Quinton Ross wants to re-sign as a free agent with the Grizzlies this offseason. If Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins has anything to do with it, consider it a done deal.
Ross, 28, has developed into a versatile defender and better than expected shooter as a 6-foot-6 swingman. "I like it here. I would like to come back," Ross said. "You never know how things go. I'm just hoping I can end this season the right way, and we'll see how it goes." Hollins said that Ross has improved his stock and his game.
"Since he's been here, he's gained more confidence," Hollins said. "He's putting the ball on the floor more and looking for his shot when it's there. Every now and then he'll put the ball on the floor and seek a shot.
"In order to play in the NBA, you can play a role, but you have to be a basketball player first. And Quinton is starting to do that. His defense is still good. I just like having him around."
Ross said being blanked in free agency last summer was a clear sign that he needed to become more versatile. So he went to work on his shooting.
"It's added value to a team when you have shooters across the board," said Ross, who spent his first four NBA seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers. "We've got good post players. Marc (Gasol) is kicking the ball out, and there's open shots. You've got to be ready to hit them. I was in the gym every day, working on it. I just kept shooting and shooting. I never keep count. I shoot until it feels good. Sometimes one hour. Sometimes two."
GRIZZLIES 114, WARRIORS 109: The Grizzlies were in their usual third-quarter funk and still trailed by nine points with 9:03 remaining in the fourth quarter when little-used Iranian center Hamed Hadaddi went to work for Memphis. He had a career-high 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds down the stretch, totally changing the complexion of the game. The Warriors got frustrated and picked up two technical fouls, and the Grizzlies got enough momentum to sweep the season series with the Warriors. The Grizzlies had six players in double figures, led by O.J. Mayo's 24. Mike Conley and Rudy Gay had 21 apiece.
