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Memphis Grizzlies
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The Memphis Grizzlies are a National Basketball Association team based in Memphis , Tennessee . Previously known as the Vancouver Grizzlies, the team became an NBA franchise in 1995. The Grizzlies recorded their victory of the season on Saturday, November 17 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, a much needed morale boaster after an 8-game losing streak. The Grizzlies closed the season by winning 4 of their final 8 games and matching their previous season record of 23-59. Grizzlies' Shane Battier became the first rookie to receive the NBA Assist Award for outstanding community service and Pau Gasol took home the prestigious Rookie of the year honor. The franchise's current head coach is Mike Fratello and the team is owned by Michael Heisley, and Jerry West serves as the team's President of Basketball Operations. Former Los Angeles Laker, Hall of Famer Jerry West was hired as general manager in 2002 after the team relocated to Memphis for the 2001-2002 season.
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The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The team was established in 1995 in Vancouver, along with the Toronto Raptors, as part of the NBA's expansion into Canada. The Grizzlies relocated to Memphis in 2001. The team's majority owner is Michael Heisley, who controls a 70% share of the franchise; the remaining 30% is controlled by several local owners, including AutoZone founder J.R. ("Pitt") Hyde, equity manager Staley Cates, and former NBA player and University of Memphis point guard Elliot Perry.
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The Memphis Grizzlies have had an interesting time in the NBA since the joined as an expansion team in 1995. Then they were the Vancouver Grizzlies and while they were there the team didn't do much of anything. During their six seasons north of the border the team had a combined record of 101-300 which is a very depressing winning percentage of .252, which means the team averaged three out of four games, would be a loss. In those seasons the team only experienced two, two game winning streaks. It's normal for an expansion franchise to be bad for their first couple of seasons, but after the fourth straight season without twenty wins the bottom fell out. The city stopped caring and the Grizzlies blamed their lack of attendance on the city of Vancouver.
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The Memphis Grizzlies have the longest losing streak in the playoffs with twelve losses. This makes three years in which the franchise has not won a playoff series, or even a single game. They have remained without victories in the playoffs during their short franchise history (from 1995 up to now).
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The Memphis Grizzlies Charitable Foundation and Community Investment department focus on fostering a desire to learn in children as well as making an impact on the local community. But the team is not just another team when it comes to philanthropy. The NBA said that the Grizzlies are firmly in the upper echelon. Through the foundation and other vehicles, the Grizzlies have raised more than $18.5 million in donations and pledges with a focus on youth since December 2001.
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The new Memphis Grizzlies played their home games at the Pyramid Arena from 2001 through 2004 when the new FedExForum was opened. The Grizzlies hired legendary Los Angeles Lakers player and GM Jerry West as their new General Manager in 2002. In 2004, under the leadership of new head Coach Hubie Brown, the Grizzlies made the NBA Playoffs for the first time in team history with a franchise best 50 wins to only 32 losses. The Grizzlies were swept 4 games to 0 in the first round of the 2004 NBA Playoffs to the San Antonio Spurs. Hubie Brown stepped down as coach early in the 2005 season. TNT Analyst, Mike Fratello took over the team and led them back to the playoffs.
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Memphis Grizzlies