COAST TO COAST

Just as it's safe to assume Jerry West is probably the only general manager on Earth who could sell Hubie Brown to the public as the logical coach for the Memphis Grizzlies, it appears the 69-year-old was the only veteran/teacher out there who could give West what he needs: Heavy-handed instruction without a care about wins and losses. No one else West would eye (such as Mike Dunleavy) would be keen to sign up for 60-plus Ls, which is where Memphis figures to languish for at least another season. Brown is expected to coach only two seasons, or right up to the point that West has salary-cap room to shake up the roster. That's when he'll undoubtedly bring in a Dunleavy (who might not be unemployed two years from now) or a Jeff Van Gundy (who's still not totally free of Knicks obligations to pursue jobs). Or maybe a Kelvin Sampson? Why not? West is a fan of the Oklahoma coach, who spent the summer in an NBA environment as a Team USA assistant at the World Championships. Whoever it is, the Grizz should be considerably more attractive entering the 2004 summer, and not only because of the cap room. If Memphis doesn't win the '03 draft lottery in May, remember, it must convey any pick lower than No. 1 to Detroit as part of Stu Jackson's long-ago Otis Thorpe trade. Which is why in-house improvement, in the short term, is so important to West. Click for more on Brian Grant's shooting struggles, the NBA's zoned-out teams and those unbeaten Dallas Mavericks.

SPEAK OF THE WEEK

"It's all just preparation for game No. 83." —Dallas assistant coach Rolando Blackman, still Mr. Intensity in Mavsland, leading the in-house effort to temper enthusiasm over the Mavericks' 10-0 start.

Marc Stein, the senior NBA writer for ESPN.com, writes "The Stein Line" every Monday during the season. To e-mail him, click here.