NBA 2006-2007 Preview: Memphis Grizzlies

Memphis Grizzlies
Coach: Mike Fratello, 3rd Season (89-59; 66 games in ’04-’05)
General Manager: Jerry West
’05-’06 Record: 49-33, 3rd Southwest Division
Postseason: eliminated in Western Conference Quarterfinals; Lost to DAL (4-0)


Projected Starting Lineup (’05-’06 Stats)

PG – Damon Stoudamire (11.7 ppg., 3.5 rpg., 4.7 apg.)
SG – Eddie Jones (11.8 ppg., 3.7 rpg., 2.4 apg.)
SF – Mike Miller (13.7 ppg., 5.4 rpg., 2.7 apg.)
PF – Pau Gasol (20.4 ppg., 8.9 rpg., 4.6 apg.)
C – Jake Tsakalidis (5.0 ppg., 4.2 rpg., 0.3 apg.)


Key Additions: PF Stromile Swift (trade – HOU)

Key Subtractions: SF Shane Battier (trade – HOU); PG Bobby Jackson (UFA – NO); C Lorenzen Wright (UFA – ATL)


2006 NBA Draft
Round 1 – SF Rudy Gay (8th overall; from HOU), University of Connecticut; PG Kyle Lowry (24th overall), Villanova
Round 2 – PF Alexander Johnson (45th overall; from IND), Florida State University


Positional Breakdowns

Guards
What many teams would like to have is a veteran presence on the court, and with the Grizzlies using Damon Stoudamire as the point guard, they’ve got a veteran who can lead the offense and give the younger players someone who knows the game well. Look past some of the different issues he had off the court in his previous stops and you’ve got a solid point guard who’s got a great sense of the game. He can still score when you need him to. Of course, you won’t get 20 points a game as he was certainly capable of early in his career, but you’ll get some solid point production from him. More importantly, he’s going to give you a ball-handler who can give the team solid play throughout the course of a long season. His defense might suffer a bit because of his age. Stoudamire doesn’t have the speed he once had, so it’s more difficult for him to defend the faster guys in the league.