They led - Conley and Gasol were able to learn to lead by following. Younger players like Mike Conley and Marc Gasol, while key cogs in those teams, were able to sit back and allow for leaders like Randolph, Allen, and Shane Battier to set the tone of the locker room. Their arrival was signaled by the rise of Tony Allen and “Grit and Grind”, and the resurgence of Zach Randolph as a force of nature in the paint and on the block. Ever since the 2010-2011 postseason, the Grizzlies have been expected to compete at a high level by their fan base and the NBA at large. The Memphis Grizzlies are in the midst of one of their most challenging, non-injury related (unless you count Chandler Parsons) stretches of this decade. And the fading lights were a constant reminder.įive-game losing streaks can shake the foundation of even the steadiest of locker rooms.
I knew my chapter in Memphis would eventually conclude, and I wanted to cherish those moments of anger, of agony, of joy, and of jubilation.Įvery good time eventually comes to an end. Even when happy/angry with a player or call or decision, or just thinking about the fun time I had, I knew that this group of players, this run of success, and my time in the Bluff City, would not last forever. Often this happened after Grizzlies games - from 2012-2014, I would sometimes walk with a bit more cheer in my step, and other times I would mutter or curse the result of the night.īut as I walked or drove away, I always looked back and reflected on the events of the night. As games and nights out and around the sights and smells of the city (good and bad) began to fade and the crowds began to head home, I would walk with my wife, or friends, or sometimes on my own, away from the vibrant scene that is the nightlife of Memphis. One cannot live (in good circumstances, at least) in the bars of Beale Street or inside FedExForum.
One of my favorite things about living near downtown Memphis was walking or driving away.Īll good times end, of course.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light
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