Grizzlies New Year Resolutions

Here are a few resolutions that the Grizzlies need to have this year.

1. Develop a PG. This is like the team who alternates 2 QB. It doesn't work. I have heard people say just look at their combined numbers. They would be 15.5 ppg, 7.5 apg, 5.4 rbg, and 1.66 spg with 2.66 turnovers. Not bad numbers but let us do a comparison on this. If you look at Steve Nash this year, he is averaging 14.3 ppg, 7.9 apg, 2.9 rbg and .8 spg with 2.69 turnovers. Yes those numbers are about even. The problem with this argument for our system is that Nash gets these numbers playing 33.5 minutes per game while our 2 players are playing all 48 minutes. The suns have somebody else playing 14.5 minutes. Also Nash will turn 35 in a month and our 2 PG are early 20's. Combined they should be able to outperform a 35 year old guy who doesn't play as many minutes. If you go back just 2 or 3 seasons ago, Nash was averaging around 18 ppg with 11 apg while only playing 35 minutes per game. Our 2 PG system doesn't work. Please develop a legitimate starter and play the other one accordingly.

2. Use Warrick properly. I don't understand why our 3'rd leading scorer plays less than half the game. He is currently averaging 23.9 minutes per game. Hak shares playing time with Darrell Arthur and while Hak plays 4.5 minutes per game more, He scores more than twice what DA does. I think Hak should play at least 30 minutes if not close to 35. The grizzlies need to put their best 5 out on the court and leave them there for the majority of the game. Right now we only have 2 players that play more than 30 minutes per game. If you look at the Celtics right now, who are one of the better teams in the League, their 5 starters average 29.0 to 36.6 minutes per game. Our starters average 19.4 to 38 minutes per game. Put Warrick on the court since he is one of the best 5 players on this team and play the best 5 players the vast majority of the game.

3. Finish games. It is very frustrating sitting in the stands with a 8 point lead going into the 4'th quarter and people around you keep saying that we will lose because an 8 point lead isn't big enough. Seeing a good tight game go down to the wire and then we fold every time is getting old. I keep hearing people say that this team has to learn how to finish games out. I know that is true, but it seems that they keep repeating this lesson over and over and I don't see them changing what we are doing. You know when it comes down to the end, we are going to have 3 or 4 turnovers in a row and miss 75% of the shots. Please learn from the past and finish the games positively more often that we have been.

4. Develop Gasol & O.J. Mayo. We have 2 rookies that can be a great foundation along with Gay to a bright future. This threesome needs to be developed and learn how to play with and off of each other to maximum potential. I truly believe that these 3 players should average close to 65 ppg and 20 rbg. If they can do that, that is a great core to add to so that we can have a winning team again. Develop the stars.

I see hope for the future, but we must make sure we do the right things to maximize the potential we have. Go Grizzlies in 2009!