Grizzlies' majority owner Michael Heisley has a message for Grizzlies fans: The team isn't moving to another city, he's happy with year two of the three-year rebuilding plan and ticket prices are staying the same.
"There's nothing in my mind about leaving, it's just speculation," Heisley said after speaking to a group of Grizzlies fans in a pregame chalk-talk before a home game against the 76ers. We have obligations and we intend to meet those obligations. We intend to remain an important part of this city. Heisley, despite the Grizzlies not ringing up a bunch of wins, likes what he sees his new coach Lionel Hollins and said the Grizzlies want to keep building through the draft.
"He's a bright basketball person and a bright man," Heisley said of Hollins. "He's the right guy for a young team. Also, we're committed to drafting."
Finally, Heisley understands his franchise hasn't given fans many reasons lately to flock to FedExForum, saying that "we have to earn the fans' support."
Heisley said the Grizzlies are sensitive to the tough economic times. So he announced that season-ticket holders who renew for the 2009-10 campaign before mid-April will receive five percent off their total package. Customers will have 10 months, instead of six, to pay, and people facing an unexpected economic hardship can receive a full refund in the fall.
Also, cynics wonder whether Heisley is committed to spending money in free agency. Projections have the Grizzlies with as much as $20 million available to spend this summer.
"I'm going to spend when I believe it's going to produce a championship team," Heisley said. "Or, if it's setting us up to go deep in the playoffs."
ROCKETS 93, GRIZZLIES 83: Another dead-on-arrival performance by the Grizzlies on a second game of a back-to-back. When Grizzlies center Marc Gasol was whistled for two early fouls guarding Yao Ming and went to the bench, Memphis was doomed. Houston hammered Memphis 19-7 in first quarter rebounding, took a 28-19 lead and never looked back. The Grizzlies have lost 10 of their last 11 games and seven of their last eight road games. "Coming off the game (Saturday) night, we had to play a lot of minutes and it hindered our stamina," Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins said. "When you're tired, you lose patience and you settle for quick shots and that really hurt us."
