SDH's 2013/2014 NBA Worst to First Previews and Predictions: 17. Memphis Grizzlies

+Memphis Grizzlies Overall Win/Loss Record :  56-26  second place Southwest division	Last Season’s Rank 3	Projected 2013/2014 Finish 17
Last season’s Team Statistics and League Rank Points Scored: 93.4 (26th) Points Allowed: 89.3 (1st) Team FG%: .444 (21st) Opponent’s FG%: .435 (3rd) Team FT%: .773 (10th) Team Three Point FG%: .345 (24th) Rebounds per game: 42.7 (11th) Opponents rebounds per game: 39.1 (1st) Turnovers per game: 13.2 (14th) Opponents turnovers per game: 14.7 (7th)	Returning Individual Statistical Leaders Scoring (ppg): Zach Randolph (15.4) Rebounds per game:  Zach Randolph (11.2) Minutes per game: +Marc Gasol  (35.0) Assists per game:  Mike Conley (6.1) Field Goal Percentage: Ed Davis (.539) Free Throw Percentage:  Marc Gasol (.850)   Three Point FG Percentage: Quincy Pondexter (.395) Steals per game:  Mike Conley (2.2) Blocked Shots per game:   Marc Gasol (1.7)
Projected Starters Based on Talent, Tenure, Paycheck and Potential Impact: C. Marc Gasol PF. Zach Randolph SF. +Tayshaun Prince  SG. Tony Allen PG. Mike Conley	Second Unit Roster Order Ranked on Talent, Tenure, Paycheck and Potential Impact: G. +Jerryd Bayless  C. Kosta Koufos F/C. Ed Davis F. +Quincy Pondexter  F/G. Mike Miller
Analysis: Last season Memphis was the talk of the NBA when they not only won a franchise record 56, bot they also beat not just one, but of of the Western Conference's top teams in the playoffs eventually falling to the +San Antonio Spurs in the Conference Finals.  Now they return into this season with a new coach and just about the same team as least season; unfortunately, what the Grizzlies did not return with is the chance to accomplish that feat again.  Last season Memphis was considered as one of the top teams in the league, but that is not the case anymore as numerous teams in the West have upgraded dramatically in the off season.  One of their chief rivals in their division, the +Houston Rockets were capable of claiming the summer's biggest prize in free agency in center +Dwight Howard and alongside fellow +NBA All Star +James Harden thus shattering any advantage that the Grizzlies had in maintaining the second place finish they had last season.  In addition to Houston's resurgence as a title contender, both the +Portland Trail Blazers and +Minnesota Timberwolves--two team that were once at the bottom of the West--look to make some noise in the west with their own bevy of off season moves which will certainly put Memphis to shame once opening tip off arrives. The Blazers had been very active in the off season bolstering their entire roster starting with the addition of center Robin Lopez whom they acquired in a trade with the +New Orleans Pelicans to play alongside their All Star power forward +LaMarcus Aldridge in the starting lineup.  In addition to that, Portland went about to upgrading a bench that ranked among the worst in the league by adding veterans capable of giving the firepower that the Blazers lacked throughout the season.  The team signed veteran scoring combo guard Mo Williams, sharp shooting swing man +Dorell Wright who played last season for the +Philadelphia 76ers, and fifth overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, former + University of Kansas Jayhawk Thomas Robinson.  Add such an outstanding bench to a starting five that consists of reigning Rookie of the Year +Damian Lillard, a two time All Star in Aldridge, and potential All Star in +Nicolas Batum, the Blazers look to climb out the hole they made in 2012 and steal a few wins away from the Grizzlies thus pulling them even further down the standings. Memphis' post season prospects get even worse as not only the Blazers will come in completely revamped and ready to give them a pounding, but also have to fear the Minnesota Timberwolves who not made a huge splash in the off season just acquiring veteran shooting guard and scorer Kevin Martin along with a talented swing man in +Corey Brewer, but also will return with their team healthy and intact come opening tip off.  Both +Kevin Love, who had earned himself a reputation as not only one of the premier scorers but also one of the premier rebounders in the league, and third year point guard and potential All Star +Ricky Rubio are healthy and cleared to play for the pre season.  They will joined by the newly signed Nikola Pekovic, the center who carried the Wolves while Love was nursing his wounds on the sidelines as he led the team in scoring, rebounds and blocked shots thus giving the Wolves a rather imposing front court to say the least.  Join those three with returning players such as the high flying acrobatic +Chase Buddinger,  all purpose swing man off the bench Dante Cunningham, the pint sized sharpshooting JJ Barea, and the second overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft, Derrick Williams, the Wolves will also make the situation tighter for the Grizzlies as the season wears on.   From the way things look right now, Memphis might not even make the playoffs with Houston all but ready to run over them for second place in the Southwest Division, but also having two very young, talented and hungry teams behind them looking to devour them--talk about being in between a ROCK and a HARD PLACE!! To worsen matters, the Grizzlies did little or anything to upgrade their roster for the upcoming season other than picking up center Kosta Koufos to back up their All Star center in Marc Gasol and signing a washed up and over the hill Mike Miller, whom the +Miami HEAT released using the league's "amnesty clause." In his three seasons in Miami, Miller was essentially a non factor as old age and his numerous injuries have stripped away whatever athleticism and playing ability that he still has and upon signing him, the Grizzlies touted him as the team's answer in the perimeter. Miller's presence, or lack there of, will certainly not help a Grizzlies team that ranked DEAD LAST in the league in three point field goal percentage nor does it improve the fact that they have no real threat from the perimeter to balance the strong post presence provided by the beefy tandem of Zach Randoplh and Marc Gasol.  Last season Randolph led the team in scoring and rebounds per game, but at the age of 33 he is not getting any younger and the older he gets, the less chance he will be able to perform at the same level.  Watch him and Gasol carry even more of a burden that last season as the Grizzlies have virtually have no one else on that lineup to help stretch the floor as their back court players neither have the capability to come up big nor do they give opponents much of a fear factor coming into the season. That is what the Grizzlies had in +Rudy Gay --a guy who made opponents thinks twice to crowd the paint by either making them pay on the perimeter or take it to them to the basket; sadly, however, the Grizzlies did not see that when they shipped him off to the +Toronto Raptors for a bunch of used and run down spare parts.  At 33 years old, Tayshaun Prince will never fill in the void that Rudy Gay left as he has already reached his peak and can no longer provide the huge scoring punch that he once gave while playing for the +Detroit Pistons during their glory years.  With the team that they have now who has an inability to score on the outside despite having a solid presence in the paint, it is doubtful that they will reach fifty games, let alone return to the post season with all the stronger competition they will face.  The may still remain one of the league's best defensive team especially when it come it protecting the rim and forcing turnovers; however, it's pretty use to have such strengths on the defensive end without having the ability to convert on the other side of the court.  With the Grizzlies' dependence on two slow big men to generate a bulk of the team's offensive production, expect a slow plodding Memphis attack with few opportunities to push the ball for easy scorers which will in turn potentially doom the Grizzlies out of playoff contention.