Top > Sport > 2006 > March > 2006-03-23

Tsakalidis Could Takes Grizzlies to New Places

Jake Tsakalidis has woken, and no one in Memphis has a clue as to what woke this sleeping giant up. Over the past five games, Tsakalidis has been averaging 12 ppg & 9.4 rpg. Going into the final stretch of the regular season, Jake could not have chosen a better time to raise his level of play. No longer is Taskalidis listed on the Did Not Play-Coach`s Decision list. Jake has become a regular in the starting rotation and has helped the Grizzlies in vital areas such as rebounding, shot blocking, & points in the paint.

Strangely enough, Jake was not even the team`s playoff roster one year ago. His continued play could be more critical than anyone as the Grizzlies look to enter this year?s playoffs for a third straight season with the expectations of capturing the franchise?s first postseason victory. The Grizzlies will probably face the Denver Nuggets in the first round with an outside chance of catching the 5th seed in the West which could lead to a match-up against either the Dallas Mavericks or the San Antonio Spurs. The Nuggets perhaps presents the least threat considering their injury problems. Regardless of the opponent, the Grizzlies will need a strong and consistent effort from the front line as it relates to interior scoring & defense and most importantly, rebounding.

During the off-season and prior to the trade deadline, the Grizzlies were on the look for the services of a big man who could provide the kind of presence the team is now getting from Tsakalidis. As hard to believe as it may be, the emergence of Tsakalidis could lead to the Grizzlies having the means to not only win its first ever playoff game, but actually have a realistic chance of being able to look beyond the first round of the playoffs.