Hooped Up

Memphis Grizzlies keep their cool, rally past Chicago Bulls, 105-96
Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins called for time with his team trailing by 17 points in the second quarter, and tried to simply remain calm. He didn’t want panic to set in. Forward Zach Randolph said his message was intended to be more like banging the snooze button on an alarm clock.

“You’ve just got to wake up,” Randolph said after amassing 31 points and 18 rebounds to help the Grizzlies rally for a 105-96 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night in the United Center.

Randolph wasn’t the only Grizzlies player who heard the alarm. Each member of the starting unit got going at different points as the Griz extended their franchise-record road winning streak to six games.
Commercial Appeal

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Another van glorious season of NBA basketball is about to begin and Hooped Up does a quick and dirty preview of all 30 clubs.

This summer the Grizzlies took a leap towards respectably by grabbing Allen Iverson, but unfortunately they also grabbed Zach Randolph too. Will those two moves balance out into some kinda crazy win formula? The Grizzlies sure hope so. Read More »

The Memphis Grizzlies have struggled mightily at the point guard spot all season long and the trade winds could come a blowin’.

“The latest rumor to surface is the Bucks possibly trading backup point guard Ramon Sessions and forward Joe Alexander, who was the eighth overall selection in last June’s NBA draft, to the Memphis Grizzlies. In return, the Bucks would obtain point guard Michael Conley Jr., who was the No. 4 overall selection in the 2007 draft.” 

Racine Journal Times

Mike Conley Sr., who coached Greg Oden in summer basketball and has known him since he was in sixth grade, has decided to start a sports representation firm.

The company will be called Mac Management Group after the founder’s full name, Michael A. Conley.

“I just need to start putting things in place, not knowing what any of the guys are going to do,” Conley Sr. said Monday, referring to several college players he knows who are in the position of making decisions about declaring for the NBA draft. “They’re definitely going to do something this year or next, so if I’m going to do it, I need to put myself in the position to be ready when the time comes.”

Conley Sr. said starting a firm should not be viewed as any indication that Oden has made a decision about whether to go pro this year. Ohio State is in the Sweet Sixteen, and Oden has said he won’t make a decision about his future until the college season is complete.

Indianapolis Star