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‘Beale Street Bears’ Predicts Memphis Grizzlies’ Honors

By Christian Dudley

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Feb 8, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony allen (9) defends against Atlanta Hawks guard Dennis Schroder (17) as Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) and Hawks center Pero Antic (6) look on at FedExForum. Memphis defeated Atlanta 94-88. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

The writers at Beale Street Bears have gotten together and given their insight and personal selections of Memphis Grizzlies’ personnel for some of the NBA’s end-of-season awards.

All the writers at Beale Street Bears have collaborated their thoughts on the Memphis Grizzlies’ 2014-15 regular season, although with one lone game remaining, to create predictions for the NBA’s plethora of end-of-year awards that pertain to our beloved squad. Take a look below at our picks and feel free to chime in with your own predictions!

Xan Nikchevich, Staff Writer

“The Grizzlies have a number of very talented players on their roster, and that equates to a great overall team. The NBA’s awards are typically based around individual achievement, and thus it’s harder to win them when you’re on a team like the Grizz. That being said, Marc Gasol should certainly pick up some honors this season. He will more than likely be on either the All-NBA First or Second team. He could even be considered for his second Defensive Player of the Year award.

Coach Dave Joerger would also be in the running for coach of the year, but standouts Steve Kerr [Golden State Warriors] and Mike Budenholzer [Atlanta Hawks] are more likely candidates.

Apr 13, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Memphis Grizzlies head coach David Joerger between plays against the Golden State Warriors during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 111-107. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Other than that, any Grizzlies picking up individual awards are more than likely not going to happen, but that isn’t the end of the world. Far from it. What it comes down to is who brings home the Larry O’Brien trophy, and that is going to take the entire Grizzlies team.”

Kenny Newhouse, Editor

“Marc Gasol is the only Grizzlies’ layer I see earning anywhere near a top 3 spot on an NBA All-Star team. I’ll place Gasol on the All-NBA 2nd team. With his improved offense and stability of health in 2014-15, Marc is well placed on this list.

Tony Allen should be on the All-NBA 1st team for defense. Allen should actually have a statue built outside of FedEx Forum for his defensive prowess and intensity.

Steve Kerr [Golden State Warriors] should win Coach of the Year.”

Ben Parker, Staff Writer

“All-NBA First Team: For a good chunk of the season, Marc Gasol was in the mix for MVP and I think that given the overall success of the team as well as his individual success, especially for his position, Marc Gasol should make the NBA All-First Team as a center. He has been the MVP of the Grizzlies, who have been one of the best teams in the league. They should have one guy on the NBA All-First Team, and that guy has to be Marc Gasol.

Mar 16, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Tony Allen (9) during the game against the Denver Nuggets at FedExForum. Memphis Grizzlies beat Denver Nuggets 92-81.Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

ALL-NBA Defense First Team: “The Grindfather” Tony Allen is still the most important defender on perhaps the league’s best defensive team. I don’t care what the numbers say, whether they favor him or not. We all know how important Tony Allen is to the Grizzlies and it would be foolish of the league to leave him off of the NBA All-Defense First Team.

Teammate of the Year Award: Vince Carter should get this award. Listen, most aging superstars have a hard time fading away from the limelight, but Vince Carter has embraced his role as role player on this Grizzlies team. He is all about winning at this point, which makes him Teammate of the Year in my book.”

Nir Regev, Staff Writer

“Coach of the Year: Dave Joerger

Coach Joerger has this Memphis Grizzlies squad firing on all cylinders. While other teams experiment with offensive sets and stretch fours, one team is going decidedly old-school. Pass it down low to the colossus duo of basketball and watch points on the scoreboard. Preserve the wellbeing of the home basket. Safeguard its dignity, and you rule the NBA countryside. This Grizzlies club, Goliath with the heart of a David. Particularly when it comes to media attention, wholesome in understatement. Always understated and underrated. Yet under Joerger’s coaching reigns, this defensive juggernaut has a 54-27 record.”

Christian Dudley, Editor

“At the beginning of the season, the Memphis Grizzlies’ Marc Gasol was looking like a surefire MVP candidate. He has since faded in production, mostly because of Memphis’ equal balance of power across the board, but he should still be rewarded for his big year in which fans all across the world voted him into the NBA All-Star Game as the West’s starting center. I believe that Marc should be honored on the All-NBA First Team. Although the Grizzlies’ Zach Randolph and Mike Conley were both snugged from the All-Star Game, I believe that both of them need to at least be honored by the league in putting them on the All-NBA Third Team, if not the Second Team, due to Memphis being one of the top teams in the league this season.

Memphis is currently the NBA’s second-ranked defensive team as a whole. That push is led by Tony Allen. The innovator of the Grizzlies’ grit-‘n’-grind style of play. When Allen is not available to play, as the case has been lately as he recovers from a hamstring injury, it really shows. TA can completely shut down any elite scorer, which makes him a major key to the Grizzlies’ title hopes this postseason. For his suffocating defense night-in and night-out, Tony Allen needs to be recognized for his efforts by being named to the NBA All-Defense First Team. He prides himself on “First Team” defense, so it is only right for him to receive this honor again. A sleeper pick could also be Nick Calathes, whom leads the league in steals per 36 minutes, in being named to the NBA All-Defense Second Team.

Nov 15, 2014; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley (11) and Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) talk during the game against the Detroit Pistons at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

Last season, Mike Conley won the Joe Dumars trophy, known as the NBA’s Sportsmanship award. Mike Conley is a true professional, a total class act. He is a leader on and off of the court for the Memphis Grizzlies. It is only right for him to repeat his reign and take home the honors again this year.

For Teammate of the Year (Twyman-Stokes trophy), you may first think of superstars that could be eligible to win this award. However, Grizz Nation knows of a perfect candidate that sometimes does not hear his name talked about much. He is Mike Conley’s backup–the NBA’s best midrange jump-shooter–Beno Udrih. There may be no other NBA player as positive and supportive as Udrih. He is a burst of energy for the franchise and the NBA could do no wrong in awarding Beno Udrih with this end-of-season honor.”

How many of these picks will the writers at Beale Street Bears have correct? Keep it locked on this site to find out during the 2015 NBA Playoffs, which begin this upcoming weekend. Make us your No. 1 news site for all things Memphis Grizzlies.

Go Grizz!

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