Image by Getty Images via @daylifeThe Grizzlies are finally stepping up to the plate, first by overpaying Rudy Gay to make sure he stayed in town, and more recently by inking Zach Randolph to a contract extension. Randolph was understandably concerned about what the might be on the horizon for his team before he committed the bulk of his prime to Memphis, and he liked what he heard. First and foremost, his front court mate - Marc Gasol - is expected to be re-signed, as well.
"It feels good to know I'm going to be in Memphis for another four years. It feels real good. A little bit at the beginning of the year I was distracted by it (the lack of a new contract). I put it out of my mind about halfway through the season. I haven't been thinking about it lately until now. I'm glad that it's done and I'm staying here. But I definitely want Marc here with us."
It is precisely the front court pairing of Randolph and Gasol that has made Memphis a tough customer all season. Even as they've dealt with injuries at other positions, the fact that they have two big men who patrol the paint and puts points and rebounds on the board in bunches has helped them stay in the playoff chase. The two combined for 49 points and 23 rebounds in Game 1 in San Antonio, which the Grizzlies won 101-98.
