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Hubieball 101, The Art of Winning. Lesson One: Be On Time

The Memphis Grizzlies are achieving their greatest season in team history, and a key reason for this Cinderella story- in-the-making is 2004 NBA Coach of the Year candidate Hubie Brown. Successful coaches and teachers share many traits, and like any successful teacher, Brown has key rules for his students, the young Grizzlies, to achieve success: 1: Be On Time; 2: Play Hard; 3: Know Your Job; and 4: Know When To Pass And When To Shoot. For Lesson #1 – Be On Time – whether it's a game, practice, film session or workout, he demands punctuality. Why? Brown won’t tolerate tardiness, because it disrupts the learning process for everyone. And Brown’s young Grizzlies responded. They're always on time. And as a result, they learned how to win big this season. Brown is no ordinary coach. He is no ordinary teacher. Just take a look at his accomplishments so far this season:

COACH OF THE MONTH AWARD

  • Brown was named the NBA's Western Conference Coach of the Month for February. He led the Grizzlies to a 10-3 record in February, their best month in team history.
  • Earned his 500th win as a professional coach on Feb. 4 @ Washington.


    • GRIZZLIES RANK 6TH IN WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS RACE

  • The Grizzlies have risen from ranking as low as last annually over the last eight seasons to now the being sixth in the tough Western Conference (39-24), and just 1/2 game behind the fi fth place Dallas Mavericks and 3 games behind the defending world champions San Antonio Spurs (through March 7). Other notables include:
  • Eighth-best record overall in the NBA (through March 3).


    • TEACHING THIRD YOUNGEST TEAM IN NBA HOW TO WIN

  • Coach Brown took the third youngest team in the NBA that never won more than 28 games in a season, and led them to 30 wins - at the All-Star Break.
  • 7-7 record in November, their first .500 month in team history.
  • An incredible 10-4 run in January, their first winning month in team history. An even better 10-3 mark in February.
  • 10 players are 25 years of age or younger; only Bo Outlaw is older than 30.
  • The Grizzlies average age is 25.5, while the league average is 27.5.

    • BEATING THE BEST OF THE WEST

  • Memphis is 25-16 against Western foes, including an impressive 10-6 mark against the top fi ve teams in the conference. The list of key wins includes:
  • Multiple wins each already over the Los Angeles Lakers (twice), San Antonio Spurs (3 times), Dallas Mavericks (twice) and Sacramento Kings (twice).
  • Ended the Minnesota Timberwolves' 14-game home winning streak on Feb. 8.
  • Plus, a season-sweep of the two-time defending Eastern Conference Champion New Jersey Nets.


    • SHATTERING TEAM RECORDS

  • Brown has led Grizzlies to set numerous team records, and to achieve a number of memorable moments. Some of the highlights include:
  • A franchise-record 29th win of the season after only 50 games - and counting.
  • A franchise-record 16 wins on the road - and counting.
  • 16 games above .500 (40-24) for the first time in team history.
  • Most wins before the All-Star Break with 30, more than double the previous record high of 14.


    • Hubie Brown for Teacher of the Year 2004

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