Rick Grantham asked:


Though the Memphis Grizzlies are cubs in the NBA, they have begun to growl. Though they have only been in the NBA since 2001, the Grizzlies have already advanced to the playoffs during three seasons. The Grizzlies moved to Memphis before the 2001-2002 season, after playing in Vancouver for six years. Interestingly, the Grizzlies were not the first professional basketball team that Memphis has hosted. The Memphis Pros/Tams/Sounds was an ABA team that played in the city from 1970-1975.

Where did the name “Grizzlies” originate? In fact, the first name the franchise chose was the “Mounties.” However, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police objected to the name, as Mounties was a nickname for their police force. Thus, the franchise selected the alternate team, the Grizzlies. The Grizzlies lost their first NBA game to the Detroit Pistons, 90-80.

Eventually, they would finish their season with a disappointing 23-59 record.

Two seasons later, the Grizzlies made some bold trades, and ended the season with an outstanding 50-32 record. Their number of wins was nearly double their previous highest total as a franchise. The Grizzlies coach, Hubie Brown, became the NBA Coach of the Year. However, the Grizzlies received a tough draw for the playoffs. The defending NBA Champs, the San Antonio Spurs, swept the Grizzlies in the latter’s first playoff series.

In the following year, the Grizzlies started playing at the new FedEx Forum, hoping to build upon their previous season’s success. The Grizzlies earned a 45-37 record, and captured the final playoff position in their conference. Unfortunately, they would face another powerhouse squad. This time, it was the run-and-gun Phoenix Suns. Additionally, once again the opposing team swept the Grizzlies in the playoffs.

In the 2005-2006 season, the Grizzlies earned third place in their division (49-33), behind those two teams. In the playoffs, the Grizzlies again drew a tough competitor and one that they were quite familiar with: the Dallas Mavericks. For the third consecutive year, the opposite team swept the Grizzlies.

Though the Grizzlies are a young team, some individuals in their franchise have received prestigious awards:

Hubie Brown: Coach of the Year: (204)

Brown won the NBA’s Coach of the Year award with the Atlanta Hawks (1977-1978), before winning it with the Grizzlies. In addition, in 1975 Brown coached the ABA’s Kentucky Colonels to a championship.

Pau Gasol: Rookie of the Year (2002)

A native of Spain, Gasol first played in Spain’s ACB League, before playing for the Memphis Grizzlies. In 2006, Gasol played in the NBA All-Star game, as the game’s first Grizzlies player and first Spaniard. Gasol is also a member of the Spanish national basketball team.

Mike Miller: 6th Man (2006)

Before playing in the NBA, Miller participated in the NCAA basketball championship, in 2000. Miller holds the Memphis Grizzlies’ team record, for scoring the most points in a single game. He scored 45 points against the Golden State Warriors, on February 21, 2007.

The Memphis Grizzlies are new, but have promise. Use Memphis Grizzlies merchandise to cheer on the big bears!



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Bill Parsons asked:


Basketball does not just have to be strictly rule regulated play on an indoor wooden court. There are actually many different variations on the game that bring basketball to a whole new level.

Variety is one of the things that makes basketball such a popular sport. With all the ways to play the game it is no wonder that people all over the world are playing the game. That’s true no matter who they are, how old they are or what limitations they may physically have.

Game Variation 1: Wheelchair Basketball

Wheelchair basketball, as the name suggests, is played in wheelchairs. The chairs are specially designed so they move quickly and easily down the court. They also are made so players can be agile, much like players in traditional basketball.

Wheelchair basketball is a serious sport that is regulated by the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF).

Game Variation 2: Water Basketball

Water basketball, again as the name suggests, is played in water. It can be recreational or as a team regulated sport. In water basketball the rules are a little different. The rules for water basketball combine rules for traditional court basketball and water polo. There is, obviously, no dribbling involved in water basketball.

Game Variation 3: Beach Basketball

Beach basketball is played on the beach and is quite different than other types of basketball. It is not as strict and much more of a physical game than basketball.

Beach basketball is played on a circular court with no backboard on the hoop. There is no dribbling because it is too difficult on the sand. The ball is moved down the court instead by passing or 2 ½ steps. There is also no out of bounds in beach basketball.

Game Variation 4: Informal Basketball

Informal basketball really is not an actual name for a type of basketball, but it is used here to simply describe the type of basketball that most people play - basketball where you are just playing for the fun of the sport. The best kind!

Informal play can have any rules you like, as long as everyone playing agrees to them. There may not even be any organized play, but rather people simply making baskets and having fun.

Basketball is a very flexible sport. It can be played almost anywhere and in anyway you can imagine. In fact, it probably has been played almost everyway imaginable because it is such a popular sport. The thing about basketball that remains the same is making the basket. Every variation of the sport involves a ball and basket with the ultimate goal being to get the ball through the basket to score.

So, no matter how you play basketball it is the right way as long as you have the ball and hoop. You can play whatever way feels best for you with whatever rules you want. You can play with as many players as you want on whatever type of court you want. The bottom line is that you just have fun while you are doing it.



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