While you were sleeping

There was something else going on last night while the Suns were busy getting into playoff form with a win against the Rockets. Somewhere between David West lighting up the Celtics (fresh off their Texas sweep) and the Magic falling to the Hawks, there was something brewing.While the Jazz were beating up on the Sonics and while the Bulls were re-affirming their shittyness by losing to the Pacers, there were stars aligning in Memphis.


In a seemingly meaningless game against the Kings, the Memphis Grizzlies came through with a nice W. It may not seem like much, but the Grizz had seven players in double figures. One of those players, was Darko Milicic. After my harsh criticism of him in a previous section, Darko exploded for 19,10 and three blocks on the likes of Spencer Hawes and Mikki "zero dimensional" Moore. Now, I know it might not seem like much, but maybe..just maybe it's more than that. Maybe this what we've all been waiting for. Maybe this is signaling a transformation. Maybe this is the culmination of everything Joe Dumars had hoped for. Maybe this is what the Magic thought they could harness. Or maybe it was just a fluke. Never the less, for that one night, for that one moment in time - Darko was a legit NBA big man. I know, I find it difficult to say as well, but maybe we were a little quick on Darko. While he may be a very minor step behind some other relative no names from the 2003 Draft(Melo, Dwade and CB4 immediatley come to mind), perhaps there is some light at the end of the tunnel.

Presently the Grizzlies are 18-51, tied for second last in the Western Conference. Did I mention they share a division with playoff teams New Orleans, Houston, San Antonio and Dallas? After sealing the next few years of Memphis' fate with the trade of Spanish hearthrob, Pau Gasol, the Grizzlies are looking to anyone from Javaris Crittenton to Jason Collins for answers. I can't speak for the organisation directly when I say this, but I am under the impression they aren't getting the answers they desire. So, Mr #2 pick Darko- with this brief instance of legitimacy, you have given the Grizzlies franchise the same glimmer of hope that Steve Francis denied, Shareef failed to reach and Michael Dickerson...well, to be honest he never really gave them any hope at all.