2010–11 Memphis Grizzlies season

NBA professional basketball team season

The 2010–11 Memphis Grizzlies season was the 16th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the tenth for the franchise in Memphis. The 2010–11 Memphis Grizzlies season marked their first playoff appearance since 2006. This season also marked their first playoff win in a series in franchise history by defeating the first seeded San Antonio Spurs in six games in an upset, becoming the fourth eighth seed in league history to win a playoffs series against a number one seed, following the Denver Nuggets in 1994, the New York Knicks in 1999, and the Golden State Warriors in 2007.

However, the Grizzlies' season ended with a seven-game loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Semifinals.

Key dates

• June 24, 2010 – The 2010 NBA draft was held in New York City.
• July 1, 2010 – The free agency period began.
• February 8, 2011 – Tony Allen was inserted into the starting lineup in a game against Oklahoma City, in place of an injured Rudy Gay and suspended O. J. Mayo. Allen produced 27 points, five steals and three blocks while spending most of the contest guarding Kevin Durant and in a postgame interview, coined the phrase "Grit. Grind." that became part of Memphis' team identity going forward.^[1]
• February 24, 2011 – The Grizzlies trade Hasheem Thabeet, DeMarre Carroll and a future first-round draft pick to the Houston Rockets for Shane Battier and Ishmael Smith. An attempted trade of O. J. Mayo to the Indiana Pacers for Josh McRoberts and a 2011 first-round draft pick did not make the trade deadline.
• April 8, 2011 – The Grizzlies clinch a playoff berth after a victory over the Sacramento Kings.

Draft picks

Roster

Pre-season

Game log

Regular season

Standings

Game log

Playoffs

Game log

Player statistics

Season

As of April 7.^[2]
* – Stats with the Grizzlies.

Playoffs

Memphis won their first playoff series, first playoff game, and became only the second #8 seed team to defeat a #1 seed in a best of seven Playoff Series in the history of the NBA by defeating the San Antonio Spurs in six games.

Awards, records and milestones

Awards

Week/Month

Season

• Zach Randolph was named to the All-NBA Third Team. It was his first All-NBA selection.^[7]
• Tony Allen was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. It was his first All-Defensive selection.^[8]

Milestones

• The Grizzlies won the first playoff game in franchise history with a victory over the San Antonio Spurs in game 1 of their first round series.^[9]
• The Grizzlies won the first home playoff game in franchise history with a victory over the San Antonio Spurs in game 3 of their first round series.^[10]
• The Grizzlies won the first playoff series in franchise history with a victory over the San Antonio Spurs in game 6 of their first round series. It was also only the fourth time in NBA history an eighth-seeded team defeated a first-seeded team, and only the second time in a best-of-seven series.^[11]

Injuries and surgeries

• Rudy Gay suffered a dislocated left shoulder during a February 15 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. Gay underwent surgery on March 25 and missed the remainder of the season.^[12]
• Xavier Henry missed much of the season with a knee sprain. He declined knee surgery.^[13]

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

Additions

Subtractions

References

1. "Grizzlies Make Up for Lack of Flash With Grit." Cacciola, Scott. The New York Times. 2013 May 18.
2. "Memphis Grizzlies Stats". NBA.com.
3. "Heat's James, Grizzlies' Randolph win NBA weekly honors | NBA.com". NBA.com. Archived from the original on January 15, 2011. Retrieved May 16, 2011.
4. "Heat's James, Grizzlies' Randolph named Players of Week | NBA.com". NBA.com. Archived from the original on February 3, 2011. Retrieved May 16, 2011.
5. http://www.nba.com/2011/news/04/03/players-of-week-carmelo-anthony-zach-randolph/index.html^{[permanent dead link]}
6. "Heat's James, Grizzlies' Randolph named Kia Players of Month | NBA.com". NBA.com. Archived from the original on February 8, 2011. Retrieved May 16, 2011.
7. "LeBron James, Derrick Rose highlight 2010-11 All-NBA squad | NBA.com". NBA.com. Archived from the original on May 14, 2011. Retrieved May 16, 2011.
8. "Bryant, Garnett named to All-Defensive team, tie NBA mark | NBA.com". NBA.com. Archived from the original on May 12, 2011. Retrieved May 16, 2011.
9. "NBA.com - The Game Happens Here". NBA.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2011. Retrieved May 16, 2011.
10. "Games | NBA.com". NBA.com. Archived from the original on April 27, 2011. Retrieved May 16, 2011.
11. "Games | NBA.com". NBA.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2011. Retrieved May 16, 2011.
12. "Grizzlies' Gay has surgery on injured left shoulder | NBA.com". NBA.com. Archived from the original on April 29, 2011. Retrieved May 16, 2011.
13. "Grizzlies' Henry out at least 4 weeks with sprained knee | NBA.com". NBA.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2011. Retrieved May 16, 2011.