I watched the Memphis Grizzlies play professional basketball last night. Or, at least I think I did. I saw the Grizzlies thoroughly whip another supposedly professional team, the Sacramento Kings. It was a weird game. The Grizzlies didn’t have Zach Randolph. Mike Conley was coming back from injury and wasn’t starting. The Kings’ Demarcus Cousins was plotting a murder-for-hire scheme involving his coach, Paul Westphaul. Here are some thoughts from what I saw that may or may not be real. I will let you decide what is genuine and what is an illusion.
1. The Grizzlies are one of the best teams in the history of the NBA. They will score more points than anyone else at relative ease and toy with their prey before easily dispatching them in the second half.
2. The Grizzlies’ most important player is Mike Conley.
3. The Sacramento Kings are really an AND-1 team posing as an NBA team this year. They have 17 shooting guards and Crazy Cousins.
4. Marc Gasol may fall asleep during a game because he is so tired.
5. Sam Young makes O.J. Mayo and Xavier Henry unnecessary.
6. Zach Randolph can be replaced.
7. The Grizzlies are not a great defensive unit.
8. Jeremy Pargo is one of the best free agent signings Chris Wallace ever made.
9. The Grizzlies need Rudy Gay to be an All-Star.
10. In order for the Grizzlies to compete for a championship they need to work the ball inside rather than rely on dribble penetration.
1—dreamer
2—–50%
3—–80
4—–50
5—–70
6—70
7—-80
8—80
9—-100
10—-90
————
67%
1. Illusion
2. Real
3. Funny, but an illusion.
4. Real
5. You might be on to something.
6. Illusion
7. Real
8. Real so far.
9. No way, but it sure helps.
10. Real – and complete opposite from what the Memphis Tigers should do.
So we get to see both play tonight? At a bar? With beer and good food?