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Memphis Grizzlies

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» Sunday, May 19 2013

 

» Saturday, May 18 2013

“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

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

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

 

» Friday, May 17 2013

 

» Thursday, May 16 2013

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 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

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

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

 

» Wednesday, May 15 2013

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

“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

 

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