With Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol and Rudy, Memphis Grizzlies entering the NBA season as a contender
One team that performed above its expectations last year was Memphis Grizzlies.
No one was expecting them to reach the playoffs, but not only they made it there, but qualified for the Western Conference Semi Finals by stunning the number 1 seeds, the San Antonio Spurs. And had they managed to hold nerves in the 7th game of the semi final series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, they would have qualified for the finals. Who knows from there, they might have sprung some more surprises.
So what was the reason behind the mammoth success of the team?- not luck definitely.
The success lied in Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol, the duo which was simply phenomenal late last season.
The duo easily formed the best rebounding unit in the league back then and now with a fit Rudy g*y back, the Grizzlies will be force to reckon with. The three players form the backbone of the team and will be pivotal in whatever success, the Memphis franchise gets this season.
"They drive the car. They're the engine. I don't think you can oversimplify that," said Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins.
That is the very reason why the Grizzlies have signed these core players for the next four years. Randolph is a double-double freak; Gasol is an accurate passer, defender and a shooter with a career .545 floor goal percentage, while Rudy has the speed and athleticism, which he uses to penetrate the strongest of defenses in the league, not to mention the shooting prowess.
Last season, Rudy was having his career best ride until he dislocated his shoulder in February and was ruled out for rest of it. He finished with an average of 19.8 points and 6.2 rebounds. Zach Randolph scored 20.1 points and pulled down 12.2 rebounds per game while Gasol averaged 11.7 points and 7 rebounds last season.
The chemistry between these three is quite outstanding too. They understand each other game well and pass the ball exceptionally between them. Their trio is still underrated but in coming times, they will emerge as the best in the business for sure.
"We don't always get the respect, but we're tough to deal with," Randolph said. "Rudy is one of the best small forwards in the game hands down after LeBron (James) and 'Melo. Me and Marc take pride in rebounding the ball and scoring in the paint. We play off each other pretty good. Teams aren't going to be able to contain all three of us”
If the trio can translate Randolph’s words into action, the Grizzlies might spring a few more surprises this time around.
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