Memphis Grizzlies NBA Forecast: 2007-2008

Recap: (2006-2007: 22-60) The Grizzlies are one of the few teams in the league that actually decided not to be good this season. Sure Pau Gasol missed the first 22 games and the Grizz were in bad shape when he returned, but management quickly decided the season was already over and dismissed Coach Fratello along with any chance of a respectable season. Apparently, the team wanted a new style of offense, clearly ignoring that the current offense had rendered them a perennial playoff team. So the team was turned the team over to Rudy Gay, Kyle Lowery and Stromile Swift who initiate a more up-tempo offense. That pace obviously did not fit Gasol, especially when his role was to play the big man in a small-ball lineup. All and all, the whole team was messed up, but they did achieve their up-tempo offensive with the seventh highest pace rating in the NBA.

Off-season: Marc Iavoroni was brought in as the coach to get the team in line with management's desire for an up-tempo team. Iavoroni was the former assistant of Coach D'antoni with the Phoenix Suns, so I guess he is the right guy for the job. Memphis then drafted Mike Conley, who is a great pick, but they just drafted a point guard in last year's draft. The Grizz also brought in Juan Carlos Navarro via trade and signed Andre Brown and Darko Millicic.

Starters:

C - Darko Milicic: He seemed a little more aggressive against the Pistons in the playoffs; let us just hope that was not just sour grapes.

PF - Pau Gasol: He is still on the team, which means either he is happy, or the media is in line for some fun quotes.

SF - Rudy Gay: He shredded his college reputation for being non-aggressive in just one season and I do not he will revert back either.

SG - Mike Miller: He has been shooting the ball for a long time, and he is truly one of the most dangerous sharp shooters in the NBA.

PG - Kyle Lowry: He played well last season, but not well enough to ward off the lottery selection of another point guard.

Bench: Mike Conley Jr., Damon Stoudamire, Juan Carlos Navarro, Terence Kinsey, Casey Jacobsen, Stromile Swift, Hakim Warrick, Brian Cardinal and Andre Brown.