Rudy gay trade to okc plus#
But the "beer budget" line, plus the comments from San Antonio, plus last month's swipe at statistical analysis-driven decision-making, which came on the heels of Memphis adding the most famous statistically focused basketball writer in the world to an organization that's beefed up its analytics focus as part of a shifting front office approach under new owner Robert Pera. That said, we get what Hollins is saying, because emotion exists in sports (just ask Westbrook) and so does loyalty, and Hollins has had Gay throughout his entire career. (It's also maybe worth considering that the most successful stint in Hollins' career - Memphis' run to the Western Conference finals two years ago - came with Gay out of the lineup.) Viewed through that lens, trading Gay - as well as the likes of Marreese Speights, Wayne Ellington and Josh Selby - might not necessarily constitute "breaking up" the team. Plus, there's a pretty strong argument to be made that Memphis' top-four-in-the-West record has much more to do with a defense tied with the Chicago Bulls for second-stingiest in the league behind the Indiana Pacers (a defense anchored by Gasol down low and the pairing of Mike Conley and Tony Allen up top, not Gay) than its bottom-10 offensive unit, on which Gay scored the most points by taking the most shots, despite making a touch under 41 percent of them. “Then I’ll make a decision about what I’m going to do.”Īs others, like SB Nation's Mike Prada, have noted, that 23-10 mark was built largely by the Grizzlies' hot 12-2 start, after which they went a not-exactly-scorching 17-13 before the Gay trade. “If they break up the team and get rid of everybody, I’ll coach them until the season’s over,” he said. Why would I want to break up a 23-10 team?” Here’s what he told reporters before sending his team out for its dramatic 101-98 home victory over the Spurs: