MVN: Most Valuable Network

The Philadelphia 76ers host my favorite team in the west - the Memphis Grizzlies - on Wednesday.  The game starts at 7pm.  The crew at 3 Shades of Blue has the matchups.

I'd like to focus in on the Philly flavors for this game.  In addition to our home team, visiting the Wachovia Center is the pride of Friends Central - Hakim Warrick, the pride of Cardinal Dougherty and Villanova - Kyle Lowry, and the pride of Simon Gratz and Temple - Aaron McKie.  Come to think of it, wasn't Aaron the pride of the Philadelphia 76ers just recently?

Warrick sparked the Grizzlies to victory Tuesday night against the Kings in just his second start of the season.  His 24 points and 13 rebounds were both team-highs.  Before the Gasol trade, Warrick was buried on the bench behind Pau, Darko, and even Stromile Swift.

Kyle Lowry has been seeing time all year as his fellow backcourt mates have been in and out of the lineup with injuries.  Damon Stoudamire is now gone, but Javaris Crittenton (Thaddeus Young's college teammate) is now in.  Juan Carlos Navarro has been a spark for this team, but he's all about the offensive side of the ball.  Mike Conley Jr. has played pretty well for a rookie and looks to be the future at the point for the Grizzlies.  However, this team needs the grittiness that Lowry brings and I wouldn't mind him suiting up in a throwback white, blue and red Sixers jersey.

I wanted to let you all know that I've figured out the key to Rodney Carney's success.  He's got to dunk on somebody first before he gets dunked on.  That's it.  

How do you think he would have responded if Dwayne Wade did the honors first last Thursday?  Remember when Travis Outlaw posterized him?  Dude hung his head.  Get Carney a jam first though and he plays more aggressively. 

See, that's the difference between him and Dwayne Wade though.  If you beat Wade, he'll come back and beat you.  If you beat Carney, you'll most likely end up with the last laugh. 

Granted, Carney has not been given the opportunity to play through his struggles and he normally ends up on the bench before he can get comfortable out there.  Still, it is his desire and tenacity that has been questionable this year.  Often, it just seemed like he was going through the motions.  He's a guy who needs to get off to a fast start to build his confidence.

Speaking of dunks, Rudy Gay is competing in the slam dunk competition this year and has been giving plenty of ribbing to Hakim Warrick for finishing third behind the people's champion (Andre Iguodala) and the panel's champion (Nate Robinson) in 2006.  Graham Kennedy has a little scoop about it on his Grizzlies blog. 

I have a suggestion to fix the dunk contest.  Why don't they let the fans vote live and use a commercial break like American Idol to make it 50% on court judges, 50% text message votes? Maybe more people would tune in to vote.  [UPDATE: They Dunk, You Decide - rule changes available here]  As it is, I've got better things to do than to watch a bunch of similated dunks.  Dwight Howard is an intriguing draw though.  I like Rudy Gay, but dunking isn't the first thing that comes to mind when I think of his game.

This is the last game for both teams before the all-star break.  Hakim is going to stick around town through the weekend instead of going down to party in the Big Easy.  As always, stick with Passion and Pride for all your Sixers needs!

BONUS: Beale Street Beat's Michael Montgomery has the latest Grizzlies buzz...Plus, kudos to Ricky from Sixers4Guidos for sticking with Andre Miller from the beginning...