The Grizzlies have started training camp running at full speed…literally. One of the first exercises involved the team trying to score 100 pts in under two minutes using the full court. While the team only reached 98 pts the message was sent loud and clear. Not only can the team run but they will be expected to run and run to score not just to play at a fast tempo.

Day two of training camp began defensive planning and all indications are that the team will be focusing on defense at a fast pace as well. This should be good news for fans of the Grizzlies as previous seasons the team was less than interesting at the pace they usually played.

For years the Grizzlies have heard that the team needed to be more financially responsible but this may be taking things too far. To quote the NY Post:

Since Jerry West left Memphis, the Grizzlies are doing things on the cheap. Now in the Chris Wallace era, they’ve resorted to having free-agent prospects stay at the homes of team personnel, rather than putting them up in hotels

I fact checked this rumor and discovered that not all is as it seemed. Wallace explained that the player in question was not signed as a Grizzlies player at the time and only wanted to participate in scrimmages with the team so the Grizzlies helped him find housing while he worked out.

And it was very successful for Mr. Jefferson who ended up being offered a training camp invitation. So instead of calling the Grizzlies cheap perhaps the Post should check their facts and report instead on the ingenuity of a young man trying to make his dream a reality.

The first open scrimmage is taking place on Wednesday, Oct. 3rd at noon. The event will be open to the public and should quiet some of the criticism that the team isn’t doing enough for the midtown and downtown fans. The scrimmage will be held at the FedEx Forum after all. Can’t get much more downtown than that. And this isn’t just two or three players attending. All of the players will take part in the scrimmage.

One of the new player signings that raised eyebrows around town was Andre Brown. Ron Tillery has a nice piece on the former DePaul player and how his indirect path to the Grizzlies may have been just what the doctor ordered. Described as a ferocious rebounder and defender, Brown’s path to the NBA
was similiar to Coach Iavaroni’s which may be beneficial for Andre getting more playing time this season. Stromile’s minutes in particular seem to be in play by this signing.

Hoopsworld has a nice training camp story about the Grizzlies that people should check out. Chris Herrington continues his wonderful blogging with an informative bit about how to find the Grizzlies preseason broadcasts from Spain. if you want to watch the games don’t miss the blog.