Grizzlies Missed the Train…Simply Stupid!

Former Memphis Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins.

In June, the Memphis Grizlies made one of the worst mistakes in franchise history by letting outstanding head coach Lionel Hollins walk after seeing the former leader build the Grizzlies into a legitimate NBA title contender the last couple of seasons.

In spite of leading the Grizz to a fine, 56-win season, Hollins was let go because of the ever-popular “philosophical differences”.

Whatever the case was between the two parties, it’s quite evident in the early going of the 2013-14 regular season that the Grizzlies missed the train on the demanding Hollins.

First Speights, now Turner … Collins makes wrong move for Sixers

Philadelphia foolishly traded
talented big man Marreesse
Speights earlier this season.

I always call it like I see it and from where I’m sitting, I think Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doug Collins is clearly making a huge mistake by bringing along second-year swingman Evan Turner far too slowly for a player that was selected with the second overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.

First, Collins dropped the ball in a big way by trading young, sweet-shooting big man Marreesse Speights to the Memphis Grizzlies for basically a bag of marbles, even though Philly, like every other team in the league, needs competent big men.

How Speights could immediately move into a starting role for the Western Conference title-contending Memphis Grizzlies, but couldn’t even find his way on the court for Collins and the Sixers is beyond me, but clearly there’s some sort of problem with Collins’ penchant for not playing certain youngsters.

Having said that, Eye On Sports NBA hardwood lovers, I also have to rip Collins for his even more glaring failure to play Turner consistently this season even though he clearly has a bunch of positive skills that could help Collins’ young ballclub.

Evan Turner, the No. 2 pick in the 2010
NBA Draft, needs to play more minutes - now!

After playing Turner just 23.0 minutes per game as a rookie last season, Turner’s minutes have not gone up this season with the former Ohio State superstar averaging just 23.8 minutes of playing time per contest.

The multi-faceted swingman is averaging just 8.2 points per contest after averaging 7.2 per game a year ago.

Just looking back at the 2010 NBA Draft should bother Turner and the Sixers, seeing as how several players that were picked after Turner have established themselves as either starters or integral parts of their respective teams’ current and near futures.

No. 5 pick DeMarcus Cousins, despite his immaturity issues, is a starter for the Sacramento Kings while No. 7 pick Greg Monroe also starts in the middle for the Detroit Pistons.

Sixers head coach Doug Collins has made some serious
personnel mistakes during his tenure with the team that drafted him over three decades ago.

Versatile forward Gordon Hayward, the No. 9 pick in the draft is averaging just over 27.0 minutes per game for the Utah Jazz and No. 10 overall pick, shooting guard Paul George, is starting to look like he’s got real superstar potential as the starting two guard for the blossoming Indiana Pacers.

I mean really, the Knicks nabbed a starter in Landry Fields with the No. 39 overall pick while Utah’s slam dunk champion Jeremy Evans was selected with the 55th overall pick and now looks like he’s going to be serious contributor for the Jazz for years to come.

Collins needs to start Turner and get him on the floor with young point guard Jrue Holiday so the pair can grow together and form the foundation for Philly’s franchise for the next decade. For Collins to fail to recognize that Turner needs to play and play right now – is a mistake of epic proportions and one that could come back to haunt the Sixers for years to come.

Good Move on Marreesse Memphis!

Eye On Sports readers just read about how I think the Philadelphia 76ers are going to regret jettisoning talented big man Marreesse Speights this season without ever giving the sweet-shooting big man out of Florida a real chance to shine.

Well, as we here at Eye On Sports always say, one man’s trash is apparently another man’s treasure!

Having said that, the Memphis Grizzlies wisely targeted Philly’s reserve center-forward as a player that could come in and immediately fill the void left by starting power forward Zach Randolph who is out for up to two months with a torn medial collateral ligament.

How Memphis viewed Speights as some that could start for their Western Conference title-contending team and the Sixers couldn’t find minutes for the still blossoming big man is beyond me, but it say right here that the Grizzlies are going to find themselves giddy beyond their wildest dreams because of how god of a player Speights is.

As a matter of fact, Speights unfurled a terrific double-double of 12 points and 15 rebounds in a blowout win over Sacramento on Saturday after torching the Chicago Bulls for 16 points, 12 rebounds, a blocked shot and two assists in a win just prior to that one.

Speights is averaging 10.0 points per game and 8.6 rebounds in just 25.2 minutes per game over his last five starts with Memphis. Mark it down hoops fans, the Memphis Grizzlies got a real gem in young center Marreesse Speights.

Foolish Philly Misses on Marreesse!

While the Philadelphia 76ers are clearly on their way up this season, with a team style of basketball that is refreshing, to say the least. Unfortunately, the Sixers foolishly traded away a player that could have bee a huge part of their future when they parted ways with talented big man Marreese Speights.

The 6-foot-11 245-pound power forward/center is in his fourth season in the league after Philly nabbed the former Florida star with the 16th overall pick in the 2007 draft. While Speights showed flashes of brilliance whenever he did make it on to the floor for the Sixers, the fact of the matter is that he never got a fair chance, whether right or wrong – and his numbers bear that out with the near seven-footer never averaging more than 16.4 minutes per game.

Remember you heard it here first Eye On Sports hoops fanatics …  the Philadelphia 76ers and head coach Doug Collins are going to rue the day they traded Marreesse Speights!