Grizzles vs Lakers: Chalk this up to Stu Jackson

I don't care how teams perform in Summer League games. I really don't.

Having said that I do hate to see the Grizzlies look bad on national TV (even if it is just NBATV. Being that the only game being televised this summer (and I am sure to write a blog about how disappointing that was later) is was a shame that our Baby Bears had to play their 3rd game in as many days against a Lakers team that was well-rested.

I don't know if Stu Jackson actually writes the summer league schedule but whoever it is that does write the schedules obviously has been in touch with Stu. How else can you explain three straight games (and a fourth consecutive game tonight) in a 5 game summer league format? It's not like the entire league is being shortened to 7 days or anything. The Las Vegas summer league runs from July 11th to July 20th but the Grizzlies finish their summer league participation on July 16th. 5 games in 6 days. That is ridiculously tiring for any player much less rookies just getting back into game shape after working on drills to prepare for the NBA draft over the last two months.

Right now traditional NBA whipping boys the LA Clippers and our Memphis Grizzlies are the only teams to have played 3 straight games. LA already lost rookie Eric Gordon to a hamstring pull and won't play Game 4 until the 16th (against the Grizzlies) before ending their summer league participation on the 17th. Coincidence? I don't think so. The more glamourous Lakers won't play game 3 until the 16th.

What difference does it make? Well summer league isn't about the whole team (sorry Ere, Tucker and Burtt to name a few players). It is about getting your high draft picks prepared for training camp. To get them up to speed on the offense and for the known players to spend time with the coaches. Guess which teams is getting more practice time to indoctrinate their rookies. Memphis' rookies are having everything thrown at them in 8 days from start to finish. The Lakers have the pre-tournament practices and then 10 days in Vegas to work on things.

Now I know I am tired and frustrated after watching the game and seeing our tired legs getting constantly beat down the court and failing to establish position but I think I have a point too. I hope this isn't a foreshadowing of the upcoming schedule from the NBA. The Grizzlies would probably play 60 games back to back with travel if the same idiot who wrote the Summer League schedule gets to write the real season schedule this season.

Addendum: Does ESPN ever get information correct about the Grizzlies? Here is an exerpt from their NBA coverage of last nights game:

The Grizzlies will play their fourth game in as many days on Monday as they play the San Antonio Spurs in the final game at Thomas & Mack.

They were so close to getting that information right. It isn't the Grizzlies last game (they play the Clippers on Wednesday night).

Sunday Night Party: It was a lot of fun seeing everyone at the Buffalo Wild Wings last night. About 20 people showed up including the 3 SOB crowd sans MemphisX (he doesn't like to be seen in public with the rest of us), Memphis Slim, HPTMatt, The NoG crowd of CircleK, Commodore 64, Zac and PMI (I suppose it isn't a shameless plug to promote NoG), NancyW, GrizzLifer, GrizzBoyd, Mr Wright and True Blue (with some beautiful friends by the way), the poster formerly known as Grizzman (who was barely recognizable after losing 70 pounds - Can you say Jarret) and of course the resident Grizzlies experts Chris Herrington and East Memphis Bob. It was frustrating the team didn't play better but the conversation was lively and interesting.

Darko Update: One conversation in particular made me think last night. Someone asked if Serbia was in the pre-Olympic basketball tournament. I said no because I didn't think they were. I now found an article that supports that contention: Pre-Olympic teams. Darko is playing on his national team this summer but in a Euro Cup qualifier not the Olympic qualifier. Hope that helps clear things up.

Grizz Week of Events

The Grizzlies have "Grizz Week" going on leading up to Opening Night vs. the Spurs next week. They have events all over town, including tonights game, leading up to the first game. Here are the events...

TONIGHT: 6:00 pm The Grizzlies Blog Party! Held inside beautiful FedEx Forum at the Jack Daniels Old #7 Bar and Restaurant, the Blog party looks to become the place to meet other Grizzlies posters, bloggers and media personalities before the game. Talk hoops and have some fun! And I might add that this event is only being held downtown. No catering to those rich East Memphis types!!!

Okay that isn't actually a Grizz Week sponsored event but come anyway to support the team. This is the rematch with Mike Conley's hometown team and we owe them one. At the last blog party Chris Herrington from the Memphis Flyer (an excellent blog writer I might add) was there and we really got deep on what was going down with the Grizz (and no I can't talk jive).

Now back to the official Grizz Events Planning previously scheduled.

Saturday, October 27
Saturday, the Grizzlies will be holding another Block Party at Dalstrom Park in Whitehaven from 2 – 4 p.m., with appearances by Andre Brown and Hakim Warrick.

Monday, October 29
The Grizzlies will host the annual Tip-Off Luncheon, an event allowing fans to rub shoulders with all Grizzlies players and coaches. Tables for the Tip-Off Luncheon are still available, and information on how to purchase a table can be found on grizzlies.com.

Monday, October 29
The Grizzlies will also be taking it to the streets Monday and Tuesday with drive time blitzes. Grizzlies staff members will be at the following locations giving out posters, pocket schedules and other items:

Monday, Oct. 29: 7 – 8:30 a.m. at E. Parkway and Sam Cooper Blvd.
4:30 – 6:30 p.m. at Highland and Poplar Ave.

Tuesday, Oct. 30: 7 – 8:30 a.m. at the Harbortown Roundabout
11:30 a.m. – Noon at Main Street and Gayoso

Tuesday, October 30
Downtown pep rally at Peabody Place mall on Tuesday, Oct. 30, from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. The pep rally will feature players, team mascot Grizz and the dance team, and will get fans excited about the opening of the 2007-08 season.

Wednesday, Oct 31
Another unofficial Grizz event but one that sounds like a blast is the Grizzlies Zombie Walk. If you got a hold of Kyle Knox by Tueday you could have received free tickets to the game. If not you can still go walking in Memphis with a bunch of zombies roaming around and having fun. What more could you ask for on Halloween? You don't even have to buy the costume!

Finally one hour before kickoff we will be having another Unofficial Grizzlies Blog Party. Whoever shows up in the best costume will win a great Grizz prize. And by great I mean whatever I can talk Andy Dolich into giving to us for free.

So come on out and celebrate with the Grizzlies.

UPDATE: Come meet Mike Conley on Saturday afternoon, October 27

4:00pm – 5:00pm

City Gear, 4641 American Way
American Way & Perkins Rd., just south of the Perkins Road exit off of I-240

Links: SLAM, Dime Magazine, Battier speaks, Picking up options, Live Blog, Reminder

I listed a lot of previews yesterday and over the past few weeks as well. I think the one done by SLAM Online takes the prize as best of the best though. Rather than just assuming they know about the Grizzlies, Aggrey Sam actually does know about them. He displays a keen insight into the team and makes valid, well-thought-out conclusions based on observation. Either that, or he's been probing my mind while I sleep. Example:

Then there’s the underappreciate, albeit underskilled, Brian “The Custodian” Cardinal, who should be a steady veteran influence on the young squad.

That's the kind of thing I have yet to see on any other preview, outside of our own work here on Shades of Blue. Nice work, indeed.

Dime Magazine gave some much-deserved props to Kyle Lowry for his big performance last night in Houston.

There were two Commercial Appeal articles of note, too.

The first is an interview with former Grizzly Shane Battier that gets his thoughts on the current roster in Memphis. He didn't shy away from praising former teammate Pau Gasol:
Battier said having Gasol healthy -- physically and mentally -- catapults the Griz into a team to be reckoned with despite its overall youth.

"Pau is a lot more mentally stronger than most people give him credit for," Battier said. "I played with him for five years, and he's a tough guy who really wants to win.
"He wants to do the right thing. He wants to be a leader. He wants to be the guy for the team. He's worked really hard to get to that point and erase the memories of last year."

As always, Shane comes across as the ultimate class act that he is.

The second article is a bit of business news, as the Grizzlies picked up the options on a few young players: Kyle Lowry, Hakim Warrick and Rudy Gay. Good to see that we'll be keeping these guys around for a little bit longer.

Chris Herrington promises to Live Blog tonight on Beyond the Arc, so I don't feel too bad about being at the game and leaving all of you without my commentary and insights. He also has a nice recap of last night's game, so go check it out.

Finally, don't forget about our first ever Shades of Blue Blog Party, as we take over the back half of Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 Restaurant inside FedEx Forum. Drop by and say hi. We won't bite.

Grizzlies BLOG Party

The boys from S.O.B. have decided it is time to meet our readers. We are going to try and take over the back half of the Jack Daniels Old #7 restaurant/bar in FedEx Forum from 6:00 pm to tipoff (or just before).

Now is a great chance to put faces to names and talk basketball or whatever you want. It is obviously an ala carte party so don't plan on us picking up the tab. After all we are just poor bloggers (so far).

Come meet Spartacus, Zack and Chipc3 and get primed for the big game against Battier and the Rockets. Let's see if we can 'upset' this mayor unlike the last election.

We'd like to make this a pre-game tradition so don't leave us all alone. It would be so humiliating...like some of PMI's trade ideas!

Feel free to leave a comment if you plan on being there so we can keep an eye out for you.

Update (by Zack): In typical fashion, I won't be able to make it. Though I'll most likely be following the game via some Chinese broadcast of the game if possible. I wonder how one says "Shane Battier Memorial Baseline Jumper" in Chinese? Don't forget to pick me up a free Shane Battier poster.....what? Those won't be given out this time?!? Actually I just read that it won't be on TV anywhere!?! Guess I'll be listening to the Eric on the radio then...