HoopsHype.com Rumors

Ronald Tillery: Gasol: "But I believe Coach (Hollins) brought a mentality that I was used to – hard work, no excuses and treating everybody the same." Twitter @CAGrizBlog

Memphis Grizzlies, Marc Gasol, Lionel Hollins 

“Would I liked to have had a contract before this? Of course,” said Lionel Hollins, now in his fifth consecutive season and third stint as the Grizzlies coach, a relationship that dates back to the franchise’s roots in Vancouver. “But that’s a decision that’s made and you go and do the best job you can, and it’s not like it had to be done before the season is over. It’s just like players, you can extend players early or you can wait till later. Guys become free agents and they go out in free agency and sometimes it gives you leverage and sometimes it doesn’t.” NBA.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Coaching, Lionel Hollins 

Milling in the visitor’s locker room at Staples Center on Monday, new Grizzlies CEO Jason Levien praised Hollins’ coaching chops this season, but offered no insight into the new ownership group’s thinking. “We, as an organization, agreed we wouldn’t have any comments other than to say that he’s a real asset to the team,” Levien told NBA.com. “I think we had the best record in franchise history. I think that Lionel led the way to that, led us through some adversity, real adversity in changing of players, in changing ownership. The interesting thing in the process when you buy a team is that you don’t get to talk to the management and the coaches while you’re in that process, so we really stepped in on Nov. 1. And so we got to know everybody and it’s been a very positive season overall.” NBA.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Coaching, Lionel Hollins 

A reporter just informed him that he finished 14th for the NBA’s defensive player of the year award, receiving one first-place vote and four third-place votes. Memphis forward Marc Gasol, a brother of Lakers forward Pau Gasol, won the award, the league announced Wednesday. “It’s just funny,” Howard said. “That’s okay. We got next year and I got a long time. This year’s funny.” Los Angeles Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard, Marc Gasol 

Dwain Price: Asked today who was the best defender in the Gasol family, #Lakers F Pau Gasol said: "Apparently Marc." Marc Gasol plays for the #Grizzlies. Twitter @DwainPrice

Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Pau Gasol, Marc Gasol 

Kevin Arnovitz: Tony Allen on Chris Paul -- "I don't want to say his name." Twitter @kevinarnovitz

Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Chris Paul, Tony Allen 

Ronald Tillery: Practice -- Griz coach Lionel Hollins with an economy of words. Used a max of 10 words to answer each question. Twitter @CAGrizBlog

Memphis Grizzlies, Coaching, Lionel Hollins 

Kevin Arnovitz: Q for Lionel Hollins: How do you adjust to avoid those ticky-tack fouls? A: "Stop committing ticky-tack fouls." Twitter @kevinarnovitz

Memphis Grizzlies, Coaching, Lionel Hollins 

Maurice Williams: How do they pick defensive player of the yr? What they go by? Because we all know how great a defender Tony Allen is and he's not mentioned Twitter @mowilliams

Memphis Grizzlies, Maurice Williams, Tony Allen 

Memphis' Marc Gasol, who anchored the league's stingiest defense, is the recipient of the 2012-13 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, the NBA announced today. Gasol becomes the first player in Grizzlies history to earn the honor. NBA.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Marc Gasol 

Ronald Tillery: Gasol: "I just try to do my job. It sounds like a cliché. I just try to execute the game plan. I always thought that defense was important." Twitter

Memphis Grizzlies, Marc Gasol 

This is the second year in a row you’re facing Memphis in the first round of the playoffs. Last season, your series went seven games. Are the teams developing a hatred for one another? Griffin: Not hatred. We have a mutual respect for each other with the battles we’ve had going back to last year in the regular season. Like you said, the seven-game series was a battle. It’s become one of these well-known physical games where everyone’s taking the hits. It’s actually a lot of fun. There isn’t hate, though. On the court, there’s animosity. But off the court, everyone’s cool. SI.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Blake Griffin 

I asked that previous question because you’re all over the blogs today thanks to an incident Monday in which it looked like Memphis’ Zach Randolph grabbed you in a sensitive area. Griffin: [Laughing] I didn’t even realize it at the time, but I was told his hand got pretty close. I don’t remember him grabbing it. I don’t think he did it on purpose. When I was watching the film last night, I saw it, but there wasn’t grab. SI.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Blake Griffin, Zach Randolph 

"We battled, 1 through 12, everybody who as out there," Allen said. "But like I said, ain't no moral victories. We've got to conclude it with a win. It was a tough game all night. That's what we did we got tougher, now we have to be smarter down the end. Make more free throws. Keep fighting and clawing." ESPN.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Tony Allen 

Tony Allen: I'm fully responsible Home team! I got 2 get that stop that's what I do! On 2 the Next, I still #believe / #GnG. Twitter @aa000G9

Memphis Grizzlies, Tony Allen 

Justin Verrier: Gasol seemed to take loss hard. When we entered Griz locker room, he sat, still in uniform, ice on knees staring blankly for good 3, 4 mins. Twitter @JustinVerrier

Memphis Grizzlies, Marc Gasol 

Brett Pollakoff: No comment from Lionel Hollins on reports of Marc Gasol winning DPOY. Wants to wait until announcement is official. Twitter @BrettEP

Memphis Grizzlies, Marc Gasol, Lionel Hollins 

Chris Vernon: I was just told that Marc Gasol will be named NBA Defensive Player of Year Twitter @ChrisVernonShow

Memphis Grizzlies, Marc Gasol 

Ronald Tillery: Z-Bo: "It's not that big of a deal right now... If we can't win the next one, then it's a big deal." Game 1 coverage: gogrizzlies.com Twitter @CAGrizBlog

Memphis Grizzlies, Zach Randolph 

Griffin eventually fouled out with 3:32 left after scoring only 10 points and grabbing five rebounds. Clippers center DeAndre Jordan had an equally subpar game, scoring three points, grabbing eight rebounds and sitting out nearly the entire fourth quarter. Despite those performances, the Clippers not only dominated the game but dominated the boards, outrebounding the Grizzlies 47-23. "It's going to be physical every single game, that's the way he likes to play and that's the way you have to play him," Griffin said. "As long as at the end of the game we're winning that rebounding battle and we're up, I'm cool with it." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Blake Griffin