March 2004 Memphis Grizzlies Wiretap

Suns Win Their 10th Straight

Dec 24, 2004 5:59 PM

The Phoenix Suns improved to 23-3 last night beating the Memphis Grizzlies 109-102.  Phoenix?s fast start marks the best opening record since Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls went 41-3 in the 1995-1996 NBA season.

Amare Stoudemire paced the Suns with 30 points, 11 rebounds and five steals.

Washington Daily News

Tags: Memphis Grizzlies, Phoenix Suns, NBA

Discuss
All Warriors' Starters In Double-Figures As They Break Four Game Skid

Dec 23, 2004 3:16 AM

The Warriors started off very slow in the first half against the Memphis Grizzlies, trailing by as many as 15 points.  Golden State had a balanced scoring attack, as all five starters were in double-figures.

Mickael Pietrus was part of the starting five on Wednesday, as Mike Dunleavy was unavailable due to the flu.  The second-year player from France had 12 points for the Warriors.

Jason Richardson led all scorers with 24 points.  Troy Murphy recorded yet another double-double, with 19 points and 13 rebounds.

SF Chronicle

Tags: Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies, NBA

Discuss
Jason Williams Activated By Memphis, Burks Has Surgery

Dec 16, 2004 5:17 PM

Point guard Jason Williams was activated by the Memphis Grizzlies before Wednesday night's game against the Chicago Bulls and they placed rookie Antonio Burks on the injured list.

Williams missed six games because of a sprained right ankle. In 16 games, he is averaging 9.3 points, 5.6 assists and 1.3 steals, the latter two team-highs.

Burks, in his first year out of Memphis, broke his right pinkie in Monday's 92-86 loss to Cleveland, and had surgery Wednesday. He is expected to miss 6-8 weeks.

SF Chronicle

Tags: Memphis Grizzlies, NBA

Discuss
Defending Champs Fall To .500 Basketball

Dec 12, 2004 3:09 PM

Despite 22 points from Rasheed Wallace and 18 from Richard Hamilton, the Detroit Pistons were defeated by the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night by a final score of 72-68.

The loss dropped the Pistons to 10-10, .500 basketball and tied with the depleted Indiana Pacers for second place in the Central Division.

Pau Gasol was the leading scorer for the Grizzlies, with 20 points.

Tags: Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies, NBA

Discuss
Jason Williams Placed On Injured List With Bad Ankle

Dec 7, 2004 4:11 PM

Memphis Grizzlies point guard Jason Williams, a name in recent trade rumors, went on the injured list with a sprained right ankle before Tuesday night's game against the New York Knicks.

The Grizzlies activated guard Antonio Burks, on the injured list since Nov. 1 with a strained left hip.

Williams was hurt Friday during the Grizzlies' 94-86 victory over the 76ers. He did not play Saturday in a 96-91 loss to the Magic.

Williams is averaging 9.3 points and 5.6 assists.

Sportsline

Tags: Memphis Grizzlies, NBA

Discuss
Hubie Brown Joins ABC As Their Lead Analyst

Dec 7, 2004 3:14 PM

Hubie Brown has joined ABC as its top NBA analyst, the network announced Tuesday. The 71-year-old Brown retired as coach of the Memphis Grizzlies on Nov. 26, a season after being selected the league's coach of the year.

Brown, the NBA's oldest coach when he stepped down, retired because of medical issues and a lack of drive. He declined to give details on his health, but said he wasn't seriously ill.

Brown will work primarily with play-by-play announcer Al Michaels on select regular-season and playoff games, including the NBA Finals. His first game will be a marquee matchup: Shaquille O'Neal's return to Los Angeles when the Miami Heat take on the Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day.

"The fact that he just retired as a head coach in the NBA gives him a fresh outlook on the current players and the style of play in the league," said Michael Pearl, senior vice president and executive producer of ABC Sports. "In addition, Hubie has the previous experience of being an excellent game analyst. We are thrilled that this worked out for us to be able to bring him onto our team."

ESPN

Tags: Memphis Grizzlies, NBA

Discuss
Jason Williams Finds Himself On Trading Block

Dec 7, 2004 6:43 AM

With Jason Kidd returning to action on Monday night, the domino effect is beginning and it is beginning with Jason Williams of the Memphis Grizzlies.

According to Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal, the Nets' new ownership group likes Williams, not only for his on court talent, but also his fan popularity.  

New Jersey is keen on moving Alonzo Mourning with Kidd and Jerry West was one of Zo's suitors before last season and it is likely that he would be willing to take on his contract.

Another report has Philadelphia interested in unloading forward Kenny Thomas, a solid frontcourt player with a contract similar to Williams's.

Memphis Commercial Appeal

Tags: Memphis Grizzlies, Philadelphia Sixers, Brooklyn Nets, NBA

Discuss
Tony Battie Suspended For Elbow To Gasol's Head

Dec 6, 2004 4:27 PM

Orlando Magic center Tony Battie was suspended for one game without pay by the NBA on Monday for elbowing Memphis Grizzles forward Pau Gasol in the head.

Battie was called for a flagrant foul midway through the first quarter of Orlando's 96-91 victory on Saturday.

The suspension was to be served on Monday against Denver.

Sportsline

Tags: Memphis Grizzlies, Orlando Magic, NBA

Discuss
Fratello Wins Debut Over Philly

Dec 4, 2004 3:05 AM

Mike Fratello stopped the Memphis Grizzlies' five-game losing streak in his debut on Friday night with a 94-86 victory over Philadelphia.

"It really felt great being out there and trying to get the rust off of me," Fratello said. "These guys made big plays tonight, and I am just glad that I had the opportunity to listen to all the coaches and the players and got to make the proper adjustments when needed."

The contest marked Fratello's first game coaching in five years.

"I think (Fratello) did a heckuva job," Memphis guard Mike Miller said. "He was in a tough situation. He only had one day to try and prepare us. He tries to watch film and watch our old plays because he didn't have time to put in some of his."

ESPN

Tags: Memphis Grizzlies, Philadelphia Sixers, NBA

Discuss
Memphis Revamps Coaching Staff to Fratello's Liking

Dec 2, 2004 2:23 PM

Freshly hired Memphis Grizzlies head coach Mike Fratello announced changes to the team's staff of assistant coaches today, adding former Golden State Warriors head coach Eric Musselman and former Grizzlies assistant coach and scout Mitchell Anderson to the Grizzlies bench alongside current assistant coaches Lionel Hollins and John Welch.

Dismissed to front office roles are Tony Barone Sr., who will serve strictly as director of player personnel after three years in a dual role as an assistant coach; Dr. Hal Wissel, a longtime NBA scout and front office guru who will join his son, Scott, a veteran Grizzlies scout, on the road; and Brendan Brown, Hubie's son, will return to his previous role as advance scout after being groomed by his father for a head coaching role in the future.

Musselman will serve as the lead assistant coach, followed by Hollins, who is fresh off his second stint as the Grizzlies' interim head coach, both in advisory capacities to Fratello. Anderson and Welch will join them on the bench in tutorial capacities.

Memphis Grizzlies Press Release

Tags: Memphis Grizzlies, NBA

Discuss
Musselman To Join Fratello In Memphis

ESPN

Jerry West Offers Mike Fratello Memphis Coaching Position

NY Post