TomBoerwinkle#1

http://www.hoopsvibe.com/nba/nba-art...e-ar36576.html

-Forget Pau, where are Memphis’ vets?

Forget Gasol’s injury. The Grizzlies are struggling because they no longer get contributions from their veteran players.


Last year, Shane Battier, Lorenzen Wright, Eddie Jones, and Damon Stoudemire were important players, who set a professional tone in Memphis’ locker room. Over the summer, Battier got dealt to Houston, Wright signed as a free agent with Atlanta, while Jones and Stoudamire are recovering from injuries and have been unable to play at their usual high level.

Memphis’ slow start on the basketball court will trigger other changes. Fratello will soon be coaching elsewhere and legendary GM Jerry West is near the end of his illustrious career. And, thankfully, new owners are about to buy the team from Michael Heisley.

The good news for Grizzly fans: rookie Rudy Gay is a hi-flyer with the potential to be an outstanding player.

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You can't fake the funk.

Cinco de Mayo

West described the veterans as playing "terrible" recently. The truthfulness and frankness surprised me.

Stoudamire was really the heart and soul of the team before the knee injury last season. He hit a lot of big shots and after the team lost him for the year, our midrange game and any semblance of PG-play were out the window. We need that back from him desperately, but it doesn't look as if that Stoudamire exists anymore.

Chucky Atkins is a rich man's 2005-06 Bobby Jackson.

Eddie Jones showed huge signs of slowing down last year. He really didn't have more than 30 acceptable games. Now he's toast. He's not even injured - he just doesn't play.

Lorenzen sulked and mailed it in last year because we didn't sign him to whatever huge deal he probably wanted. Lost his job to Jake Tsakalidis of all people. Good riddance there.

Battier's now gone of course. Brian Cardinal's a poor man's version who's cashing the exact same paycheck.

The veterans weren't all they cracked up to be last season, but Battier and Stoudamire were fairly valuable. Eddie Jones was decent every other game or so. The vets are all playing terrible right now save maybe for Atkins who's essentially stat-padding, but I don't think they can physically turn it back up to the level they were playing at last year.

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Zuca

Just asking... In case of an Iverson to Boston trade, would you guys be happy if Memphis was involved (taking Theo Ratliff and Tony Allen from Boston while sending Eddie Jones and Tarence Kinsey for him?)

With this idea and my Haywood and Q Rich trade idea, Grizzlies lineup would (with everybody healthy):

Haywood/Ratliff/Booth/Roberts
Gasol/Warrick/Ruffin/Johnson
Gay/Miller/Warrick/Q Rich (both Hakim and Q Rich can play SF in some spurts)
Q Rich/Miller/Tony Allen
Lowry/Chucky/Stoudamire/Allen (if needed)

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Thrilled to reach the 2700th post! Coming with a
lot more of great trade ideas (the most beloved ones in this board), you can expect that!
Thanks to all members of this site, you guys are great.