “we are just happy to be here vibe.”

Both teams have something to prove. Last season, Utah was bounced out of the first round after having the Denver Nuggets up 3-1 in the series. Memphis barely missed the playoffs after a heartbreaking loss to the Portland Trailblazers in the play-in tournament. 

To preview this series, our Sharon Brown and Aimee Stiegemeyer answer questions that may determine if Memphis will advance to the second round. 

Will Dillon Brooks be able to contain Donovan Mitchell? 

Sharon Brown: Mitchell is recovering from an ankle injury that caused him to miss the last 16 regular-season games. Mitchell averaged 35 points in the two games against Memphis in the regular season. 

Everything is really depending upon which version of Mitchell will be present during this series. The strategy in defending Mitchell should be the same as how Brooks defended Stephen Curry in the last two games against the Warriors. If Brooks can limit Mitchell and defend without fouling, Memphis will have a great chance of pulling off the impossible and at least take one game in Utah. 

Aimee Steigemeyer: That is the hope. One of the necessary factors for success for the Grizzlies in this series will be his ability to lock up his defensive assignments. I might not always agree with his shot selection, but I absolutely believe in his defensive abilities. 

Can Ja Morant have a repeat performance from the play-in elimination game against the Warriors to advance to the second round?

Sharon: Absolutely, he must continue to play out his mind and with poise. In the regular-season matchups against Utah, Morant put up 36, 32, and 12. So he is more than capable of finding his shots among the trees. The Murray State alum needs to continue to have confidence in his three-point shot as he did in Wednesday’s game. 

He knows the team is counting on him in order for them to advance to the next round, and I believe he will be ready for the task before him. 

Aimee: Simply put — yes. Ja Morant is ready for the moment.  

Which matchup are you looking forward to seeing — Jonas Valanciunas against Rudy Gobert or Mike Conley against Morant?

Sharon: Both matchups should be great. To see Valanciunas and Gobert battle in the paint will be awesome, but to see Conley and Morant go at it will be edge-of-your-seat entertainment. It will be good to see the old guard Grizzlies player in Conley go up against the new Grizzlies cornerstone in Morant. Either way, it will be good for Memphis to see how the two players match up in games of this caliber. 

Aimee: Do I really have to choose? I am looking forward to both for different reasons. The past point guard vs. present point guard narrative is compelling for sure. Regardless of the outcome of this series, there is a very “passing the torch” feel to it. I’m rocking with Morant all the way, but Conley will always be my Captain.  

Having said that, Jonas Valanciunas has just been a pure, unbridled basketball joy to watch all season, and I will take as much of that as I can get.  

Which bench player do you think will be the most impactful? 

Sharon: If Grayson Allen can continuously hit 4 of 5 from the three-point line like he did Friday night against the Warriors, then it would be him, without question. Also, I am interested to see how well Xavier Tillman Sr. will match up against Derrick Favors in the second unit. 

In order for Memphis to win this series, bench production will be key. The second unit is the reason the Grizzlies won plenty of games in the regular season and that shouldn’t change in this playoff series. 

Aimee: It will be a toss-up between De’Anthony Melton and Xavier Tillman Sr. Really, it needs to be all of them stepping up, as this Grizzlies lineup is very much one that wins as a team. 

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Beyond the Arc Sports Sports Feature Uncategorized

Grizzlies Get Swept in Season Series Against the Jazz

Dillon Brooks, Tyus Jones, De'Anthony Melton, and Xavier Tillman Sr. Source: https://twitter.com/memgrizz

Brooms out.

The Grizzlies met the Jazz for the final time this season Wednesday night and lost 111-107. Even with the loss, watching the budding bears hold their own against the top-ranked team in the league was anything but boring.

Utah won in large part thanks to a 4th quarter surge from Mike Conley, who scored 13 of his 26 points in the final frame. Conley continues to do Captain Clutch things, but this time he was wearing the opposing team’s colors.  

Despite it being against a team that this Memphis team has played now three times in the past week, the final matchup was possibly the most exciting. But I think I can speak for everyone when I say thank Bob we don’t have to see the Jazz again this season.

There were some intense battles between Jonas Valanciunas and Rudy Gobert, and several epic exchanges between Ja Morant and Mike Conley. 

Gobert’s flop makes this even funnier.

#GrzNxtGen is in good hands

Ja Morant drilling a three in Mike Conley’s face from damn near half court felt like the passing of the proverbial torch between the former generation to the present-day star point guard. It’s the circle of life, Simba.

The circle of life – point guard edition:

part one:
part two:

Memphis was missing Grayson Allen, Justise Winslow, and Brandon Clarke which gave the opportunity for some less familiar faces like Killian Tillie and Xavier Tillman Sr. to get some playing time. Desmond Bane even found his way into the starting lineup.

Sadly the bench mob was more like the warm body squad, combining for a collective 13 points. Woof.

Last and least — I almost forgot two-way player Sean McDermott who played a very forgettable four minutes. And now I would very much like to go back to forgetting he was on the roster.

On the bright side, the Grizzlies continue to dominate in the paint, with 60 points to the Jazz’s 42, and feast on turnovers, scoring 25 points off 15 Utah turnovers.

By the Numbers:

Ja Morant led all scorers with 36 points, 7 assists, and 3 steals. Kyle Anderson logged in 18 points and 11 rebounds. Jonas Valanciunas closed out his 32nd double-double of the season with 16 points and 14 rebounds. JV’s current streak of 15 consecutive double-doubles leads the league. 

Dillon Brooks totaled 17 points and 3 steals but on a less than stellar 8 of 17 field goal shooting.  

Head coach Taylor Jenkins commented postgame about adjustments against the Jazz since their last meeting:

“You can’t dig yourselves holes against any team in this league, and especially a team of this caliber. So, a lot better job. I definitely still think we had a number of breakdowns in that first quarter, so despite being down one, I felt like we could’ve even had the lead. They shot the ball really well in the first quarter. We had some breakdowns there, but we were able to fight through and make it a one-point ball game going into the second.”

On to the next one.

Who Got Next?

The Grizzlies will face off against the Minnesota Timberwolves at home on Friday night. Tip-off is at 7PM, and for the folks watching the local broadcast, don’t forget the channel is now Bally Sports Southeast.

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We Recommend We Saw You

Mike Conley, Cooper-Young Festival, Southern Heritage Classic

CREDIT: Cameron Mann

Cameron Mann

Mike Conley and another guy who sometimes goes by ‘MIke’ and is a big fan.


People passing by the Orion Federal Credit Union headquarters (the old Wonder Bread factory on Monroe) Sept. 13th probably were bowled over to see Mike Conley enter the building.

Conley, the former Memphis Grizzlies guard, was in Memphis to host his 11th annual Bowl-N-Bash to benefit the Methodist Healthcare Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center.

The pre-bash reception was held at Orion, which was the event’s presenting sponsor. The affable Conley, dressed in a black-and-silver shirt and skinny black jeans, chatted with guests.

He wore a T-shirt and black-and-silver shorts the next day at Bowl-N-Bash at Billy Hardwick’s All-Star Lanes.

“Saturday’s event was really special,” says Sarah Farley, Methodist Healthcare Corporate communications specialist. “Mike and his family were all there. And we had over 300 people in attendance. We raised over $90,000 to benefit the Methodist Healthcare Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center.”

Conley was inspired by the health challenges of two of his cousins living with sickle cell disease to partner with Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare in 2011 to create a medical environment to help people with the disease. The Sickle Cell Center at Methodist University Hospital opened in 2012.

Michael Donahue

Zach Pretzer, Mary and Mike Conley, and Daniel Weickenand at the Bowl-N-Bash pre-bash reception.

Lisa Buser

Bowl-N-Bash

Lisa Buser

Bowl-N-Bash

Michael Donahue

Cooper-Young Festival

Blame it on the heat.

This year’s Cooper-Young Festival, which was held Sept. 14th, was down by 15,000 to 20,000 people, says Tamara Cook, executive director of the Cooper-Young Business Association. “It was just fantastically hot,” she says. “That’s what got everybody.”

The artists’ booths did great, but, she says, “We got hit by the heat. You didn’t see a lot of people standing in the sun in front of the main stage. People were standing in the shade.”

About 115,000 attended this year’s event. They had three stages, 17 bands, and more than 425 booths.

But the temperature reached 96 degrees around 4 or 5 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. And it might have felt hotter.

Says Cook: “We’re not used to seeing concrete, you know? When we look across the
crowd we see heads and bodies. This time we saw concrete, which is unusual for us.”

MIchael Donahue

Cooper-Young Festival

Michael Donahue

Sammy Rosenberg, Meitav Menachem, Max Abraham, Gil Brav, and Hadas Brav at Cooper-Young Fest.

Michael Donahue

Cooper-Young Festival

MIchael Donahue

Coltrane Duckworth at Cooper-Young Festival

MIchael Donahue

Cooper-Young Festival

Michael Donahue

Cooper-Young Festival

Commodore Primous and Fred Jones at the Classic Gala.


Southern Heritage founder Fred Jones and Mayor Jim Strickland spoke at the Southern Heritage Classic’s Classic Gala, held Sept. 11th at the Soundstage at Graceland.

Strickland presented the gala, which celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Southern Heritage Classic.

Alumni from Jackson State University and Tennessee State University attended. The teams played in the Classic, which was held Sept. 14th at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.

Trio Plus performed at the gala. Stephanie Scurlock was emcee.

“It was a spectacular opening event for the 30th anniversary,” Jones says. “The location, the food, the music. I’m glad we were able to take the event to the Graceland Soundstage. Graceland is a big part of Memphis and we wanted to showcase Memphis as we celebrate the 30th anniversary.”


Trio Plus at the Classic Gala.

Michael Donahue

Singer-songwriter Ken Stringfellow, who worked with The Posies, R.E.M., and re-formed Big Star, performed at a house concert Sept. 13th at the home of Madelyn Gray.

MIchael Donahue

Nikki Schroeder created the official festival art for the Memphis Food & Wine Festival 2019. The painting was on view at an announcement party at Acre restaurant for the festival, which will be Oct. 12 at Memphis Botanic Garden. With her are chef Andrew Adams and chef/owner Wally Joe.

Michael Donahue

Aldo Dean, owner of Bardog Tavern, Aldo’s Pizza Pies, and Slider Inn, gave visitors a sneak peek of the new Slider Inn on South Main and Talbot at a South Main Association meeting, which was held Sept. 10th.

                                        WE SAW YOU AROUND TOWN

Michael Donahue

Gabriel Valadez at his birthday party.

Michael Donahue

Gabriel Valadez birthday party.

Michael Donahue

Gabriel Valadez birthday party.

Michael Donahue

Grant Slattery and Alex Espinosa on Slattery’s last day Wine Depot.

Michael Donahue

Duff Smith and John McArthur at Fam.

April, Ryan, Jack, Lucille, Maddie, and JR McDaniel on their first visit to Gibson’s Donuts.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Iguodala Acquisition Means Decision Time for Grizzlies

CREDIT: NBA.com

Sunday, during the first night of NBA free agency, the Memphis Grizzlies, as expected, were quiet as far as trying to sign a new player. But that didn’t mean that they weren’t active. The team acquired veteran wing Andre Iguodala in a deal with the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors were desperately trying to come off of Iguodala’s contract in an effort to make room to facilitate a sign-and-trade involving Kevin Durant and former Brooklyn Nets point guard, D’Angelo Russell. The Grizzlies were able to absorb Iguodala’s contract into their own $25 million trade exception that was created as a result of the Mike Conley trade. As compensation, the Grizzlies also received a conditional future first-round draft pick from the Warriors.  NBA.com

Andre Iguodala

The pick has very favorable protections for the Grizzlies — starting with a top four pick protection in 2024. If not conveyed, the pick becomes number-one overall protected in 2025 and is completely unprotected in 2016. Since Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green will be 36, 34, and 34 years old, respectively, in 2024, the assumption is that the Warriors will be rebuilding by the time that the trade is available. If so, the Grizzlies more than likely would be receiving a lottery pick from them.

This could be an enviable opportunity for the Grizzlies, in the event they are able to acquire a high-draft pick from a Warriors team in transition. The Grizzlies could add a young player to their own roster or they could use the pick as a trade piece between now and then. Since the Grizzlies also own a future Utah Jazz first-round draft pick, they could package the two assets along with other players to acquire a star level talent via trade. This happens often when star players decide to part ways with their team and the team lays desirable assets on the trading block to acquire or replace a missing piece.

Iguodala should definitely be able to contribute and help this rebuilding Grizzlies team — on and off the court — if that is the direction that the team decides to go. A former NBA Finals MVP, Iguodala is a proven professional and one of the best defenders and crunch-time shot makers in the league. At 35, he is past the form that once had him labeled as one of the most athletic and versatile wings in the league, but he’s still a capable contributor who can help accelerate the Grizzlies’ rebuilding process. Whether Iguodala is willing to be a part of a team that’s rebuilding is still a question mark.

One of the best outcomes would involve the Grizzlies being able to trade Iguadola to a contender for another future asset before the coming season’s trade deadline. In the event that the Grizzlies are able to obtain not only the pick that came from the Warriors, but a second draft pick for Iguadala, it would be a definite win for their new front office.

There has also been rising speculation about the Grizzlies simply buying out the $16 million remaining on the final season of Iguadala’s current contract. This would allow Iguodala to go to any team he chooses. There are reports that if the Grizzlies did agree to a buyout agreement with Iguodala, he would join Lebron James and Anthony Davis with the Lakers. This narrative has been inflated by some in the national media. If Iguodala does not, in fact, want to be a part of a rebuilding and non-contending team in Memphis, that would be understandable. My hope is that the Grizzlies don’t allow their hand to be influenced by those media narratives. Iguodala is under contract with the Grizzlies now, and, regardless of anyone else’s opinion, it’s ultimately their decision about what to do with him.

The Grizzlies may not want the blow-back of negative criticism that could come if Iguodala says he wants to be traded and the team holds him “against his will.” But, whether it is mutually agreed upon that Iguodala can be a benefit to the team or not, the hope here is that the Andre Iguodala era in Memphis — however long it lasts — is one that ends on a positive note for all.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Conley Chapter Closes; Opens The Door For A New One

CREDIT: Larry Kuzniewski

Larry Kuzniewski

On Wednesday morning the Memphis Grizzlies’ all-time leading scorer, Mike Conley Jr., was traded to the Utah Jazz for Jae Crowder, Kyle Korver, Grayson Allen, the 23rd pick in Thursday night’s draft, and a future conditional first-round pick. This came as no surprise. The Grizzlies had been trying to move their franchise cornerstone since before last season’s trade deadline. The Jazz were reportedly one of the teams with heavy interest in Conley but offered a rumored trade package — at the trade deadline — that was different than the one the two teams agreed upon this week. The trade was a culmination of both teams’ interests, as well as what seemed to be a national campaign to get Conley to Salt Lake City. Utah beat writer (for the Athletic) Tony Jones may have written and tweeted more about Conley since February than anyone in Memphis.

The two teams seem to have gotten what they desired from the deal as the Grizzlies now have a young shooter, playmaker and scorer in the controversial and volatile Grayson Allen (he of recent Duke fame), a proven hard-nosed 3-and-D player in Jae Crowder, and one of history’s best long-range spot-up shooters in Kyle Korver. Korver and Crowder come with the added bonus of being expiring contracts that can easily be moved again to acquire future assets. Korver also has a partially guaranteed contract that can allow him to easily be waived, but there could be benefits in keeping him around even at the age of 38. Korver played for new Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins, and his shooting ability could be a welcome fit to his offensive system.

The Grizzlies can now draft another potential young talent to add to their future core, or use that pick to move forward or backwards in the draft. The future pick could turn into a jewel in 2022, which is also the first year that it would likely convey, if the Jazz begin to decline around that time. Another not-so-obvious plus for the Grizzlies is that they created an NBA-record $25 million trade exception that allows them to basically trade someone’s contract into this quasi-cap space.

The most significant result of the trade is that it signals the official end of an era. Memphis fans watched Mike Conley grow from a 20-year-old kid to a man in front of their eyes as he came to the franchise after eliminating the Memphis Tigers — as an Ohio State freshman — in the 2007 Elite Eight. He was met with a ton of unfair criticism being that he was the consolation prize to a draft that the Grizzlies hoped to land either Greg Oden or Kevin Durant. Many even hoped that Conley would go to Atlanta at number three, allowing Al Horford to fall to Memphis to pair with Pau Gasol. But the Hawks took Horford instead. Conley’s slow start led to several seasons of criticism before he would make a dramatic increase in production that led to many eating crow and having to take an about face with those early opinions. Conley would prove to be a pivotal part of the franchise’s turnaround and a member of the Core Four that spearheaded the Grizzlies’ most successful era. That era has now officially come to a close.

With the second pick in Thursday’s draft, the Grizzlies chose Murray State superstar and self-proclaimed “Point God,” Ja Morant. The pairing of Morant and second-year player Jaren Jackson Jr. seems like an enticing one-two punch. The sky is the limit for these two and hopefully they will not only serve as a bridge to the next era but as a potential rocket ship into a stratosphere that this organization has never seen. Morant and Jackson represent two hybrid mixes of talent the league is not accustomed to. Morant is a uber-athletic point guard with elite ball-handling skills and court vision. Combine that with Jackson Jr. who has shown the ability to be an elite level defender as well as score inside and from deep range. Those two surrounded by shooters and role players could lead to a Grizzlies rebuild that bears fruit faster than expected. Something we might call a new era.

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From My Seat Sports

The Memphis Grizzlies: Stability Matters

CREDIT: Courtesy Memphis Grizzlies

Remember when Memphis Tiger basketball seemed to have lost its way? (Go back 14 months on the calendar and you’re there.) Remember when discussion around Tiger football turned toward whether or not the university should field a team? (Larry Porter was in charge merely eight years ago.) Today, this city’s flagship college programs — in particular, those programs’ stability — are the absolute envy of our lone big-league operation. After last week’s shenanigans surrounding the dismissal of Memphis Grizzlies coach J.B. Bickerstaff, we’re left to wonder not just who’s calling the shots for our NBA franchise, but are those shots being called with an ounce of wisdom? With foresight?
Courtesy Memphis Grizzlies

Robert Pera

I spend my winters wearing blue-and-gray blinders, my focus primarily the fortunes of the basketball Tigers, the Grizzlies’ pay-by-night tenant at FedExForum. I’m not going to pretend to know the front-office mechanics most recently led by Chris Wallace (assigned last week to scouting duty, it would appear). But with one franchise icon (Marc Gasol) recently traded and another (Mike Conley) exasperated — and that was before last week’s front-office bloodshed — the Tigers’ landlord seems to be a bit light in the tool belt.


What an odd year it’s been in Memphis sports, and we aren’t even approaching Memorial Day yet. Penny Hardaway’s first season as Tiger coach raised the community’s collective happy-joy metric to almost unreasonable heights … and the Tigers played in the NIT. The most passionate fan base in town, though, pound for pound, may prove to be the Bluff City Mafia, recently seen in a cloud of blue smoke at an AutoZone Park soccer game. Who gives a kick-in-the-grass if 901 FC scores a goal?

The Memphis Redbirds — two-time defending champions of the Pacific Coast League — are back for their 22nd season, lending some brand stability to the sports landscape. But they have a new manager (Ben Johnson) in the dugout and the usual collection of new faces that comes with every minor-league season. The Redbirds have won so much over the last two years, any losing in 2019 will feel like not so much a disappointment as an inconvenience.

We even have pro football! Well, scratch that.

All of this brings us back to the Grizzlies, the one Memphis franchise that appears in standings printed in the New York Times or Chicago Tribune. It’s the one Memphis franchise that should be this community’s rudder in the stormy, emotional sea of sports fandom. Win or lose, we’ll wear Grizzlies gear to remind us we’re big-league.

The Grizzlies will open the 2019-20 season with their fourth coach in five years. (Remember how a broken Tiger program had to survive three coaches in four years?) This is the “stability” model of the Phoenix Suns or New York Knicks, not a club anywhere close to contending for an NBA title. The new hire, of course, will be a primary component of Griz owner Robert Pera’s solution for the recent descent of a franchise only two seasons removed from a seven-year playoff run. If Jason Wexler and/or Zach Kleiman prove more savvy with roster building than Wallace (the man who brought Conley and Marc Gasol to Memphis), stability will once again don Beale Street Blue. But for the time being, Pera might need a breathalyzer before his next move.

Sports are distraction. Heart-squeezing, at times soul-draining distractions, to be sure. Even with last week’s head-scratching news, I happen to believe the overall Memphis sports landscape has never been healthier. (Yes, my Penny-endorsed blinders are a factor here.) We prefer our tackle football in the fall. We’ve embraced 901 FC like we really are a part of planet futbol. We have good baseball for summer nights and an NBA team when winter comes. Stability wins championships and will be achieved by the Grizzlies before a banner is raised at FedExForum. As for the current state of affairs, embrace the madness and call it a Memphis thing.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Conley Regains Griz Scoring Record: How Long Will He Stay?

Mike Conley’s time in Memphis is possibly coming to an end. If it does, he’ll go out as the team’s all-time leading scorer, which is a fitting accomplishment.

Although the Grizzlies fell short Wednesday night in a pseudo-road game against the Golden State Warriors in a FedExForum filled with faux-Warrior fans, Conley was able to regain the franchise’s all-time scoring record with a corner three-pointer in the first quarter.

Conley, who also leads the franchise in assists, steals, three-point field goals, and games played, joined LeBron James and Reggie Miller as the only players ever to lead in all those categories for their respective franchises.

Conley was a late-bloomer scoring-wise over his career, after struggles to be productive early. As a young player, he was often the butt of fan and media jokes, but Conley went from being the third to forth option on teams that had some combination of Rudy Gay, OJ Mayo, Zach Randolph, and Marc Gasol to the team’s number-one option in recent years. His longevity, combined with his production, has now placed him among the franchise’s all-time greats.

But now, Conley has a cloud of uncertainty floating over his head, as he is constantly the subject of trade rumors — even as early as NBA Draft day — after not being moved at this year’s trade deadline. There are those who believe the Grizzlies will, in fact, move Conley either around the draft or at some point before next season’s trade deadline, the thought being that another team looking to re-tool going into next season might be willing to give more for Conley than the offers that were presented to the Grizzlies this season.

The Lakers, Jazz, Pistons, Pacers, and Magic seem to be the most likely candidates, based on previous interest in Conley, as well as speculative looks into their roster make-up, needs, and draft placement. Conley’s recent scoring production has made him look like a much more desirable player. There are those who say that Conley might even be “auditioning” or showcasing his abilities to a league-wide audience because he might not be opposed to the possibility of leaving Memphis via trade.

There are two ways of looking at his situation. There’s the obvious benefit of having Conley back next season, especially if the Grizzlies are not able to convey the draft pick they owe to Boston. A team that consists of Conley, Jackson, Anderson, Brooks, and some combination of the players acquired via trade this season could not only be good enough to convey the pick, but possibly be good enough that the pick lands high enough that it might not sting so much to lose it.

There is also the thinking that not only should Conley not have to be forced to be a part of a team that is clearly rebuilding, but that the Grizzlies shouldn’t try to rebuild on the fly, and keep Conley in the process. This kind of clean break would force the team — and the fans — to embrace life after Grit ‘n Grind, of which Conley is now the lone survivor.

Regardless of what the Grizzlies end up doing with Conley between now and the near future, it is great to see him cement his place in team history. His hard work, dedication, and loyalty to the franchise, his teammates, and the city has placed him where he belongs — on top.

Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports

Can It Be That It Was All So Simple Then?

CREDIT: Joe Murphy/NBAE

The Memphis Grizzlies have found themselves in a strange place — where their wins and loses are suffering from an identity crisis.

Times were so much simpler this time last season for the Grizzlies. It was cut and dried, to say the least. A win equaled “bad.” A loss equaled “good.”
Joe Murphy/NBAE

Jaren Jackson Jr.

That’s how things are when you are clearly in the middle of a dead-end season, facing one of the best draft classes in recent years. You want to position yourself to get the best draft pick possible. You knew you had Mike Conley and Marc Gasol coming back, in addition to a potential top-five draft pick, so it made perfect sense to place yourself in a position to umm … well, increase your odds of winning as few games as possible.

The formula worked as planned. Well, sort of. The Grizzlies ended up landing the fourth overall draft pick, which turned out to be Jaren Jackson Jr. Pretty good, so far right? They added an elite-level, potential two-way star player to the combo of Conley and Gasol.

But the second half of the Grizzlies plan is where things began to falter. The assumption was that the team would be good enough this year to possibly contend for a playoff spot and, if not, to be able to convey the team’s first-round draft pick that is owed to Boston. This has been explained ad nauseam, but here is the condensed version.

The Grizzlies owe Boston a draft pick. If it’s in the top eight picks this year, the Grizzlies keep it. If it’s in the top six next year, they keep it. The year after that, it goes to Boston no matter what, if it hasn’t already been conveyed to them.

Got it? Good.

But yeah, back to the whole plan not really going according to plan thing.

It didn’t work. The wheels fell off of the Grizzlies season very early, and all hopes of having a playoff team were deflated. After Gasol was traded, General Manager Chris Wallace announced that the team still planned on attempting to convey its draft pick to Boston, and ever since, the Grizzlies have found themselves in an odd place, where wins and loses are becoming one and the same.

They aren’t bad enough to catch the five teams below them in the reverse standings, and they can’t string enough wins together to make it seem like they will finish 9th or better — or worse — or however it works. It’s confusing.

Injuries to Dillon Brooks, Kyle Anderson, and Jeran Jackson Jr. have also put a damper on things; the team can’t evaluate how their young, potential core players will perform with the veterans acquired in the Gasol trade. With all of the accolades that Jonas Valanciunas has received, it’s truly unfortunate that we won’t get to see him play with Jackson this season.

Things were so much simpler last year, when all you wanted the Grizzlies to do was lose — just lose as many games as possible. Simple. That’s all changed this year. The team sits in a peculiar place — where their highs aren’t high enough and their lows aren’t low enough. For every three-game winning streak against playoff teams, there are losses to Atlanta and Washington. Both of the team’s options lack appeal.

It’s makes you yearn for the good old days, when tanking made everything so simple.

Categories
From My Seat Sports

Mike & Marc

CREDIT: Larry Kuzniewski

I grew up devoted to some special Dallas Maverick basketball teams. New to the NBA (the franchise began play in 1980), the Mavs drafted my college hero (Tennessee’s Dale Ellis) in 1983 and I adopted the team from afar (I was living in New England at the time). I quickly fell in love with a trio of players — Mark Aguirre, Rolando Blackman, and Derek Harper — that steered a run of five straight playoff appearances, including a trip to the Western Conference finals in 1988. (Does this sound familiar yet?)

The problem for my Mavericks was that they peaked at the same time a dominant team from California commanded the Western Conference. (Surely this rings familiar now.) After losing to the mighty Lakers one game shy of the 1988 NBA Finals, the team cracked. Aguirre was traded to Detroit the next season (where he’d win a pair of championships with the Pistons). Blackman was traded to New York in 1992 after a 22-win season. Harper was traded (also to the Knicks) in 1994 and helped New York win the Eastern Conference title. The “cracking” left a considerable emotional gap for at least one basketball fan for several winters to come.
Larry Kuzniewski

The Grizzlies’ dynamic duo.

It appears less and less likely that Mike Conley and Marc Gasol will complete their NBA careers in Grizzly uniforms. With his team spiraling toward the bottom of the Western Conference — don’t get too close to the Suns — team owner Robert Pera hinted earlier this month that the two franchise icons could be included in trade discussions. When asked about his name being used as trade bait, Conley was quoted as saying, “Memphis is all I know.” Gasol suggested that his relationship with the Grizzlies franchise might change, but not his connection to Memphis, Tennessee. By that of course, Gasol means his connection to us, Memphians. It’s a deeper sentiment than most modern professional athletes are capable of uttering. And it makes the thought of Gasol (and/or Conley) in another uniform even harder to stomach.

But the Grizzlies, as the roster is currently shaped, are moving further from contention for an NBA title and not closer. It’s not a trajectory conducive to retaining highly paid stars, never mind the duo’s decade of tenure in Beale Street Blue or the seven playoff trips they made possible. And this has been the hardest part of the reality math for me: Conley and Gasol will leave Memphis (the franchise) with a whimper, and not the celebratory flourish more reflective of their impact on Memphis (the city).

For me, Mike Conley will always be “the masked man,” a point guard who played the majority of his minutes in the 2015 playoffs (and against the mighty Warriors no less) with a broken face. For me, the image of Marc Gasol I carry is Big Spain taking the opening tip at the 2015 All-Star Game. A Memphis player starting the All-Star Game. Save for a championship or perhaps an MVP, I’m not sure a moment could more legitimize Memphis as an NBA city than that tip-off in New York’s Madison Square Garden.

Both players have been slowed in recent years by significant injuries. Both have nights now when they appear to have lost a step (as athletes do in their 30s). But neither Conley nor Gasol has ever griped, at least not about their plight as players. Their steady comportment, in good seasons and bad, has made them, well, Memphis AF. It’s among the reasons no other Grizzly will ever wear number 11 or number 33. Conley and Gasol are destined, you have to believe, for the bronze treatment someday. Only if there’s enough room in the FedExForum plaza next to the Zach Randolph and Tony Allen statues.

Our favorite teams hurt us as much as they help us. Only one group of players finishes a season with a parade. And the players we cheer — at least as long as they remain human — move on to new life stages. But joy, while never bottled, has no expiration date, not really. And those who deliver a certain brand of joy (a sweep of the San Antonio Spurs comes to mind) outlast physical presence. Here’s hoping Conley and Gasol — no, Mike and Marc — find their paths to happier life stages than the Grizzlies’ current record suggests. They’ll remember Memphis, perhaps with the same profound appreciation we’ll remember them.