Memphis Grizzlies 2012 NBA Season Preview:
The Grizzlies kept the roster intact from last year’s amazing playoff run when they resigned their fantastic young center Marc Gasol. Now they enter the year in a wide-open Western Conference with Gasol, forward Zach Randolph and the returning small forward Rudy Gay, whose early exit thanks to a shoulder injury left many to wonder if the Grizzlies’ Western Conference Finals run is just the beginning of a long run of playoff wins. But while their frontcourt is set, how far they will go will depend on the team’s guard play. Mike Conley and Toney Allen bubbled up last year and provided both strength in bringing up the ball and defending. If they can maintain their stats from 2010-11, and even add a few points and steals along the way, the Grizzlies are a team to look out for in the Western Conference.
Recommended Grizzlies Games
Grizzlies vs. Dallas Mavericks (February 29 & April 7) The defending NBA champs drop by FedEx Forum for a visit.
Grizzlies vs. Los Angeles Lakers (March 13) Grizzlies fans hope to have Kobe and the Lakers signing the blues.
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES FRANCHISE FACTS:
Founded: 1995
Location: Memphis, Tennessee
Stadium: FedEx Forum
Conference: Western Conference
Division: Southwest Division
Mascot: Grizz
Dancers: Grizzlies Dance Team
Notable Players: Pau Gasol
Memphis Grizzlies Championship Titles: 0
Memphis Grizzlies Conference Titles: 0
See Also:
Memphis Grizzlies Playoff tickets
Memphis Grizzlies Season Preview History
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES EXPERIENCE:
The Memphis Grizzlies have slowly been built into a contender in the Western Conference throughout the 2000s, but the team has experienced some serious growing pains since entering the league in 1996. The Grizzlies began play in Vancouver and joined the Toronto Raptors as the NBA's venture to expand into the Canadian market. After making forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim their first overall pick during the 1996 draft, the Grizzlies followed the typical format of expansion teams and made little to no impact during their first season. While the squad was starting to build a solid foundation with point guard Mike Bibby during the 1998-99 season, the NBA lockout during the 1999-2000 season saw the team lose a majority of its fans and ownership began searching for a way to move to the United States.
The 2000-2001 season was the last the Grizzlies played in Vancouver before they moved to Memphis, Tennessee. While the team only posted a 23-59 record during their first year in the US, there was reason for excitement, as first round draft pick Pau Gasol won Rookie of the Year honors. After a few substandard finishes in the following years, the Grizzlies finally broke through during the 2003-04 season when they made the playoffs for the first time. Unfortunately, the team ran into the defending champion San Antonio Spurs in the playoffs and were swept in four games.
The franchise moved to a new arena called the FedEx Forum during the 2004-05 season, and the city of Memphis had renewed optimism about the state of its franchise. The team would make the playoffs, but would yet again fail to record a single win during the postseason. After a significant injury to Pau Gasol during the 2006-07 season, the team floundered and went through a serious roster overhaul in successive years.
Hoping to bring some star power to Memphis, the Grizzlies signed former MVP Allen Iverson before the 2009-2010 season, but he never made a significant impact and was released. However, the team began assembling a strong core of young talent and role players during the season to become an extremely competitive ball club in the Western Conference. Memphis has certainly been kind to the Grizzlies, and they seem poised to finally achieve the success that eluded them since beginning play in Vancouver. With a rabid fanbase and a front office that's committed to winning, the Grizzlies look to be a contender for years to come.
Memphis Grizzlies Ticket Information:
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