Props to J-Dub

[Nick Douglas]

Dunno if anybody had Memphis on the moneyline tonight. If you did, congrats. I thought Sacramento looked solid because of the scattered play of Williams.

Jason Williams played like an absolute All-Star tonight. In fact, he has played great all season. He lost his top scoring threat in Dickerson early but he is keeping this team competitive along with some nice help from two solid rooks and unsung guys like Buford and Wright. My point is that a lot of people buried this guy as being too wild or selfish on the court but he is a fierce competitor with a work ethic beyond reproach. I think once Dickerson comes back this team will have a lot of value, especially against teams that struggle with perimeter defense. Those of you with satellite packages should check out Memphis when you get a chance because this team, and especially Jason Williams, are much better than they get credit for and I am sure their record will improve a lot once Dickerson returns.

 

[Hoops]

Grizz have lost 9 of their 13 games by 9pts or more. I wouldn't call that very competetive.

Williams had a nice flurry to finish tonight's game, but he is hardly playing all-star caliber basketball, and will never be an all-star type player. He is shooting his usual percentage this season..under 40%...from the free-throw line 67%...assists are nice at almost 8 per game..scoring is up a tad at 14ppg, but turnovers are atrocious, 4 per game, doubling his average from last season...and his defense continues to be poor.

He is a player that can be brilliant during certain stretches..make some of the most breathtaking passes and dribble moves you'll ever see...then make the most terrible decisions possible and be a negative for a good portion of the game. Until he harnesses his game and gains some type of consistency and better decision-making skills, he'll always be a decent player, but nowhere near the level of the top point guards in the league. His attitude and off the court antics also leave plenty to be desired.

 

[jng]

Jason wanted to stick it in Sacramento's ear.

He did.

Unfortunately, he nailed many of us at the same time.

He is an erratic player who will come up big when the Griz play the Kings and probably against a few other Western teams.

 

[Nick Douglas]

I agree that Williams needs discipline. I do think that the final scores of the Grizzlies games have been deceiving. In watching them, they have been leading in the fourth or at least very competitive in most of those losses.

Williams definitely needs to reign in the turnovers. Didn't check the stats but watching the game he had very few that I recall. His shooting percentage is also very weak and I know he missed a ton of shots tonight. I think with Dickerson back and healthy that will change a lot.

Bottom line for me is that I like the guy and I think people that wrote him off and said that Sacramento got a steal with Bibby should give him a chance with a healthy sqaud behind him. Also the main point is that when Dickerson comes back in a few weeks this should be a team with a lot of value.

 

[alb]

Hey Nick, I don't know what games you have been watchin but Williams has been looking like an idiot in about 80% of the games this year!

P.S. Thankfully, cause I've been cashing in.

 

[alb]

P.S. The killer for me is I am from Canada and I still think of Griz as a west homeboy team........but fact still remains they SUCK!

 

[GM]

I've got the Directv/NBA package and I've watched about 5 Memphis games this year. I'm not impressed at all. This team may as well be an expansion team, because except for Williams they're basically starting at scratch. And they've got a whole lot of cap room tied up in that stiff Big Country. Next to the Raptors signing Michael Stewart for $24 million for six years and then permanently putting him on IR, Country's contract is the worst decision I've seen an NBA general manager make in a long time. They're depending on 2 rookies, Gasol and Battier, to lead them. How are rookies supposed to learn how to play the game with no good veterans at all to lead them and teach them? Most games I've seen, Williams has been pretty much a non-factor. This team's a joke, plain and simple.

I DO want Memphis to do well this year. I've got a pretty decent-sized future bet pending on Memphis Over 18 Wins this year. I figured there was no way they could be worse than they were in their expansion years. But they've really let me down thus far, and I'm thinking unless a lot of teams (like Sac did tonight) take them for granted my money is gone.