On Tuesday, the Grizzlies beat the Thunder 100-99 in overtime to take a 3-2 lead in their first round playoff series. Here are some video highlights of Russell Westbrook and Mike Miller:
Category: Memphis Grizzlies Blog
Grizzlies blog – Memphis Grizzlies blog
Memphis Grizzlies issue statement on news that former team owner Michael Heisley has passed away
 |
The Memphis Grizzlies have issued the following statement today on the passing of former Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley:
“This is a sad day as the entire Grizzlies’ organization, the extended NBA family and the city of Memphis mourn the loss of former Grizzlies owner, Michael Heisley. We send our condolences to the entire Heisley family and want them to know they remain in our thoughts,” said Memphis Grizzlies’ Controlling Owner Robert Pera.
The Grizzlies were purchased by Mr. Heisley in 2000 when the team was located in Vancouver, Canada. Mr. Heisley was instrumental relocating the Grizzlies to Memphis, Tennessee, and to FedExForum, a state-of-the art NBA arena built by the City of Memphis and Shelby County.
Mr. Heisley was also instrumental in getting the Grizzlies active in the community, supporting the National Civil Rights Museum in establishing the annual MLK Day Celebration game, helping form the Memphis Grizzlies Charitable Foundation and building relationships with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital including helping to build the Memphis Grizzlies House, a temporary on-campus residence for families with children being treated at the hospital. Mr. Heisley expressed his continued support for the Grizzlies and the Memphis community after his sale of the team to Robert Pera in 2012, saying, “I have enjoyed my ownership of the Grizzlies and the support for professional basketball in Memphis. I am confident that the franchise will continue its development toward being a perennial championship contender and an important member of the Memphis community.”
The Grizzlies will announce plans to honor Mr. Heisley at a later date.
Mike Conley wins 2013-14 NBA Sportsmanship award
Mike Conley of the Memphis Grizzlies is the recipient of the Joe Dumars Trophy presented to the 2013-14 NBA Sportsmanship Award winner, the NBA announced today. Conley becomes the first Grizzlies player to receive the honor.
Conley (Southwest) was one of six divisional winners, which included Boston’s Jeff Green (Atlantic), Chicago’s Mike Dunleavy (Central), Phoenix’s Channing Frye (Pacific), Portland’s Damian Lillard (Northwest) and Washington’s Bradley Beal (Southeast).
Conley received 77 first-place votes (of a possible 334) and 2,335 total points overall. The NBA will make a $10,000 donation on behalf of Conley to his charity of choice, the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, specifically for research pertaining to sickle cell anemia.
For the 10th consecutive year, NBA players voted on this award, with eleven points given for each first-place vote, nine points for each second-place vote, seven points for third, five points for fourth, three points for fifth and one point for each sixth-place vote received. Each team nominated one of its players for the award. Former NBA players John Crotty, Antonio Davis, Eddie Johnson, Jalen Rose, and Isiah Thomas selected the six divisional winners from a pool of 30 team nominees.
The NBA will make a $5,000 donation to each of the divisional winner’s charities of choice: a split donation between Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington for Beal; Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer for Dunleavy ; the Frye Family Foundation on behalf of Frye; the Cleveland Clinic Foundation on behalf of Green; a split donation between the San Francisco Bay Area and the Oregon/Southwestern Washington affiliates of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure for Lillard.
The annual award reflects the ideals of sportsmanship — ethical behavior, fair play and integrity — in amateur and professional basketball, a key focus of the league’s NBA Cares program efforts. The trophy is named for former Detroit Pistons guard and Hall of Famer Joe Dumars, the award’s first recipient.
Steve Clifford, Dave Joerger named NBA Coaches of Month for April, 2014
The Charlotte Bobcats’ Steve Clifford and the Memphis Grizzlies’ Dave Joerger today were named the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month, respectively, for games played in April.
Clifford guided the Bobcats to the league’s best record in April at 7-1 (.875). Charlotte notched wins over three playoff teams during the month, beating the Washington Wizards, Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls. The Bobcats were a perfect 3-0 in overtime games in April. Clifford’s team, which posted a 43-39 record for the year and garnered the seven seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs, enters the postseason on a three-game winning streak.
Joerger led the Grizzlies to a 6-2 (.750) mark in April, including a perfect 4-0 record at home. Memphis topped the Miami Heat on April 9, their first of five consecutive wins to finish the season. Included in that streak was a 97-91 win over the Phoenix Suns on April 14, which sewed up the Grizzlies’ playoff berth, and a 106-105 overtime win over the Dallas Mavericks on April 16, which vaulted Memphis from the eight seed to the seven seed in the Western Conference Playoffs.
Other nominees for Coach of the Month were Atlanta’s Mike Budenholzer, Chicago’s Tom Thibodeau, Dallas’ Rick Carlisle, New York’s Mike Woodson, Portland’s Terry Stotts, Toronto’s Dwane Casey and Washington’s Randy Wittman.
Grizzlies recall Jamaal Franklin from D-League
|
The Memphis Grizzlies have recalled guard Jamaal Franklin from their NBA Development League affiliate, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the team announced today.
Franklin (6-5, 191) recorded 17.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.69 steals on .475 shooting (.418 3FG shooting) in 29.0 minutes in 13 games after he was re-assigned to Fort Wayne on Feb. 26.
The 22-year-old played an integral role for the Mad Ants, helping the team to an 11-2 record during his third assignment. He scored 10-plus points 12 times, 20-plus points four times and 30-plus points twice, including a D-League career-high 32 points on March 6 at Maine.
Franklin tallied three double-doubles in his latest stint with Fort Wayne, posting 31 points and a D-League career-high 11 assists on March 1 vs. Iowa, 19 points and 10 assists on March 9 at Maine, and 23 points and a D-League career-best 15 rebounds on March 14 at Delaware.
The Hawthorne, Calif. native has averaged 15.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.75 steals on .433 shooting in 28.1 minutes in 16 games through three assignments with Fort Wayne this season.
Drafted by Memphis in the second round (41st overall) of the 2013 NBA Draft after three collegiate seasons at San Diego State, Franklin has averaged 1.5 points and 1.1 rebounds in 7.9 minutes in 19 appearances as a rookie for the Grizzlies.
Mike Miller, Heat prepare for Miami reunion
Here’s ESPN Miami reporting on the Heat and one of their former sharpshooters, Mike Miller:
|
Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade can’t figure out which of the two he misses more about former teammate Mike Miller. For at least one night, though, Wade is certain he doesn’t want to experience either Miller’s laugh or shot much on Friday.
That’s when Miller, unsung hero of the past two NBA Finals for the Heat, returns with the Memphis Grizzlies to face his former team at AmericanAirlines Arena. It’s Miller’s first appearance back in Miami since the Heat waived him with the league’s amnesty clause in a shrewd financial move last summer that still has his former teammates unhappy with the team’s decision.
But the organization hopes to leave any hard feelings in the past Friday, and will use the occasion to present Miller his 2013 championship ring and also honor him with a minute-long video tribute before the start of the Heat’s game against the Grizzlies.
“You have a connection, and it’s special from that standpoint,” Wade said of Miller, who was part of the Heat’s 2010 free-agency signing class highlighted by LeBron James and Chris Bosh. “He was my locker mate. Obviously, his unbelievable shooting ability is something that not many people have, but just his infectious laugh and how he was in the locker room, we miss that. But hopefully we don’t hear him laugh at all when we see him [Friday night].”
Video: Mike Conley discusses role on Grizzlies
Here’s Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley talking with the TV show Inside Stuff:
Grizzlies claim Beno Udrih off waivers
|
The Memphis Grizzlies claimed guard Beno Udrih (BEYN-oh OO-dreeh) off waivers, the team announced today.
Udrih (6-3, 205) joins Memphis with career averages of 8.9 points, 2.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists on .461 shooting in 23.3 minutes in 659 games (255 starts) over 10 seasons with the San Antonio Spurs (2004-07), Sacramento Kings (2007-11), Milwaukee Bucks (2011-13), Orlando Magic (2012-13) and New York Knicks (2013-14).
The 31-year-old averaged 5.6 points, 1.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists on .425 shooting in 19.0 minutes in 31 games (12 starts) with New York this season before being waived on Feb. 24.
A two-time NBA champion with San Antonio (2005, 2007), Udrih owns career postseason averages of 2.9 points and 0.9 assists in 8.6 minutes in 36 playoff appearances.
The Celje, Slovenia native was drafted by San Antonio in the first round (28th overall) of the 2004 NBA Draft. Prior to his NBA career, he played internationally in Slovenia (1998-2002), Israel (2002-03), Italy (2003-04) and Russia (2003-04).
The Grizzlies’ roster now stands at 15 players.
Grizzlies re-assign Jamaal Franklin to D-League
The Memphis Grizzlies have re-assigned guard Jamaal Franklin to their NBA Development League affiliate, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the team announced today. This marks the rookie’s third assignment to Fort Wayne this season.
Franklin (6-5, 191) has recorded 10.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 24.3 minutes in three games through his first two assignments with Fort Wayne.
Drafted by Memphis in the second round (41st overall) of the 2013 NBA Draft, the 22-year-old has averaged 1.5 points and 1.1 rebounds in 7.9 minutes in 19 appearances for the Grizzlies.
Grizzlies sign Darius Morris to 10-day contract
The Memphis Grizzlies signed guard Darius Morris to a 10-day contract, the team announced today.
Morris (6-4, 190) has averaged 4.2 points and 1.6 assists on .413 shooting in 11.2 minutes in 22 games with the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Clippers this season. The 23-year-old posted 6.9 points and 2.6 assists in 16.1 minutes in 12 games for Philadelphia before he was waived on Nov. 20. He then signed the first of two 10-day contracts with Los Angeles on Jan. 6 and made 10 appearances during his stint with the Clippers.
The three-year veteran holds career averages of 3.7 points, 1.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 12.3 minutes in 89 games (17 starts) with the Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Clippers. He owns postseason averages of 6.5 points and 1.9 assists in 14.1 minutes in eight games (two starts) with the Lakers and averaged 10.5 points and 3.0 assists in 26.3 minutes in four games during the 2013 Playoffs.
Morris also owns NBA Development League averages of 17.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 32.7 minutes in three games (two starts) for the Los Angeles D-Fenders.
A native of Los Angeles, Morris was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round (41st overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft. He earned All-Big Ten honors as a sophomore at the University of Michigan and averaged 15.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 6.7 assists in two seasons with the Wolverines. He set the single-season school assist record (236) as a sophomore, which was broken by current Utah Jazz rookie guard Trey Burke last season.