The Grizzlies may be trying to send young point guard Mike Conley a message.

After a brief relationship with Allen Iverson, Memphis signed Jamaal Tinsley to help at the position.

"In this league, you always hear footsteps," coach Lionel Hollins said. "There's always somebody over there on the bench that wants your job, and if you don't play well they will eventually get it.

"Mike just has to continue to improve. He's got to be better defensively. He's got to be better at leading and directing. He was much better at those things last year. He's got to get back to being that and then get better from there."

Conley knows where he needs to pick up his play.

"I need to be more consistent and more aggressive at certain times," Conley said. "I hope they still believe in me. I struggled in a few games but the (Minnesota game last Saturday) was a good game to get my feet under me. Everybody has a lull during the course of a season. But we're all trying to do whatever we can to win games."

The third-year guard is averaging 8.7 points and a team-high 5.5 assists per game.