HoopsHype.com Rumors

Marc Stein: Clips, I'm told, have NOT asked to interview Spurs' in-demand Mike Budenholzer. Suggests Sterling was thus scouting free agent-to-be Hollins Twitter @ESPNSteinLine

Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs, Coaching, Donald Sterling, Lionel Hollins, Mike Budenholzer 

Marc Stein: Hottest theory circulating here in San Antonio is that Donald Sterling was at Game 1 sitting across from Grizz bench to scout Lionel Hollins Twitter @ESPNSteinLine

Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs, Coaching, Donald Sterling, Lionel Hollins 

Marc Stein: Could Sterling have been in San Antonio on other business, on a Sunday, two rounds after Clips eliminated? If so, that's a first for him Twitter @ESPNSteinLine

Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs, Coaching, Donald Sterling, Lionel Hollins 

Marc J. Spears: Clippers owner Donald Sterling sitting courtside at Spurs-Grizzlies game. Twitter @SpearsNBAYahoo

Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs, Donald Sterling 

The NBA pre-draft camp is always fraught with rumors. One that started percolating Saturday pertained to Brooklyn’s search for a new head coach. Some NBA officials claim the Nets are honing in on Lionel Hollins, Memphis’ coach whose contract will soon expire. The Nets’ interest in Hollins is hardly surprising, especially considering the terrific job Hollins has done this season. Racine Journal-Times

Memphis Grizzlies, Coaching, Lionel Hollins 

Ronald Tillery: Practice flow on eve of WCF: Hollins on being perceived as an underdog, "It doesn't matter. We’re appreciated by our fans and by ourselves." Twitter @CAGrizBlog

Memphis Grizzlies, Lionel Hollins 

Metta World Peace: Congrats to Memphis for winning the 2013 championship. Just finish the job... Twitter @MettaWorldPeace

Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Metta World Peace 

“This moment means a lot to me,” Randolph said. “I’m happy, but we still have work to do. I want to win a ring.” Randolph can be the king of colloquialisms when talking about others, such as when he described the defense teammate Tony Allen was applying to Kevin Durant: “Tony’s a dog, man. He’s in the mud.” The Grizzlies marketing department has crafted slogans and campaigns around Randolph’s colorful descriptors and phrases. NBA.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Zach Randolph 

But he’s mostly bland when talking about himself. It’s a subject best left unto others, like Allen. “I’ve [known] Zach ever since I got in the league, what his skill level was,” said Allen, who joined the Grizzlies a season later in the summer of 2010. “But he was … at first all about going out and getting his. And ever since I got alongside him, he’s done a good job of mixing it up, passing the ball when you don’t have a shot, being more of a vocal leader and just a teddy bear off the court. When I say teddy bear, just a nice guy. He’s the nicest guy in the world. I saw him grow a lot despite what I heard about him previously before I got here.” Previously? “Just rough around the edges, that’s all,” Allen said, chuckling. “But me and him pretty much got the same characteristics. Growing up we overcame a lot. Right now, it’s a big time to do something big and I think that’s what his mindset is right now — trying to do something real big.” NBA.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Zach Randolph, Tony Allen 

The big stage has been a long time coming for Randolph, a player many assumed would have run himself out of the league by now. That’s not the case or even any longer an option. The 12-year veteran has found a home and fulfillment in Memphis. “He just understands the big picture a little bit better. He understands winning better,” Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins said. “I think there are lot of good players in this league that have statistics, that have talent, but never win, never understand that it takes more than their 20 points to win; that it takes moving the basketball, it takes playing defense, it takes being a decoy sometimes. “We just try to challenge him and he accepts being challenged, and he’s risen to the occasion.” NBA.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Zach Randolph, Lionel Hollins 

Let’s say Franklin is one of the most confident players in camp. He said his offensive game is similar to New York’s J.R. Smith’s — “I can score in so many ways.’’ — and his defensive game is similar to Memphis’ Tony Allen. Racine Journal-Times

Memphis Grizzlies, New York Knicks, Draft, Tony Allen, JR Smith, Jamaal Franklin 

Memphis Grizzlies forward Quincy Pondexter’s dog has become a staple at team practices. It’s a husky named “Buckets,” and judging from the pictures Pondexter has posted on his Instagram account, it’s pretty much the most awesome dog in the world. It’s no coincidence that Pondexter’s adoption of this dog has lined up with his development into a valuable player at both ends of the floor off the bench for the Grizzlies. With any luck, there will be a remix of DJ Paul’s “We Don’t Bluff” that adds Buckets to the list of name-checked Grizzlies. For The Win

Memphis Grizzlies, Quincy Pondexter 

Josh Robbins: #UF #Gators PF Erik Murphy has interviews scheduled for today with the #Grizzlies and the #Clippers. Tomorrow: possibly, #Pacers. Twitter @JoshuaBRobbins

Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Draft, Erik Murphy 

“Memphis is a really, really good team, and they made it tough on us every one of these games,” Durant said. “I gave it all I had for my team. I left it all out there on the floor. I missed 16 shots, but I kept fighting and I kept being aggressive. That’s all I can ask for.” Oklahoman

Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant 

With their trademark grit-and-grind mentality, the Memphis Grizzlies are making history for a franchise with little prior postseason success. Zach Randolph had 28 points and 14 rebounds, Mike Conley added 13 points and 11 assists, and the fifth-seeded Grizzlies advanced to the Western Conference finals for the first time in franchise history by beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 88-84 on Wednesday night. "This is the first time, so it definitely means a lot. I'm happy, but we've still got work to do," Randolph said. "I want to win a ring." ESPN.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, Zach Randolph, Mike Conley 

After being traded to Memphis in February, Prince's primary focused switched to Durant, who has won three straight scoring titles before this season. Though Game 5 was Durant worst of the series, Prince said nothing changed in his defensive approach. “It wasn't no different tonight, it was just a matter of trying to be as aggressive as I can,” Prince said. “He's definitely one of the toughest, hardest guys to guard in the league just by his ability to go in either direction. He's good both right and left and can pull up from behind the 3-point line. “I just tried to continue to feel out his rhythm, his flow throughout this series. The first couple games it was tough.” Oklahoman

Memphis Grizzlies, Tayshaun Prince 

As Derek Fisher was shooting from the right corner near the Grizzlies' bench, Tony Allen tried to distract him by moving his hands and yelling. Unfortunately, he had a shirt inside the towel in his hand and lost his grip on the shirt. It flew onto the court and he was whistled a technical foul from the bench. It clearly wasn't something he planned on doing and he regretted it immediately. But that didn't stop the Thunder from using it as a catalyst to make a run to get back into the game. CBSSports.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, Derek Fisher, Tony Allen, Referees 

Mascots are an important part of the NBA, serving as furry mirth-makers in a league that often becomes too self-serious for its own good. There's no joy a mascot can't bring, whether it involves choreographed dancing or simply forcing fans to consider the ridiculousness of an anthropomorphic blue blob's existence. However, the fact of the matter is that most mascots are very similar, both in their antics and looks. It's pretty much impossible to differentiate between the bear mascots of the Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies, for instance, and that's even before you see them jumping off trampolines and high-fiving children. So, when a mascot stands out as something special, you know that it's done some amazing work. Kudos to Benny the Bull of the Chicago Bulls, then, for being listed by Forbes as the most popular mascot in America (via TBJ). From Tom Van Riper: Yahoo! Sports

Chicago Bulls, Memphis Grizzlies, Utah Jazz, Mascots, Benny the Bull 

“We’re not afraid of the moment,” Conley said. “We embrace the moment. We’re treating this like a must win.” Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Mike Conley 

“We have to be the aggressors,” Allen said. “We have to stick with what got us to this point. We just want to keep fighting. …They’re going to give it their all. Obviously, they’ve been to the Finals. They don’t want their season to end like this. We just have to be ready for those guys when they come with the first punch.” Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Zach Randolph