|  | | Sidney Lowe led the Grizzlies to back-to-back 23-59 seasons. |
This just in: Jerry West hates losing. And he can't be happy with what he's seen so far from his Grizzlies, who played uninspired ball in losing their first three games. The Logo's displeasure doesn't bode well for Sidney Lowe, the first NBA head coach to find himself in the hot seat, writes ESPN.com's Marc Stein.Chat wrap: Senior NBA writer Marc Stein
| COAST TO COAST |
The Orlando Magic hasn't shown off everything it possibly can in the space of a week. It only seems like it after a 3-1 start that featured a 47-pointer from Tracy McGrady … some yeoman two-man work from T-Mac and Grant Hill ... and the obligatory Hill ankle scare that forced him to sit out the second half of Saturday night's win at Milwaukee. Orlando is calling the rest precautionary, saying that Hill's infamous left ankle is being monitored more closely than normal because the Magic opened up with a four games-in-five nights stretch. Mike Miller, meanwhile, insists there's more to come, seeing as though Miller has yet to regularly join McGrady and Hill in Doc Rivers' dream lineup. As the Magic tries to work Hill into a rhythm, Rivers is asking Miller to come off the bench, often to stand in for Hill as T-Mac's sidekick. Rivers has been drooling for more than a year about playing all three of his 6-foot-8ish swingmen ... MORE COAST TO COAST
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| SPEAK OF THE WEEK |
"Plus, I wouldn't turn down 10 million dollars."
—New Orleans owner George Shinn, wrapping up a long explanation to back his support for Charlotte being granted an expansion franchise ... and not even trying to deny that he's looking forward to the $10 million each of the 29 existing NBA teams would receive from Charlotte's new ownership.
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Marc Stein, the senior NBA writer for ESPN.com, writes "The Stein Line" every Monday during the season.
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| STEIN SIDELINES |
SLAMS AND DUNKS
Expect the Knicks to move Charlie Ward in any major deal they can swing. Ward represents one more tradable commodity than you thought Scott Layden had, but it's not because he plays point guard ... More Slams and Dunks
STAT OF THE WEEK
Yes, there is a team in league history that managed to overcome an 0-3 start to win an NBA championship. One team: 1990-91's Chicago Bulls. See, Knicks fans. Not all hope is lost.
STAT OF THE WEAK
In the season's first 41 games, through Saturday night, the winning team failed to score 90 points 11 times (27 percent). The losing team scored less than 90 points 24 times (59 percent). Fourteen times in those 41 games (34 percent), the losing team didn't score 80. Want more? Through Saturday's play, a total of 328 quarters had been completed. Nearly a third of the time -- in 107 quarters -- one of the teams couldn't crack the 20-point barrier. Defense, you can safely say, is ahead of the offense in Week 1.
MAILBAG
What is happening with Jim Jackson? Will he play this year? Any idea why he hasn't signed with anyone? Jackson remains the most recognized name available in the free-agent pool ... Word is he's waiting for a call from a contender. He knows there's no money out there for veterans. More Mailbag responses
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