Brown

Most teams which employ a 10- or 11-man rotation do so because they don't have anyone that can play. That's clearly not the case in Memphis, where Gasol and others are certainly capable of taking on more of the load. But it's hard to argue with results, and one player's endorsement of his 70-year-old mentor.

"I'm his biggest fan, because he teaches us how to prepare to win and has made it a lot easier to understand how things should work on the court," says James Posey. "His organization skills and coaching intensity are unbelievable. He really brings it everyday, including practice."

This franchise had flatlined for years before the duo of Jerry West and Brown arrived and quickly turned the franchise into a winner. Of course, you win all of those games, and people want more. If one 50-win season doesn't beget another, the same style that earned Brown top coach honors may well put him on the defensive.

Gasol

All 11 players who averaged 10 or more minutes for the Grizzlies will be back this season. When camp begins, the Grizzlies could have as many as 17 players under contract. If the NBA had jayvee teams, nobody would challenge the Grizzlies.

The closest thing to a superstar is Pau Gasol, the team leader in points (17.7 per game), rebounds (7.7) and blocks (1.69). Though undisputedly their best player, even Gasol averages only 31 minutes a game in a lineup where everyone plays, subject to situations and matchups.

He has stoppers (Shane Battier, Bo Outlaw), shooters (Mike Miller), athletes (James Posey, Bonzi Wells, Stromile Swift), bruisers (Lorenzen Wright and Jake Tsakalidis) and an electric point guard (Jason Williams). This season he'll have another weapon in the drawer, Brian Cardinal, who will pester, shoot the three and get floor burns.

It's to Brown's credit that the players have shared the spotlight without selfishness creeping in to undermine the Grizzlies improvement. The closest thing to a criticism is that the Grizzlies may not possess that "go-to" guy and they lack playoff experience. They got their first taste a year ago and were swept by the Spurs despite a game effort.

If you subscribe to the theory that discipline, continuity and depth are the best route to success, you're probably already wearing a handsome new Grizzlies jersey and planning your trip to the Fed Ex Forum. The Grizzlies will make their fans, and their sponsor, happy if they can "deliver" a first-round playoff win in their new home.