2008 Woodie Awards
The Fitzsimmons Files: Grizzlies roaring in Western Conference
Brian Fitzsimmons
Issue date: 12/8/05 Section: Sports
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It was a team that drafted star guard Steve Francis out of Maryland with the second pick in the 1999 NBA Draft, and he pouted and displayed a stoic face as if to wish he didn't even enter the draft.
He later demanded a trade, and was sent packing to Houston. Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Mike Bibby were cursed by having to lead this perennial cellar dweller for years. Lottery picks every June and less and less fans attending the games labeled it as a lost cause.
Now that the team changed cities, owners, coaches, players and uniforms, the only bad thing about the Grizzlies is that the Spurs are keeping them from having the best record in the Western Conference in 2005.
After Jerry West took over as the active owner and general manager of the team when the players dragged their luggage to Memphis, there have been significant acquisitions that have created a positive timeline of year-by-year improvement.
When they pried Pau Gasol on draft day from the Atlanta Hawks, it solidified a low post presence that would assist them in containing dominant big men in the Western Conference.
Mike Bibby was traded to the Sacramento Kings for Jason Williams, and though he didn't work out, as he was traded to the Heat this past off season, he provided a true point guard presence and helped young stars, such as Mike Miller, Shane Battier and Gasol, get the ball and learn to create their own shots.
Today, they find themselves at 12-5, good for second in the West. They have held opponents to a league best 85.5 points per game, and as we all know, defense is what gets teams deep into the playoffs. That's right, I'm talking NBA playoffs in December, but when June rolls around, I won't sound so ridiculous.