History of the Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee.
1995–2001: Vancouver Grizzlies
The
Relocation to Memphis
The Vancouver Grizzlies applied with the NBA to relocate to Memphis on March 26, 2001, and it was granted. This led to the Grizzlies became the first major professional sports team from the "big four" major pro sports leagues to permanently play its home games in Memphis, as well as leaving the Toronto Raptors to be the only Canadian basketball team in the NBA. Memphis became the easternmost city in the Western Conference. In their first three seasons in Memphis, the Grizzlies played their home games at the Pyramid Arena.
2001–2008: The Pau Gasol era
In the
Brown won the NBA Coach of the Year Award during the next season when the Grizzlies made the NBA playoffs for the first time in team history in 2004 as the sixth seed in the Western Conference in a drastic change from being perennially one of the worst teams in the NBA. They also won a then record 50 games under Gasol and Williams. In the playoffs they faced the San Antonio Spurs, who swept them out of the playoffs in four games.
2004–2007: Departure of Jason Williams, draft
Brown stepped down as head coach during the 2004–05 NBA season. At the time of his resignation, the Grizzlies had a losing record but West hired
With their record they had the fifth seed in the Western Conference playoffs and would face the Dallas Mavericks, who swept the Grizzlies in 4 games.
Following the
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2007–2010: Struggles and the Climb Back to Relevancy
The Grizzlies finished the 2006–07 season with a league-worst 22–60 record, and Jerry West announced his resignation from his position as the team's general manager shortly after the end of the regular season. The team also hired Marc Iavaroni, who was previously with the Phoenix Suns as an assistant coach, to be the team's new head coach. Despite the last-place finish, the Grizzlies, who held the best chance of landing the first pick, ended up with the fourth pick in the 2007 NBA draft, with which the Grizzlies selected Mike Conley Jr.
On June 18, 2007, the Grizzlies named former
On January 22, 2009, head coach Marc Iavaroni was fired and replaced on an interim basis by assistant coach Johnny Davis for two games. Lionel Hollins was named the Grizzlies' permanent head coach on January 25, 2009.[5]
On June 25, 2009, with the second overall pick in the NBA Draft, Memphis selected Hasheem Thabeet, then selected DeMarre Carroll with the 27th overall pick. On September 9, 2009, the Grizzlies signed free agent Allen Iverson to a one-year, $3.5 million deal. He only played three games (none in Memphis) before he left for "personal problems". He was then waived by the Grizzlies.[6][7] Following Iverson's departure, the Grizzlies improved. With new acquisition Zach Randolph playing at an All-Star level, Marc Gasol's improvement, and a commitment to defense, the Grizzlies were in playoff contention for much of the 2009–10 NBA season, before finishing 10th in the Western Conference with a win–loss record of 40–42.
2010–2017: Grit and Grind era
Going into the 2010–11 season the Grizzlies celebrated the tenth year of basketball in Memphis. The season started with tremendous enthusiasm by the fan base in the Memphis area. Although the Grizzlies and their fans were celebrating the tenth season, the Grizzlies were also cheering for the 8th spot in the
The team became known locally and nationally for its "Grit and Grind"-style of basketball which means disruptive defense through high pressure on the ball (they were the team with the most steals per game in 2010–11) and their inside-out offense (they were the highest scoring team in the paint also). The Grizzlies achieved several firsts in franchise history during the
The team re-signed Marc Gasol, and Hamed Haddadi after the 2010–11 season.[12]
The Grizzlies found their way back into the post-season for the second time in six years in the 2011–12 NBA season after a 103–91 home victory over the New Orleans Hornets on April 18, 2012. They finished the 2011–12 season with a 41–25 record, 4th in the Western Conference. However, they were eliminated in the first round by the Los Angeles Clippers in seven games.
During the 2012 off-season, the Grizzlies drafted Tony Wroten with the 25th overall pick. Their biggest signing in effort to improve their bench was bringing in Jerryd Bayless. They also acquired Wayne Ellington from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Dante Cunningham.
On June 11, 2012,
On January 23, 2013, the Grizzlies acquired Jon Leuer from the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Marreese Speights, Wayne Ellington, Josh Selby, and a future first-round pick.[19] On January 30, 2013, the Grizzlies traded Rudy Gay and Hamed Haddadi to the Toronto Raptors in a three team deal also involving the Detroit Pistons. The Grizzlies acquired Tayshaun Prince and Austin Daye from the Pistons and Ed Davis and a future second-round pick from the Raptors.[20]
At the end of the season, Memphis finished with their best franchise record of 56–26, 2nd in the Division and as the 5th seed in the Playoffs. Also, Marc Gasol was NBA Defensive Player of the Year. In the opening round, Memphis defeated the Los Angeles Clippers in 6 Games after trailing in the series 0–2. This avenged their defeat from the previous year at the hands of the Clippers. Memphis then went on to the Western Conference finals for the first time in franchise history when they defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 4–1 in their semi-finals series. This was a rematch of their meeting in the 2011 NBA Playoffs, which the Thunder won in 7 games. However, the Grizzlies' season ended in the conference finals as they were swept by the eventual conference champions, San Antonio Spurs in yet another rematch/reversal from the 2011 NBA Playoffs.
The Grizzlies struggled to begin the 2013–14 season, starting out at 14–18 with Marc Gasol out, and entered the All-Star break with a win–loss record of 29–23. They went 21-9 after, finishing in 3rd place in the Southwest division and in 7th place in the Western Conference with a win–loss record of 50–32, including a 14-game winning streak at FedExForum. They faced the Oklahoma City Thunder in the playoffs and had a record four straight overtimes from games 2–5, going 3–1 in the overtimes. The Grizzlies fell 4–3, despite an effort by Gasol in game 7 without Zach Randolph after he was suspended for punching Thunder center Steven Adams in game 6.
On October 29, 2014, the Grizzlies defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 105-101 for the franchise's first victory in a season opener since 2000, the year before the team moved to Memphis.[21] In the 2014–15 NBA season, the Grizzlies made the NBA playoffs as the 5th seed in the Western Conference. In the first round, the Grizzlies defeated the Portland Trail Blazers in five games. Games 4 and 5 were played without Mike Conley Jr., who in Game 3 suffered multiple facial fractures in a collision with Blazers guard CJ McCollum. In the second round, they found themselves facing off against the top seeded Golden State Warriors and MVP Stephen Curry. The Warriors took Game 1, and Conley returned in Game 2 to lead the Grizzlies to a 108–95 victory. Memphis took a 2–1 series lead before Golden State ultimately dispatched the Grizzlies in 6 games.
On April 1, 2016, the Grizzlies signed their 28th player for the season, an NBA record.[22]
References
- ^ Springer, Shira (2007-06-19). "GM Wallace joins Grizzlies". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2007-11-22.
- ^ "Grizzlies name Gene Bartow President of Hoops LP". NBA.com. 2007-08-16. Retrieved 2007-11-22.
- ^ "In dire need of frontcourt help, Lakers acquire Gasol from Grizzlies". ESPN.com. February 3, 2008. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
- ^ "Gasol dealt to Lakers in blockbuster trade". Los Angeles Lakers. February 1, 2008. Retrieved February 2, 2008.
- ^ Tillery, Ronald (January 25, 2009). "Grizzlies introduce Lionel Hollins as new coach". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
- ^ Aldridge, David (November 17, 2009). "Iverson, Grizzlies part ways after tumultuous start". National Basketball Association. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
- ^ "Allen Iverson, Memphis Grizzlies agree to terminate contract". ESPN.com. November 17, 2009. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
- ^ "Randolph, Conley lead Grizzlies past Kings 101–96". Yahoo! Sports. Associated Press. April 9, 2011. Retrieved April 9, 2011.
- ^ "Grizzlies pull away from top-seeded Spurs to seize 3–1 series lead". ESPN. Associated Press. April 26, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
- ^ "Grizzlies hold on, win series 4–2 to stun top-seeded Spurs". ESPN. April 30, 2011. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
- ^ "Thunder oust Grizzlies as Kevin Durant answers bell with 39-point Game 7". ESPN. May 16, 2011. Retrieved May 16, 2011.
- ^ "HoopsHype – NBA Salaries – Memphis Grizzlies". USA Today Sports. April 28, 2015. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
- ^ Solomon, Brian. "No. 10: Robert Pera – In Photos: Youngest Billionaires in the World – Forbes". Forbes. Archived from the original on March 10, 2012.
- ^ "Heisley agrees to sell Grizzlies to billionaire Pera". National Basketball Association. Associated Press. June 11, 2012. Archived from the original on June 15, 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
- ^ Stein, Marc (June 11, 2012). "Deal for Grizzlies reached". ESPN. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
- ^ "Grizzlies sale to Robert Pera approved by NBA Board of Governors". Memphis Grizzlies. October 25, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
- ^ Windhorst, Brian (October 25, 2012). "Owners approve sale of Grizzlies". ESPN. Retrieved November 7, 2012.
- ^ "Grizzlies name Jason Levien Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner". Memphis Grizzlies. November 4, 2012. Retrieved November 7, 2012.
- ^ "Grizzlies trade Marreese Speights, Josh Selby to Cavaliers". Archived from the original on 2013-07-25. Retrieved 2016-09-09.
- ^ "Grizzlies trade Rudy Gay to Raptors in three-team deal with Pistons".
- ^ Bailey, Clay (October 30, 2014). "Gasol powers Memphis past Minnesota 105-101". National Basketball Association. Archived from the original on December 21, 2014. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
- ^ "And you are? Griz to set mark with 28th player". ESPN.com. April 2016. Retrieved 2016-04-01.