The Grizzlies moved from Vancouver after last season and have yet to gain much notice -- in or out of Memphis. After seven home dates, they are averaging 13,752, better than only five other NBA teams. The Grizzlies are 2-12, living down to the legacy of the team when it played six seasons in Vancouver and went 101-559.
But these Grizzlies believe they will find the way to the city's heart. The first order of business is to attract the same sort of attention the University of Memphis does for its basketball program.
The teams share the Pyramid, a 10-year-old arena. The Tigers are on the upswing with high-profile coach John Calipari in his second season at the university. They are led by freshman Dajuan Wagner, the nation's top high school player last season.
The Tigers sold more than 17,000 season tickets this season, compared to about 8,000 for the Grizzlies. Within the last 10 days, both teams had games televised on the same night, and the Tigers won clear-cut decisions.