The Memphis Grizzlies aren't good. Like, not good like the St. Louis Rams. Crappy like the Phoenix Coyotes. Sucky like your sister-in-law's Thanksgiving cranberry sauce.
Thus far this season, the 2009-10 Grizzlies, led by second-year and second-stint head coach Lionel Hollins, are 5-9, which includes a 1-6 mark on the road. They could very well match their 24-58 record of last year.
So, are there any reasons to pay attention to this ghastly club when it comes to US Airways Center for a game tonight against the Suns? Definitely. Despite the sub-.500 record, Memphis has improved. They have a bunch of young talent, like shooting guard O.J. Mayo, who Phoenix-area folks may remember from his USC days when he and James Harden -- the ex-ASU Sun Devil and current Oklahoma City Thunder member -- squared off in epic Pac-10 battles. There are also dudes like former Connecticut standout Rudy Gay, who averages close to 22 points per game, and starting center Marc Gasol, the younger brother of Los Angeles Lakers stud Pau Gasol.
Memphis' early-season struggles seem to be more about growing pains than the franchise's history of losing. It also helps that the always toxic Allen Iverson, who only played three games with Memphis, left the team on November 7 for "personal reasons" (read: He had to go home and be all dramatic). That led to Memphis sending dude away for good by terminating his contract nine days later. However, bottom line is that the Suns, who are tied with Atlanta and Orlando for a league-best 11-3 record, should roll big time in this one.
The game tips off at 7 p.m. TV: Fox Sports Arizona. Radio: KTAR-AM 620. More info: www.nba.com/suns.
