RealGM Basketball Wiretap

NBA Has Lowest Rated Conference Final Opener Since 2007 In Spurs/Grizzlies

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:35:15 EDT

The San Antonio Spurs' victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 1 on Sunday drew a 3.9 overnight rating on ABC Sunday afternoon.

That is down 41 percent from the Miami Heat/Boston Celtics Game 1 on ESPN last season and down 26 percent from the Oklahoma City Thunder/Dallas Mavericks Game 1 on ESPN in 2011.

The game ranks as the lowest rated conference final opener since 2007 when the Cleveland Cavaliers/Detroit Pistons drew a 3.5 on TNT.

San Antonio is the 36th larget market, while Memphis ranks 49th.

The NBA hopes to soon negotiate new television contracts with their national partners. While the league is generally seen to be on the rise, the new collective bargaining agreement favors parity and incoming commissioner, Adam Silver, has made it an expected touchstone of his regime to continue that trend.

Chris Wallace Hoping To Stay As Grizzlies GM

Sun, 19 May 2013 13:33:47 EDT

Chris Wallace has years left on his contract as the Memphis Grizzlies' general manager, but he has no guarantees moving forward.

Still, Wallace wants to remain with the organization.

“I hope to be able to stay here,” Wallace said.

Wallace's vision has been validated this postseason, when the core of the team that he assembled has led the Grizzlies to the Western Conference finals.

“I never looked for vindication. That’s not something that motivates me,” Wallace said. “Winning takes care of all issues in this league. We felt we had to take chances.”

Marc Gasol Fails To Land On All-Defensive First Team After Winning DPOY

Mon, 13 May 2013 15:07:45 EDT

Tony Allen and Miami LeBron James headline the 2012-13 NBA All-Defensive first team, the NBA announced on Monday.

Joining Allen and James on the NBA All-Defensive First Team are Chris Paul and Serge Ibaka. Rounding out the First Team are centers Tyson Chandler of the New York Knicks and Joakim Noah of the Chicago Bulls, who tied in votes for the honor.

Marc Gasol landed on the All-Defensive second team after winning this season's Defensive Player of the Year. Along with Gasol, the second team consists of guards Avery Bradley and Mike Conley and forwards Tim Duncan and Paul George.

NBA coaches voted for the All-Defensive teams.

Hollins Confident He'll Return As Grizzlies Coach

Sat, 11 May 2013 11:48:56 EDT

Lionel Hollins is confident he’ll return as coach of the Memphis Grizzlies next season.

"The only conversations we've had is they said they wanted me back," Hollins said. "After we lost the first two games to the Clippers, we had a friendly conversation about the series and how they just wanted me personally to know that regardless of what's being said out there, this is how they felt.

"That was great."

Hollins hopes to return in his current capacity for the 2013-14 season.

"There's no question," Hollins said. "When you build something, you want to see it through to the fruition of it all.”

Grizzlies Want To Make Durant Work For Everything, Avoid Putting Him On Line

Thu, 09 May 2013 10:48:20 EDT

The Memphis Grizzlies are allowing Kevin Durant to average 35.5 points, 13 rebounds and 7.5 assists over the first two games of their series against the Oklahoma city Thunder.

“We want to (cut off Durant’s supporting cast), but you still can’t let him get 50," said Lionel Hollins. "We want to make him work and take a lot of shots. We don’t want to put him on the free throw line. It takes a lot of energy to be an offensive player, regardless of what people think, especially when you have the ball in your hand the majority of the time. We want to work him on that end and work him on the defensive end. We want to run and make him play the entire game.”

Grizzlies' Joerger Compared To Thibodeau

Tue, 07 May 2013 13:20:05 EDT

David Joerger, currently an assistant coach under Lionel Hollins with the Memphis Grizzlies, is considered one of the top candidates for head coaching jobs in the future.

Joerger's assent to the NBA began in the IBA, CBA and D-League.

“He loves the craft,” said one NBA general manager. “Look what he’s done with [the Memphis] defense. He’s got Thibodeau’s thing for defense, but he’s a lot more likable than Thibs.” 

Joerger is known for having a great understanding of what each player on a roster can and cannot do, maximizing their strengths.

Marc Gasol Named Defensive Player Of The Year

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:05:29 EDT

Marc Gasol has been named the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year.

LeBron James finished second, with Serge Ibaka finishing third.

Joakim Noah and Tony Allen finished fourth and fifth respectively.

Tyson Chandler and Dwight Howard are the two most recent winners of the award. Howard was tied for 14th this season.

Willie Reed To Sign With Grizzlies For Rest Of Season

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 16:11:37 EDT

Springfield Armor forward Willie Reed will sign with the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday for the rest of the season, agent Joel Bell told RealGM on Sunday afternoon.

Reed averaged 14.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks for Springfield this season, posting 12 double-doubles in 48 games. At 6-foot-10, Reed will bolster what’s already a big, physical Grizzlies frontcourt.

Future terms of Reed’s contract with the Grizzlies are still being worked out, Bell said. Reed is expected to be available by Wednesday night’s home game against the Utah Jazz and will be eligible for the playoffs.

Reed, 22, played two seasons at St. Louis before going undrafted in the 2011 NBA draft.

Tony Allen Focused On Grizzlies, Not Free Agency

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 09:01:20 EDT

Tony Allen, who is headed for free agency this summer, is focused on playing for the Memphis Grizzlies.

"I'm bleeding blue right now, so I haven't thought past the Grizzlies," Allen said. "I ain't thinking about free agency. I'm thinking about a championship."

Sports Illustrated recently ranked Allen as the No. 16 free agent for 2013.

"Being in the right situation, being able to fit, being a piece moving forward in a team's championship goals just being a priority," Allen said. "And obviously, putting my family in a good situation. But for the most part, I don't even think about it. I just go out there and play, play hard and let God take care of the rest."

Hollins, Randolph Shrug Off Rumors Of Friction

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 11:06:00 EDT

There is a growing belief that Memphis Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins and forward Zach Randolph aren't on the same page, but both men dispelled the notion on Thursday.

"Our relationship is fine," Randolph said. "I respect my coach."

The Grizzlies fell behind by 30 points in a loss to the New York Knicks on Wednesday, during which the opposing broadcasters suggested there was a riff between Hollins and Randolph.

"The only beef I had with Zach is he was excessively late for a shootaround that started at 4:30 p.m. (last Saturday)," Hollins said. "I told him I can't start you and he understood. Everybody's got their opinion about what goes on in our locker room. But only the people in there know. I haven't had a beef with Zach and he hasn't had one with me."

Hollins said any correlation between Randolph's recent poor performances and their relationship is off base because there are basketball reasons why Randolph has struggled lately.

"We're getting him the ball," Hollins said. "If you watch the games, we're getting him the ball. It's just now teams are taking him away. They're running three people at him and he's making passes. Other people are having to step up and try to do things. It's just the way it is."

Report: Grizzlies To Sign Keyon Dooling

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 18:48:01 EDT

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed Keyon Dooling for the rest of the season, according to a report.

Dooling is eligible for the playoffs after sitting out most of this season following an announced retirement last offseason.

Dooling, 32, had been serving as a coordinator with the Boston Celtics. He averaged four points for the Celtics last season.

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Thu, 23 May 2013 09:17:02 EDT

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