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

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Just when you thought Memphis was starting to do some things right by drafting a defensive anchor (Thabeet), and a glue guy in Sam Young. They go out and get Zach Randolf, and now Iverson. So now, they have amazingly accomplished the feat of having four of the biggest chuckers in the NBA on one team (Rudy Gay, OJ Mayo, Randolf, Iverson).

I like Iverson, and this was mainly done to put butts in the seats. But from Mike's perspective, the last thing he needed was another ball dominant guard with him just as he is starting to come into his own. And this isn't any ole' guard here, we are talking about a former scoring champ, future HOFer who currently has too much pride to turn himself into a 'role player', or at the least less of a role than that of a franchise guy.

It's going to be interesting. I don't like it though. Mike will have his hands full in attempting to please the egos on that team.
 
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Now this is going to be interesting.

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GRIZZLIES: Conley focused on his jump shot

Conley focused on his jump shot
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Kyle Niblett

When it comes to the Memphis Grizzlies, there is only one player making the pivotal jump during the 2009-10 season. Point guard Mike Conley, the former fourth overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, knows this can be a make-or-break year in terms of his destiny.

?I need to stay focused and concentrate on the little things I need to do to improve my game,? Conley said. ?My job is to run the team and be one of the leaders of the team. I?m looking forward to the opportunity to raise my game (this year).?

Conley has a lot of momentum on his side to make that jump. After Lionel Hollins was named head coach on Jan. 25, 2009, Conley improved his numbers across the board, averaging 14.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.7 assists on .454 shooting in 36.3 minutes in 39 games (all starts). Coach Hollins saw Conley?s improvement in the numbers, but is looking for the three-year NBA veteran to enhance upon his ability to be an effective floor general.

?I?m expecting him to be a better leader and be more forceful on the court,? Hollins said. ?He needs to be more aggressive and take what he did last year and build on it.?

Continued....
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First 5 trades this season
Because it's never to early to discuss trade talk, Sam Smith tells us who the first players are to be traded this season. Also, notes from around the NBA's recent media days.
Posted by Sam Smith | [email protected]

5. Mike Conley, Grizzlies The poor kid has no idea what he?s gotten himself into playing with Allen Iverson, Zach Randolph, O.J. Mayo and Rudy Gay. He?ll go to sleep with screams in his head of guys demanding the ball. He?s not tough enough to stand up to that yet. It?s time to reunite him with high school buddy Greg Oden in Portland, where they paid big money for free agent point guard Andre Miller. That reduces the utility of Steve Blake as Portland also will have Rudy Fernandez handling the ball more. Blake?s a tough, savvy guard who can play in that Memphis turmoil and actually help. And it can?t hurt the moody Oden to have that familiar face back.
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BULLS: Sam Smith: Top 5 to be traded; NBA notes
 
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Griz coach Hollins wants Mike Conley to assert himself
By Ronald Tillery
Posted October 23, 2009

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Mike Conley hears the whispers.

There is an audible segment of the Grizzlies' fan base still doubting his ability to run the club.

The third-year point guard is critiqued by family members, and his coaches are no longer enablers to Conley's laid-back approach.

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Mike Conley

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Photo by Nikki Boertman
Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley, who's facing a critical season, says he's "at the point now where I feel like people are going to realize that I belong in this league."

"He has to be his own worst critic to get better," Griz assistant coach Damon Stoudamire said. "Mike can't be satisfied with playing cool."

The Griz are about to enter a regular season with their most talented roster since the start of the 2007 campaign. That also happens to be the same year Conley was selected fourth overall in the NBA draft.

The organization seemed somewhat content with bringing Conley -- a 19-year-old out of Ohio State -- along slowly at that time. But since coach Lionel Hollins' arrival, the demand for Conley to emerge as a forceful leader on the court has intensified.

No kid gloves this season.

Conley has received a strong message. The coaching staff is demanding he be more assertive and in charge of a group that features strong personalities and offensive wills.

Under Hollins, Conley already proved he is a credible NBA point guard. The pressure this season is for Conley to build on his personal gains and prove his position isn't in need of an upgrade.

"I don't want to be the weak link," Conley said. "You want to be a key part of why a team is winning. It forces me to look at the game differently. I've got to be a force so that guys can't sag off me or take me for granted.

"I know people may have given up and lost interest in me, but I use all of that as motivation. The people who doubt me, I try to go out and prove them wrong. I know I can help make this team better. I'm at the point now where I feel like people are going to realize that I belong in this league."

Conley's steady preseason backs up his claim. He has averaged 10.3 points on 51 percent shooting (38 percent from 3-point range) with 4.5 assists and 2.3 turnovers.
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Griz coach Hollins wants Mike Conley to assert himself ? The Commercial Appeal
 
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Allen Iverson leaves Grizzlies for personal reasons
By Ronald Tillery
Posted November 7, 2009

LOS ANGELES ? When Allen Iverson actually plays a game in FedExForum is anyone?s guess.

The disgruntled Iverson left the Grizzlies on Saturday after he asked for and was granted an indefinite leave of absence to deal with a personal matter, the team confirmed before its game against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Instead of traveling to Staples Center, Iverson boarded a flight to Atlanta in the afternoon. Atlanta is where Iverson lives during the offseason.

Griz owner Michael Heisley vehemently insisted that Iverson needed time off to handle an important family issue. A timetable for Iverson?s return is unknown.
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Allen Iverson leaves Grizzlies for personal reasons ? The Commercial Appeal

Starting point guard Mike Conley played 31 minutes, finishing with 16 points and six assists.

"It's tough when you have somebody in the rotation and get used to it, and then somebody goes out of the rotation," Conley said. "You have to get used to a whole different routine. But we have to adjust and get past it."
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The Canadian Press: Kaman has 26 points, 9 rebounds in Clippers' 113-110 win over Grizzlies
 
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Mike Conley gets message to pick it up
In Tinsley's arrival, Griz point man knows he must produce
By R onald Tillery
November 19, 2009

With Allen Iverson absent, so too was the controversy over him not starting.

The Grizzlies held a peaceful yet spirited practice Tuesday with everyone on the same page and well aware of their individual roles.

But that didn't mean third-year point guard Mike Conley could mute the footsteps just because Iverson -- by way of a mutually agreed divorce -- no longer charges with his strong personality and heavy demands.

The Griz aim for their third win this season tonight when they host the Los Angeles Clippers with the point guard spot perceived to be the weakest link to a 2-8 record.

Conley's inconsistent play and regression from his late emergence last season compelled the Griz to sign veteran floor general Jamaal Tinsley over the weekend. While the Griz made Tinsley no promises for a starting job, the acquisition sent a clear message to Conley.

Either Conley delivers stronger performances or a proven, veteran and true point guard will receive the keys to the team.

"In this league, you always hear footsteps," Griz coach Lionel Hollins said. "There's always somebody over there on the bench that wants your job, and if you don't play well they will eventually get it.

"Mike just has to continue to improve. He's got to be better defensively. He's got to be better at leading and directing. He was much better at those things last year. He's got to get back to being that and then get better from there."

That is not to say Hollins has singled out Conley for the team's slow start. The Grizzlies' struggles can be attributed to their selfish play at times, always porous defense and an ineffective bench.

Conley, though, is aware of his foibles.

"I need to be more consistent and more aggressive at certain times," Conley said. "I hope they still believe in me. I struggled in a few games but the (Minnesota game last Saturday) was a good game to get my feet under me. Everybody has a lull during the course of a season. But we're all trying to do whatever we can to win games."

Conley isn't at his best.

He's averaging 8.7 points on 39-percent shooting (33 percent from beyond the 3-point arc) to go with a team-high 5.5 assists. Conley also owns the team high with 28 turnovers or 2.8 per game.
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Mike Conley gets message to pick it up ? The Commercial Appeal
 
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Point guard patch-up

The Grizzlies experienced an abrupt change in the point guard rotation when veteran Jamaal Tinsley started the second half in place of Mike Conley.

That's because Conley suffered a sprained left shoulder just before the intermission. The third-year guard got tangled up with Los Angeles Clippers guard Baron Davis, and was injured when Davis jerked his arm from Conley.

Conley said he lost feeling in the shoulder during halftime. He sat on the bench with the shoulder heavily wrapped in ice as the third quarter began.

"(Davis) kind of yanked my shoulder a little bit, and I felt a little pop," Conley said. "I had to sit down and get the feeling back in my arm. Once I got the feeling back, I was able to play."

Conley re-entered the game with 1:39 left in the third. He connected on a 21-foot jump shot a short while later. Conley, though, grabbed the shoulder and grimaced in pain after the shot.

He only logged 19 minutes, which included the final 1:19 of the fourth period.

"I've just got to watch it the next couple of days and make sure it gets stronger," Conley said. "It's not serious. It was stiff for a while but I'm sure I'll be OK."
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Grizzlies-Clippers postgame? The Commercial Appeal

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmaIKtTk30o]YouTube - Mike Coney Jr. Early Season Post Game Interview[/ame]
 
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Odds and ends

While it was good for the Griz to have their leading scorer back on the floor in Gay, the offensive jolt came from Mike Conley.

The third-year point guard made 8 of 12 shots in amassing a season-high 20 points. His four 3-pointers tied a career high for a single game.

Conley?s return to the starting lineup from a one-game absence due to a left shoulder strain was indeed a game-time decision.

The trainers spent an hour before tipoff putting Conley through a series of tests.

?They were making sure my shoulder could withstand the pounding in a game,? Conley said. ?It?s sore. But I didn?t feel it during the game.?

Conley added three assists and two of the Grizzlies? 13 steals to his statistical line.
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Grizzlies-T'wolves Postgame? The Commercial Appeal
 
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Drive by Conley with 3 seconds to play sends Griz to key home victory
By Ronald Tillery
Posted December 8, 2009

Memphis center Marc Gasol loses a rebound to Cleveland center Shaquille O'Neal during the first half Tuesday at FedExForum.

Mike Conley never doubted himself.

And the Grizzlies point guard?s confident dribble-drive to the basket for a game-winning layup with 3 seconds left Tuesday night epitomized his team?s attitude the entire second half.
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Conley put the Griz ahead for good when he cruised by Cleveland center Shaquille O?Neal and scored at the rim. James had just tied the score at 109 with 14.9 ticks remaining in the extra session.

?I got a good look and I just had to finish the shot,? Conley said. ?I was confident I could get in there and try to make a play. ? To win against a good team like Cleveland is a good statement for our team. We?re trying to improve and this is a good step.?

O?Neal said Conley caught him off guard.

?It was late in the shot clock and I thought he was going to shoot the jumper,? O?Neal said. ?And (Conley) gave he the Allen Iverson carry-hesi(tation) move, and he got me.?
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LeBron's 43 aren't enough Grizzlies top Cavaliers, 111-109, in overtime? The Commercial Appeal
 
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