MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) Without a single superstar, Grizzlies president Jerry West revived this inept franchise.

His low-key deals have slowly turned Memphis into one of the deepest teams in the league and given the franchise its first chance at making the playoffs.

``We've been fortunate because we have one of the best evaluators of talent ever in the history of the game,'' said Grizzlies coach Hubie Brown, who was hired by West.

As general manager in Los Angeles from 1982 to 2000, West built the Lakers into consistent winners on the shoulders of superstars like Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal.

In Memphis, his team matches its uniforms: blue collar.

The Grizzlies have no marquee names, but at least two solid players at each position, and Brown plays a 10-man rotation, rewarding hard-nosed, unselfish play with more time on the court.

``A team is not five guys playing all the minutes,'' West said. ``He keeps players pushing and trying to get better all the time.''

West took over in 2002, a year after the hapless Grizzlies moved from Vancouver. At 65, he was bored with retirement and wanted to transform a bottom-rung team into a contender.

But the Grizzlies were no Lakers, a franchise West led to seven NBA championships as general manager and one as a player in 1969. The best record the perennially awful Grizzlies had ever managed was 23-59.

``It was pretty evident to me that we needed to do things differently around here, and fortunately I have an owner who allowed me some latitude in being aggressive,'' West said.

Now, only forward Stromile Swift remains from the Vancouver era.

Five players in the Grizzlies media guide, which is put out shortly before the season begins, are no longer with the team. Four new faces don't appear.

The no-name Grizzlies have beaten some of the biggest names in the NBA, including the Western Conference-leading Sacramento Kings and Lakers, and set a franchise-record eight-game winning streak.

``The talent level has gone up,'' center Lorenzen Wright said. ``We've got the type of guys who fit Hubie's system.''

With little fanfare, West brought in three players _ Mike Miller, James Posey and Bonzi Wells _ who are among the team's top five scorers and key to its resurgence.

Miller, a strong outside shooter, was acquired from Orlando along with Ryan Humphrey and two draft picks in February 2003, in exchange for Drew Gooden and Gordan Giricek.

Miller played only 16 games with Memphis last season because of muscle spasms in his back, but he's started every game this season, averaging about 11 points and four assists.

``What Mike Miller is doing now is what we expected him to do,'' Brown said. ``He's an excellent passer and he makes the right plays, so we've got another ball handler on the break.''

James Posey, a starter who is averaging about 11 points, came to Memphis from Houston as a free agent.

``He's a great teammate because he's all about winning,'' Brown said. ``When I say he's a real professional, I mean that. You could not ask for a better guy at both ends of the court and in the locker room and off the court.''

The biggest surprise might be Wells, who was traded to Memphis and left his bad reputation behind in Portland. In Memphis, he's also a crowd favorite, a decided change from the Trail Blazers.

Though a starter in Portland, Wells has adapted to spending more time on the sideline in Memphis. Still, he's averaging about 12 points, and scored 30 points against Dallas on Dec. 27.

Brown and West were never concerned about his attitude and gave him a fresh start.

``He's every bit what we thought he would be,'' Brown said. ``Everything about Bonzi Wells has been terrific.''

Perhaps the only stars on this team are Pau Gasol, the 7-foot Spaniard who leads the team in scoring with about 17 points per game, and point guard Jason Williams, who was flashy and unpredictable in Sacramento but has settled down under Brown.

The new players have ``certainly done what we want done here and given us a chance to have a team that we think is pretty competitive right now,'' West said.

So, for now at least, West has no immediate plan for trades.

``You never turn a deaf ear to anywhere you think you can help yourself, but we're not anxious to do anything at this point,'' West said.

Last year, the Grizzlies had their best season in franchise history with only 28 victories. But by the halfway point of this season, they already had 23 wins, following an 88-82 victory over the Lakers.

The only goal now is the playoffs.

``We're trying to get to 41 and 41,'' Brown said. ``Once you get there, you're in the hunt.''