Thanks to University of Memphis point guard Derek Rose's Most Outstanding Player performance in the NCAA South Regional over the weekend, the debate has started in Memphis.
If the Grizzlies have the first pick in the draft, do they take Kansas State's Michael Beasley or Rose? Both freshmen have yet to declare for the draft but are expected to go pro. It seems like a no-brainer that the Grizzlies would take Beasley. Memphis has absolutely no inside presence, and Beasley would give the Grizzlies some muscle.
But there's also the school of thought that the Grizzlies need someone who can rally the city and sell tickets, in addition to being a great player. And right now, that player is the U of M's Rose, who just finished destroying Texas' first-team all-American point guard, D.J. Augustin.
Grizzlies management can't talk about underclassmen and Rose said he's just living in the moment, that he hasn't even thought about the NBA.
But by this time next week, he probably will be thinking about it.
HAWKS 116, GRIZZLIES 99: It's tough to describe how awful the Grizzlies were on Monday night in Memphis. The facts speak for themselves.
Atlanta led 40-19 at the end of the first quarter and by 27 at halftime. Grizzlies fans (those who bothered to show up) were hoarse from booing. Atlanta led by 38 in the third quarter before a 23-4 Memphis run against the Hawks' scrubs.
Rudy Gay was the only Griz who bothered to show up, scoring 29. Memphis played no defense, allowing Atlanta to shoot 56 percent from the floor. The Hawks shot 69 percent in the first half, and their 73 points in the first half was the most given up by Memphis this year.
