Rawse

I meant to post these gems last night, but I didn't realize they (might have) led to Fratello getting canned this afternoon.

After last night's game:

Your star player is constantly the subject of trade talks in the Spanish media, and he's clearly gotten frustrated already after just eight games back in the lineup. Probably with his ludicrous minute-distribution. I think this was an ultimatum.

Mike Miller is a sight to see in the locker room after a game. Every game, he looks just devestated. Last year, no matter the outcome, he'd always be laughing and joking with Shane Battier.

The locker room as a whole was growing restless, and there might have been an outright mutiny if this continued much longer. The majority of the veterans look like they've quit (those who aren't playing hurt to begin with), and Rudy Gay has lost confidence.

Glad something changed. I'm looking forward to more changes.

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Rawse's 15 Favorite Players
Deron Williams • Greg Oden • Rudy Gay • Dwight Howard • Tim Duncan • Pau Gasol • Mike Conley • Caron Butler • Carlos Boozer • Monta Ellis • Chris Paul • Kobe Bryant • Juan Carlos Navarro • Joe Johnson • Tony Parker

carlos710

Not doing anything to help Rudy's confidence tops my list.

Still, i think fratello is getting a lot of undeserved criticism.. but i hope this is for the good of the team.

c_dog

i don't see why people are so happy about getting rid of fratello. the coach is always the scapegoat for losing, imo.

historically, he's been a good coach, not just with the grizzlies. in the little time he's spent with the grizzlies(something around 2 seasons), he's led the grizzlies to the playoffs twice, and is already the winningest coach in grizzlies history. there hasn't been a better coach in this team's history better than fratello. i thought hubie brown was good, but even he can't compare to fratello.

in fratello's defense, he had little to work with. his star player was injured and is still struggling to get back to form, and most of his veteran players from last year are gone(either traded, left, or washed up). Mike Miller has been the team's best player so far, and you just can't win with mike miller as your best player, especially out west.

now i admit i haven't been following the grizzlies as closely this season, but from the little games i've seen they always compete and stayed close to their opponents, even if they end up losing.

i do understand why jerry made the move that he did though. he wanted to shake things up and energize his players, I'm just not sure if getting rid of fratello is the right thing to do in the long run. everybody goes through bad stretches, and i think even coaches deserve a little more patience. i do agree, however, that fratello should have given the rookies more playing time.

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c_dog's GM Challenge Teams
Net's Draft Part II - Seattle Supersonics
PG - Delonte West/Jose Calderon
SG - Andre Iguodala/Ronald Murray/Rashad McCants
SF - Lebron James/Keith Bogans
PF - Carlos Boozer/Nick Collison
C - Andrew Bogut/David Harrison