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PG Mike Conley (1st Team All BIG, NBA All-Star, Oscar Winner, Minnesota Timberwolves)

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Griz rookie needs right situations
Although other PGs ahead of him, Conley will get his chances to shine
By Ronald Tillery (Contact)
Friday, October 26, 2007

Mike Conley walked toward the scorer's table to check in for the second half of Wednesday night's game with Grizzlies coach Marc Iavaroni in tow.

Iavaroni wanted to deliver a few last-minute pointers to his rookie point guard, and the most audible instruction was what most players want to hear.

If the opportunity presented itself, Iavaroni advised Conley, take over the game.

Conley promptly found Andre Brown for a dunk, and soon fed Hakim Warrick for a fast-break lay-up. Despite missing his three shots, Conley appeared mostly unflappable in those 10 minutes, handing out three assists and turning the ball over just once.

He was steady without making dreadful mistakes. Conley simply blended in.
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Griz rookie needs right situations : Grizzlies : Commercial Appeal

Up Close with Mike Conley, Jr.

By: Bill Ingram Last Updated: 10/25/07 11:33 PM ET | 184 times read

When the Memphis Grizzlies chose Mike Conley, Jr. with the fourth overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft it wasn't with the idea that they were getting an immediate impact player. It was with the idea that they were getting someone who would help push the ball for head coach Marc Iavaroni, while having time behind Damon Stoudamire and Kyle Lowry to develop into one of the great floor leaders of the future. HOOPSWORLD caught up with Mike recently and talked to him about the opportunity and the challenge in front of him.
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Up Close with Mike Conley, Jr. - HOOPSWORLD | NBA News, Rumors and Information
 
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Mike Conley staying prepared
Ex-Lawrence North star, an NBA rookie, keeps his skills sharp as he awaits his time
By Mike Wells
[email protected]

MEMPHIS -- The only sounds heard inside the empty FedEx Forum was a single basketball bouncing and Memphis Grizzlies coach Marc Iavaroni's voice giving tips on how to run the pick-and-roll offense Saturday morning.

On the receiving end of Iavaroni's voice was former Lawrence North High School standout Mike Conley.
Conley, who was still on the court nearly 45 minutes after his teammates had departed from their morning shootaround, is getting the majority of his work before, during and after practice because playing time has been sparse for the No. 4 pick in the summer's draft.
"This is where I'm getting all my work in," Conley said. "Of course I would love to be out there, but it's something right now that this team is in a good position. . . . I'm fine with the guys that are playing ahead of me. I'm trying to learn as much as I can while I'm on the bench."
Playing behind veteran Damon Stoudamire and second-year player Kyle Lowry, Conley didn't play in a game when healthy for the first time in his basketball career against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday.
"It was different," he said.
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http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071104/SPORTS04/711040428
 
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[FONT=arial,helvetica] Utah Jazz guard Deron Williams, left and Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley chase down a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Steve C. Wilson)[/FONT]
 
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Grizzlies notebook
By Ronald Tillery (Contact)
Saturday, November 24, 2007

SAN ANTONIO -- Suddenly, Grizzlies rookie Mike Conley Jr. and Portland's Greg Oden share more than just Ohio State memories and an agent.

When the "best friends" talk now, they won't have on-court stories to tell. Conley and Oden, both of whom are represented by Mike Conley Sr., will likely encourage each other as they deal with their respective injuries.

Oden is out for the season after undergoing microfracture knee surgery. Conley learned earlier this week that a strained right shoulder actually is a posterior labral tear that could keep him out for nearly a month.

Conley, though, appeared relieved that the injury didn't require surgery.

"The doctor came in and was smiling," Conley said. "It could have been a lot worse. They were expecting surgery."

Fortunately for Conley, his first sports injury happened in the lower, back part of his shoulder. Surgery would have been necessary had the tear been higher and in the front.

"It's something you don't want to have to deal with," Conley said. "It's not the way I pictured coming in and impacting my rookie year.

"But it's something I have to go through and another obstacle I have to overcome to be on the court. I'm going to keep working hard and be ready to go whenever I come back."

Conley said his rehabilitation includes "a lot of motion and strengthening exercises" at least twice a week.

"I'm pretty weak in certain areas concerning basketball," Conley said.

"I'm doing a lot of conditioning trying to stay in shape. ... It's progressing. The more we work on it the more it will get stronger. But it's still pretty sore."

Conley suffered the injury last Saturday during a fall just before halftime at Dallas. The 20-year-old is averaging 5.6 points and leads all rookies with 4.2 assists in 14.4 minutes over five games.
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Grizzlies notebook : Grizzlies : Commercial Appeal
 
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Conley's Promising Rookie Season Paused
Authored by Christopher Reina - 24th November, 2007 - 9:58 pm

Mike Conley is out indefinitely due to a shoulder injury during a loss to Dallas, but he will fortunately not need surgery. This is yet another run of bad luck for Ohio State rookies. Of course Greg Oden out for the entire season and Daequan Cook has seen Pat Riley give him highly inconsistent playing time despite showing he can be an efficient scorer (58.6 TS%).

Conley was seeing just 14.4 minutes per game, playing behind Damon Stoudamire and Kyle Lowry, but despite effective performances from those other two six-foot point guards, the rookie was playing better. His overall per-minute production at the point guard position was only surpassed by Steve Nash, Chris Paul, Chauncey Billups, Jose Calderon, Baron Davis and Jason Kidd.

"He's eventually going to be a starter in this league,? fellow Ohio State alum Michael Redd said recently. ?He's talented enough, gifted enough. He's still young. But he's got a good attitude. He's going to be just fine."
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RealGM: From The Rafters - Conley's Promising Rookie Season Paused
 
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Iavaroni remains optimistic about rookie point guard Mike Conley's recovery. Conley is expected to miss at least the next two weeks with a tear in his right shoulder.

The fourth overall draft pick has participated in workouts designed to maintain conditioning and strengthen the use of his left hand.

"The point guard thing is starting to sort itself out obviously with the injury with Conley," Iavaroni said. "But I'd like to get him back as soon as possible."
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Coach hopes schedule helps Griz : Grizzlies : Commercial Appeal
 
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December 18, 2007
NBA notebook
Conley's shoulder improves
Grizzlies rookie hopes to return to court in a couple of weeks

Memphis Grizzlies rookie guard Mike Conley Jr. indicated before Monday's game against Golden State that his injured right shoulder is improving, and he could return in a couple of weeks.

The Lawrence North High School graduate hasn't played since injuring the shoulder against Dallas on Nov. 17.

"Hopefully, the doctor will clear me for contact practices and make sure I'm ready to do that," Conley said. "Hopefully, it will come sooner than later. I'm feeling pretty good right now."
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Conley's shoulder improves | IndyStar.com

Game notes: Conley could return soon
By Ronald Tillery (Contact)
Tuesday, December 18, 2007

When Mike Conley emerged Monday wearing his Grizzlies warm-up gear about 90 minutes before tip-off at least two teammates wondered allowed whether he was about to join them to shoot.

"Nooooooo," Conley said, smiling.

But the rookie point guard's return isn't far off.

Conley, out since Nov. 18 with a posterior labral tear in his right shoulder, only needs to be cleared for contact practices -- something that could happen as soon as today.

The Grizzlies' medical staff still must re-evaluate Conley.

"Without any stress on it, I can dribble the ball and I can shoot,"

Conley said. "I feel like I'm back when I'm out there running by myself. But there's still a little weakness in it to the point where I don't know how it would react to getting bumped."

Head coach Marc Iavaroni said he'd like to see Conley practice with the team at least twice before inserting him into a game.

"We're not going to wait very long (once Conley is cleared)," Iavaroni said.

Team doctors cleared Conley to participate in non-contact drills last week.

"We have a lot of hard workouts, so sometimes it'll be sore," he said.

"But it's looking up for me. ... I'd say two weeks based on the way I've been feeling."

Conley, the fourth overall draft pick, suffered the injury Nov. 17 when he fell just before halftime during a game at Dallas.

The 20-year-old was averaging 5.6 points and led all rookies with 4.2 assists in 14.4 minutes when the injury occurred.

"It's been real tough, especially being a position where I've still got to prove myself at this level," Conley said. "I'm not a veteran that can get hurt and just come back and start the next day. I've got to earn every bit of playing time I get. It's a real setback, but at the same time it's going to help me in terms of being patient."
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Game notes: Conley could return soon : Grizzlies : Commercial Appeal
 
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Grizzlies Notebook: Conley nearing return
Rookie's hurt shoulder appears to be healed
By Ronald Tillery (Contact)
Thursday, December 27, 2007

Another week produced another positive update on rookie point guard Mike Conley's condition.

The Grizzlies' first-round draft pick (fourth overall) participated in the team's full-contact practice Tuesday. Conley's clearance means that his return from a posterior labral tear in his right shoulder is imminent.

Team doctors first want to see how the shoulder responds to physical punishment, and Conley will need a few practices to regain conditioning.

"It was good to see," Griz head coach Marc Iavaroni said, describing Conley's workout. "You didn't think he had a shoulder injury. He was moving around well. He was quick. I'm sure he'll get in better shape, but that will come with playing."

Conley has been out since Nov. 18. A week ago, he reported that he could dribble and shoot without complications in non-contact drills.

Conley's off-court workouts were designed to strengthen the shoulder. He's performed non-contact drills for at least two weeks. Even so, Iavaroni indicated that the team won't rush Conley back.

"It's one of those things you try not to put a date on," Iavaroni said. "I want the guy to feel good about his body and feel good about what he's doing in practice."

Conley suffered the injury Nov. 17 when he fell just before halftime during a game at Dallas. The 20-year-old was averaging 5.6 points and led all rookies with 4.2 assists in 14.4 minutes when the injury occurred.
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Grizzlies Notebook: Conley nearing return : Grizzlies : Commercial Appeal
 
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