Just how much are the Grizzlies all in on making a strong playoff push?
All one needs to look at is management's move to multiply the team's experience in a major way.
A year ago today, the Grizzlies took the court with two players having appeared in a grand total of 20 playoff games. The roster suddenly is more robust with postseason familiarity as the Griz prepare to face the San Antonio Spurs -- a possible first-round opponent -- tonight in FedExForum.
While it might not seem significant in comparison to their direct Western Conference opponents, the otherwise youthful Griz now have four players with a combined 169 games of playoff experience playing significant minutes.
The Griz went to battle with Zach Randolph and Marcus Williams as the only playoff-tested players during the latter stages of the regular season last year. Randolph (eight playoff games) is now aided by Shane Battier (38), Tony Allen (56) and Jason Williams (67) as the Griz attempt to earn a postseason berth for the first time since 2006.
"That's extremely important," Griz general manager Chris Wallace said. "Not only are there more options, but there's experience that's been around winning. Those guys have been there. They've seen everything. They are not going to get rattled. And your younger players understand they've been there as well. It's something they know and respect. We've got a good group of young players, but at some point in time we had to get older."If the Griz add forward Leon Powe, that would give them 28 more games of playoff experience. Powe is expected to clear waivers today after Cleveland released him last week, and Memphis is one of the teams he's seriously considering.
The Griz are interested in Powe as well as a few other buyout candidates. Wallace said the Griz intend to add another veteran power forward who can also play center if they can find the right fit.
"If you're going to be a good team," Wallace said, "you've got to have various weapons."
Either way, the Griz are markedly more equipped to take a giant step toward satisfying team owner Michael Heisley's playoff guarantee.
"We are getting better," Griz coach Lionel Hollins said. "When you add veteran players that have been on a championship level, the communication is better. They help people that don't communicate, and they are in the rotation. Adding Tony Allen, adding Shane and J-Will was needed for our young players in order to really go forward."
Grizzlies vs. Spurs
When, where: 7 p.m. today at FedExForum
TV, radio: SportSouth, WRBO-FM 103.5
Image: Darren Abate, Associated Press
Source: www.commercialappeal.com
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