"The Memphis Commercial Appeal reports that Grizzlies swingman Rudy Gay (shoulder) will miss the remainder of the season. Gay received a second opinion from a doctor that recommended season-ending surgery. Gay was hurt on Feb. 15 and has already missed five weeks with the injury. “I’ve never really been hurt. I’ve never had anything shut me down,” Gay said. “There’s really no brace or anything I can wear to make it better. I have to have the surgery (CBS Sports).”
Grizzlies have moved Tony Allen, which will help pick up the slack defensively, but the Grizzlies will miss Gays offense. Right now, the Grizzlies have a 2 game lead for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference. This could come down the wire, as the Rockets have been playing real well lastly, winning 4 straight and 7 of their last 10. You have to wonder if this news will deflate the Grizzlies, but whoever makes it in the Spurs will take care of very quickly.
RUDY GAY - Small Forward, Memphis Grizzlies via here From the land of basketball obscurity we have Rudy Gay, a terrific wing player who has really started coming into his own as a dynamic NBA player. Gay's nightly highlights and impressive numbers are often lost to the average basketball fan. But for those who follow closely he is highly regarded as one of the league's best young talents. Unfortunately, it looks like he'll be swimming in the waters of the Bermuda Triangle for some time, because he signed a 5 year deal with Memphis this past off-season.
Growing up in Baltimore (quietly becoming a basketball hotbed - Gay, Durant and Melo all from that area) Gay was considered one of the best young talents in the country. He was a national AAU standout, the Baltimore area player of the year and a McDonald's All-American as a senior, averaging 21 points 9 boards and 3 blocks per game. From there he went on to play ball at UConn under coach Jim Calhoun. This was not very well received in college basketball circles, after Gay had expressed an interest in playing for Maryland but ultimately chose to go with the Huskies. There was some degree of connection between his AAU coach and UConn, and the school even paid $25,000 to play his old AAU team. That's neither here nor there.
Gay had a tremendous career at UConn, becoming Freshman of the Year, both in the Big East and nationally. As a sophomore he was a Naismith Award finalist and led UConn to a 30-3 record. You may remember that team as the one who lost to George Mason on their way to a miraculous Final Four run. Following that season, Gay entered the draft and was taken 8th overall by Houston and then traded along with Stromile Swift to Memphis for Shane Battier. (Even though Battier is a jack-of-all-trades, I think Houston might like that one back.)
His rookie season was a bit of a struggle, as he only scored 10.8 points a game. But as a 2nd year player he took off putting up a gaudy 20 points a night to go with 6 boards, as the Grizzlies best player. He was runner-up to Hedo Turkoglu for Most Improved in the NBA that season. Since then, Gay has been one of the best small forwards in the NBA, putting up consistent numbers right around 20 points and 6 boards a game. He is a very effective shooter, and has even improved on those numbers this season. Currently he's shooting at a 47% clip from the floor and just a hair under 40% from three. He's not necessarily a one-sided player either, bringing nearly 2 steals a night to go with just over one block per contest.
He has also proven to be pretty clutch when it matters.
Gay is the 5th best power forward in John Hollinger's efficiency rankings. But he is in tremendous company behind Lebron, Durant, Melo and Pierce, and ahead of Danny Granger. Among leading forward scorers he's the top three point shooter.
It is a shame that such a talent has to be wasted on a joke of a franchise like the Grizzlies, and doesn't get to play for Boston where he belongs. Ok...I'm joking, but seriously, Gay is a player that doesn't get the national recognition he deserves. His list of accomplishments isn't long, but when you play on such a bad squad that is understandable. Much like other players on this list, I wanted to shine some light on a very bright young talent that doesn't get much love.
When you play the same position as Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant you're not going to get much love in the All-Star voting. However, at 24 years old Gay's best seasons are still ahead of him. And who knows? He may just find his way out of Memphis and onto a good team. Memphis fans (are there any?) are hoping that's not the case, but it would be good for Gay, and good for fans of the NBA.
"Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay will miss at least four weeks with a left shoulder injury, a potentially serious blow to Memphis' playoff chances. Gay suffered the injury in the second quarter of Tuesday night's 102-91 win against the Philadelphia 76ers. An MRI Wednesday showed a partial dislocation of the shoulder (CBS Sports)."
Huge blow to Memphis playoffs hopes, as they are currently tied for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference (with Utah). Gay was averaging 16.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.7 steals per game over his last 10 games.
Gay was given a big contract recently and a lot of people wondered if he was worth the price. His stats across the board are up from last season, and he is still only 24 years old, so I think he will only get better.
Memphis is really going to miss Gay while he was out, and this could put some pressure on O.J. Mayo to be a more offensive threat. He has just returned from suspension and this could prove to be an important couple of weeks for Mayo, who is looking to define his role on this team. Well, that's if he isn't traded first.
Rudy Gay landed the first max deal of the summer while LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and the rest of the star-studded free agent class mulled over offers from NBA suitors. Gay agreed to a five-year contract on Thursday that will pay him more than $82 million to stay with the Memphis Grizzlies.
I am really surprised about this. I knew people would be getting overpaid, because of all the teams with cap space, but I thought it would happen after Lebron/Wade/Bosh, ect all signed. Gay is a great player, but I don't see him as a "max" type of guy. Maybe I am just being bitter, because I really wanted him on the Celtics, but to me the Grizzlies really overpaid.
"Despite Danny Ainge's semi-denials about trading Rajon Rondo, another rumor sprouted overnight -- this one in Marc Spears' blog at BostonGlobe.com. Citing an Eastern Conference GM, the Globe reported that the proposed deal was Rondo and forward Brian Scalabrine to Memphis for guard Mike Conley and swingman Rudy Gay. But the report also pointed out that another GM who asked Ainge about Rondo was told Ainge didn't want to trade him (Ken Berger-sportsline)."
Once again no official word if this is true, but I have to say if there is smoke there is fire. The Celtics are at least going out there and finding out what Rondo is worth. I still think he will be on the Celtics next year, but this obviously shows that they are concerned they will not be able to bring him back (or "bad clubhouse guy?"). Get yourself ready, because I doubt this will be the last rumor we will be hearing.
