The Grizzlies played great defense last night holding the T-Wolves to 34.8% shooting from the floor which negated the fact that the Grizzlies were outrebounded 57-43. O.J. Mayo led the way for the Grizzlies last night with 29 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and 1 blocked shot last night. Rudy Gay also had a outstanding night finishing with 25 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals last night. Darrell Arthur got another start in Zach Randolph’s spot at power forward and he responded with 18 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals. Mike Conley only shot 5 of 15 from the floor but he still finished up with 11 points, 7 rebounds, 11 assists and 7 steals per game. The Grizzlies are now 2-1 on the year.

The Grizzlies outscored the Mavericks 22-15 in the 4th quarter tonight and that helped them overcome the fact that they only shot 38.8% from the floor. Rudy Gay led the way for the Grizzlies by stuffing the stat sheet with 21 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 1 blocked shot. O.J. Mayo also filled up the stat sheet with 20 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and 1 blocked shot tonight. Darrell Arthur got a start at power forward in Zach Randolph’s spot and he finished up with 14 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assits, 1 steal and 1 blocked shot in 27 minutes on the floor. Marc Gasol wasn’t supposed to play tonight but he started and finished with 10 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal. The Grizzlies are now 1-1 on the year.

The Grizzlies were without Marc Gasol (injury) and they also lost Zach Randolph to injury during the game and it hurt them big time. The Grizzlies didn’t play any D last night as the Hawks hit 52.5% of their shots from the floor and that was too much to overcome. Mike Conley led the way for the Grizzlies last night with 23 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists. Rudy Gay also had a solid game in his first contest as a very, very rich man as he finished up with 21 points, 10 rebounds and 2 assists. Darrell Arthur got the start in Gasol’s place and he was solid with 19 points and 3 rebounds in 31 mintues last night. Sam Young did a really solid job after Randolph left this game to injury as he finished up with 17 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and 1 blocked shot in 26 minutes on the floor as he shot 8 of 12 from the floor. The Grizzlies start the year 0-1.

The Grizzlies were 40-42 last season and they have added some talent to the bench while keeping the starters together for another year. I see the Grizzlies as a team on the rise and I think they will make the playoffs out West this year. With that in mind I would definitely take the over as far as wins go in 2010-11. I still wouldn’t bet on the Grizzlies to win the NBA Championship even though they are 125-1 to do it.

57-year old head coach Lionel Hollins was a solid leader for the Grizzlies last year as he coached up his team. The Grizzlies have one of the best starting fives in all of the NBA and Hollins got them to play team basketball. The Grizzlies were 40-42 (48.8%) last season and they still have not yet got to .500 in Memphis. This year is going to break that trend in a big way. Hollins has a 71-114 (38.4%) career record in parts of four years with the Grizzlies both in Vancouver and Memphis. He has yet to coach in a NBA Playoff Game but I think that changes this year.

25-year old Marc Gasol is the starting center for the Grizzlies’ and he’s the old man of the crew. He played in 69 games (all starts) for the Grizzlies last season and he averaged 35.8 minutes, 14.6 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.6 blocked shots per game. Gasol has now played in 151 games (144 starts) in his two years with the Grizzlies and he has averaged 33.0 minutes, 13.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.3 blocked shots per game. Gasol has turned himself into one of the better centers in the NBA and I look for him to have another big year in 2010-11 for the Grizzlies.

23-year old Hasheem Thabeet will likely be the #2 center for the Grizzlies this year. Thabeet was actually sent to the D-League for a little while last season and when he was returned he was more focused. Thabeet played in 68 games (13 starts) for the Grizzlies last season and he averaged 13.0 minutes, 3.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 0.2 assists and 1.3 blocked shots per game. Thabeet can rebound and play defense right now, but the Grizzlies hope he improves on offense this year.

25-year old Hamed Haddadi will be #3 at center for the Grizzlies this year. Haddadi played in 36 games (0 starts) for the Grizzlies last season and he averaged 6.7 minutes, 1.7 points, 2.1 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. He has now played in 55 games (0 starts) in two years with the Grizzlies and he has averaged 6.5 minutes, 2.0 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE GRIZZLIES CENTERS IN 2010-11: B

29-year old power forward Zach Randolph was a double-double machine for the Grizzlies last season. He played in 81 games (all starts) for the Grizzlies last season and he averaged 37.7 minutes, 20.8 points, 11.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.0 steal per game. Randolph has now played in 587 games (460 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 31.1 minutes, 17.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Randolph has a nice and soft lefty jumpshot from the baseline and he’s a great rebounder so the Grizzlies are hoping for another big year out of him.

22-year old Darrell Arthur missed a lot of last season due to injury. Arthur played in 32 games (1 start) for the Grizzlies last season and he averaged 14.3 minutes, 4.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. He has now played in 108 games (64 starts) in his two years with the Grizzlies and he has averaged 17.8 minutes, 5.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. The Grizzlies hope that Arthur steps up this year.

24-year old DeMarre Carroll is #3 in line for minutes at power forward for the Grizzlies. Carroll played in 71 games (1 start) as a rookie for the Grizzlies last season and he averaged 11.2 minutes, 2.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. He had big problems shooting the ball as a rookie hitting only 39.6% from the floor and 62.3% from the free throw line. Until his shooting improves it’s hard to see him playing much.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE GRIZZLIES POWER FORWARDS IN 2010-11: A

The Grizzlies’ front office stepped up over the summer signing 24-year old small forward Rudy Gay to a max deal. Now it’s Gay’s turn to repay the Grizzlies’ faith in him. Gay played in 80 games (all starts) for the Grizzlies last season and he averaged 39.7 minutes, 19.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game. He has now played in 318 games (282 starts) in his four years with the Grizzlies and he has averaged 35.3 minutes, 17.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game. I look for Gay to step up and be even better than he was in 2009-10 this year.

25-year old Sam Young will be Gay’s backup this year once again. Young played in 80 games (1 start) as a rookie for the Grizzlies last season and he averaged 16.5 minutes, 7.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. The Grizzlies hope that Young keeps up the good work in 2010-11 as he had a solid rookie year.

30-year old Damien Wilkins might get some P.T. here if he makes the team. Wilkins played in 80 games (31 starts) for the T-Wolves last season and he averaged 19.8 minutes, 5.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. He has now played in 390 games (126 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 20.9 minutes, 7.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE GRIZZLIES SMALL FORWARDS IN 2010-11: A

The Grizzlies suddenly have a lot of quality depth at shooting guard behind starter O.J. Mayo and that’s a good thing. 22-year old O.J. Mayo played in all 82 games (82 starts) for the Grizzlies last season and he averaged 38.0 minutes, 17.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.2 steals per game. He has now played in 164 games (all starts) in his first two years in the NBA and he has averaged 38.0 minutes, 18.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Mayo is very dependable and he’s very consistent which is two qualities the Grizzlies’ front office savors about him.

The Grizzlies signed 28-year old Tony Allen to back up Mayo this year. Allen played in 54 games (8 starts) for the Celtics last season and he averaged 16.5 minutes, 6.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He has now played in 336 games (82 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 18.4 minutes, 7.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. Allen can also back up at small forward and he has been looking for minutes so don’t be surprised if he really excels for the Grizzlies.

Rookie 19-year old Xavier Henry will likely be brought along slowly by the Grizzlies. He played in 36 games at Kansas last season and he averaged 27.5 minutes, 13.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. Henry also shot 41.8% from three point range last season at Kansas.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE GRIZZLIES SHOOTING GUARDS IN 2010-11: B+