How about them Memphis Grizzly Bears?

[BigAlTheFuture]

This team is flying under the radar but they have the 8th seed in the West and is totally dominating San Antonio right now. They have a nice young squad with Rudy Gay leading the way. I could see this team developing into a consistent playoff team down the road. Would love to see them make a good run in the playoffs and upset some teams. I could see them climbing up to the 5th seed in the West by the time the season ends. Anybody else see this team as a threat come playoff time?

[Celtics4ever]

I really dislike Chris Wallace the GM and his tenure here.   Not to mention giving the Lakers Gasol for a pile of wood chips.

[MetroGlobe]

Tony Parker is out 3-4 weeks.  So while it's still impressive that Memphis is working the Spurs over, it's a little less so considering their best (arguably) player is out.

Speaking of Parker being out, wonder if they can hold the top seed if he's out for that long?

[letsgoblue86]

Probably not, the west is just too strong.  Their first round playoff matchup will be either San Antonio, Dallas, OKC, or the Lakers (all not very favorable).  Although they have given the Lakers trouble the last couple of years.

[BigAlTheFuture]

Tony Parker is out 3-4 weeks.  So while it's still impressive that Memphis is working the Spurs over, it's a little less so considering their best (arguably) player is out.

Speaking of Parker being out, wonder if they can hold the top seed if he's out for that long?

I think they can. I don't see Dallas or LA catching up to them. They may come close but not pass them.

[CelticSooner]

Tony Parker is out 3-4 weeks.  So while it's still impressive that Memphis is working the Spurs over, it's a little less so considering their best (arguably) player is out.

Speaking of Parker being out, wonder if they can hold the top seed if he's out for that long?

They play Miami and LA this week as well. That could very well be two more losses.

[greenpride32]

Tony Parker is out 3-4 weeks.  So while it's still impressive that Memphis is working the Spurs over, it's a little less so considering their best (arguably) player is out.

Speaking of Parker being out, wonder if they can hold the top seed if he's out for that long?

I think they can. I don't see Dallas or LA catching up to them. They may come close but not pass them.

SAS has a really tough stretch coming up with games against MIA (in fact 2), LAL, DAL, and HOU.  Tonight's just one game but it will be interesting to see how they fare w/o Parker.  Remember when DAL lost Dirk and they started dropping games left and right to bottom tier teams.

[pearljammer10]

Its nice to see them doing so well after so many years in shambles. They are a pretty exciting team and they're somewhat easy root for, for me anyway. Randolph, Gay, Conley, and Mayo are all exciting players. Gasol is a nice building block and well, TA has a special spot in the root for column i guess. They wont do much in the playoffs but its nice to see them playing well.

[Rondo9dunx]

NOOOOOO! IT'S RUDY GAY! NOT HIM, NOT HIM...NOOOOOOOOOO FREAKIN RUDY GAY MAN!


classic.

[KG Living Legend]

 So WHATS UP WITH CHRIS CELTIC KILLA WALLACE?

 THAT JERK. WHAT WAS HE DIONG VIN BAKER, WHAT?

 KEDRICK BROWN WHO PLAYED AT THE HISTORIC OKALOOSA WALTON JUNIOR COLLEGE. 1ST JUCO PLAYER EVER TAKEN IN THE 1ST ROUND.

 AND JOE "MY MAN FORTE" FIRST TIME I SAW HIM IN REAL LIFE,

 I THOUGHT TO MYSELF "WHAT A LITTLE WIMP, I WOULD KICK THE CRAP OUT OF HIM AND HE WAS BARELY OVER SIX FEET.

 WE PASSED ON GUYS LIKE TROY MURPHY, AND RICHARD JEFFERSON.

 AND NOW WALLACE LOOKS LIKE DANNY FREAKIN AINGE OR SOMETHING.

   GO FIGURE.

[Rondo9dunx]

 So WHATS UP WITH CHRIS CELTIC KILLA WALLACE?

 THAT JERK. WHAT WAS HE DIONG VIN BAKER, WHAT?

 KEDRICK BROWN WHO PLAYED AT THE HISTORIC OKALOOSA WALTON JUNIOR COLLEGE. 1ST JUCO PLAYER EVER TAKEN IN THE 1ST ROUND.

 AND JOE "MY MAN FORTE" FIRST TIME I SAW HIM IN REAL LIFE,

 I THOUGHT TO MYSELF "WHAT A LITTLE WIMP, I WOULD KICK THE CRAP OUT OF HIM AND HE WAS BARELY OVER SIX FEET.

 WE PASSED ON GUYS LIKE TROY MURPHY, AND RICHARD JEFFERSON.

 AND NOW WALLACE LOOKS LIKE DANNY FREAKIN AINGE OR SOMETHING.

   GO FIGURE.

right.

[Who]

No a threat to win the West ... but definitely capable of springing a major upset.

Memphis look to be the most dangerous team to face in the first round out West.

[P2]

Alright, finally (not that I wished it) they have injuries, too. So maybe now we can pull even with them in the loss column while Parker is out?!

[Moranis]

I really dislike Chris Wallace the GM and his tenure here.   Not to mention giving the Lakers Gasol for a pile of wood chips.

they got their currect starting center, 2 firsts, and at the time a young promising PG.  Not the total highway robbery everyone seems to make it out to be.

Frankly not a whole lot different then the Celtics trade to land Garnett now a few years removed from both.  Sure the C's gave up a better draft pick (Minny's own pick that turned into Flynn), but the total package really wasn't much different.

[Fafnir]

I really dislike Chris Wallace the GM and his tenure here.   Not to mention giving the Lakers Gasol for a pile of wood chips.

they got their currect starting center, 2 firsts, and at the time a young promising PG.  Not the total highway robbery everyone seems to make it out to be.

Frankly not a whole lot different then the Celtics trade to land Garnett now a few years removed from both.  Sure the C's gave up a better draft pick (Minny's own pick that turned into Flynn), but the total package really wasn't much different.

A low second round pick that turned out okay doesn't make the present value at the time of the trade equal.

In the end McHale/Khan messed it up so in the end Memphis ended up better, but that's not a factor in evaluating the trade.

Unless you believe that Chris Wallace identified that Marc Gasol would lose 40 pounds and suddenly become an average center...