Had things turned out differently, we would know too well Rule 12, Section V, item a, from the NBA rulebook:

“An official may assess a technical foul, without prior warning, at any time. A technical foul (s) may be assessed to any player on the court or anyone seated on the bench for conduct, which in the opinion of the official, is detrimental to the game. The technical foul must be charged to an individual.”

2. Grizz Claw Into Conference Finals - Thursday, May 16, 2013

His team had just overcome a 17-point first-half deficit and beaten Oklahoma City in overtime to win Game 4 and take a commanding 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series. So someone asked Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins if he was impressed.

3. Grizzlies Take Down Thunder in Overtime - Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Moments before Game 4 of the Grizzlies-Oklahoma City playoff series tipped off at FedExForum Monday night, Tony Allen, Mike Conley and Marc Gasol stood at midcourt to be recognized for making the NBA’s All-Defensive teams (Allen first-team, Gasol and Conley second-team).

4. Grizzlies Must Maintain ‘Thirsty Dog’ Mentality - Friday, May 10, 2013

As the Grizzlies’ series with the Oklahoma City Thunder shifted to Memphis for Game 3 on Saturday, May 11, the Grizzlies found themselves in much better position than during the Clippers’ series.

Instead of staring up at a 0-2 deficit, their Game 2 victory tied the series 1-1 and has allowed them the possibility to advance to the Western Conference Finals just by winning three games at FedExForum.

5. Grizzlies Trying to Create Season to Remember - Friday, May 03, 2013

Disappointments past can set up unmitigated joy in the present. At its best, that’s how this whole sports fandom thing works.

You invest yourself emotionally (yes, perhaps financially, too) and if you hold the stock (your loyalty) long enough, there’s a nice payoff.

6. Grizzlies Proving Their Brand is Winning Games - Friday, March 22, 2013

The long-term benefits of the Grizzlies’ 90-89 overtime win against the Oklahoma City Thunder, if there are any, won’t be known for a while. The Western Conference playoff standings are ever-changeable.

7. Pre-Grizz Comments Show Change is Coming - Friday, January 18, 2013

Deadspin.com has been getting a lot of publicity for breaking the story about the Manti Te’o girlfriend hoax. But the site also compiled a list that is of far more relevance to local NBA fans:

8. Gay Must be Traded Either Now or Later - Friday, January 11, 2013

The time will come – after this season, if not before the Feb. 21 trade deadline – when moving Rudy Gay will be the only sensible thing for the Grizzlies’ new ownership to do.

Unless you’ve been living in a cave – or The Pyramid – you know that Rudy rumors are rampant. Pick a media outlet – from ESPN to Grantland to USA Today – and you can find any number of possible trade scenarios.

9. This Den of Grizzlies Players Doesn’t Bluff - Friday, November 16, 2012

They were three words that were perfect for summing up Zach Randolph. Three words that were perfect for describing the Memphis Grizzlies seven games into this NBA season.

“I don’t bluff,” Randolph told reporters when asked about his exchange of unpleasantries with the Thunder’s Kendrick Perkins after the Grizzlies’ 107-97 victory on Wednesday, Nov. 14, at Oklahoma City, and on national television no less.

10. This Den of Grizzlies Players Doesn’t Bluff - Thursday, November 15, 2012

They were three words that were perfect for summing up Zach Randolph. Three words that were perfect for describing the Memphis Grizzlies seven games into this NBA season.

“I don’t bluff,” Randolph told reporters when asked about his exchange of unpleasantries with the Thunder’s Kendrick Perkins after the Grizzlies’ 107-97 victory on Wednesday, Nov. 14, at Oklahoma City, and on national television no less.

11. A Season for More - Monday, October 29, 2012

Last season, the Grizzlies made the playoffs and even earned home-court advantage for their first-round series against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Last season, the Tigers made the NCAA Tournament after winning the regular season and tournament Conference USA championships.

12. Grizz Get Back To Formula That Worked All Year - Friday, May 11, 2012

Tony Allen has a way of getting to the heart of things. “We went through our All-Star Marc Gasol,” Allen said after the Grizzlies won Game 5 of their playoff series with the Los Angeles Clippers, 92-80, at FedExForum, Gasol scoring 23 points. “He was big for us.”

13. America Still Waiting For Next Great Tennis Champ - Friday, February 24, 2012

Before last year’s U.S. Open, GQ asked a question with John McEnroe-like bluntness: “Why does America suck at tennis?”

It’s an offensive question to American Ryan Sweeting, 24, playing at this week’s Regions Morgan Keegan Championships at The Racquet Club of Memphis, and ranked 78th on the ATP World Tour.

14. Grizz Struggling Without Z-Bo As MLK Game Approaches - Friday, January 13, 2012

It’s almost cruel. At a time when the Grizzlies are playing without their best player, power forward Zach Randolph, NBA legends George Gervin and Clyde Drexler are coming to FedExForum.

Drexler and Gervin are being honored on Monday, Jan. 16, for their contributions to civil rights as part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration. There’s also the matter of the Grizzlies’ nationally televised noon tip-off with the Bulls, the team that handed them a 40-point loss in Chicago earlier this season. So imagine if the Grizzlies could sneak “Clyde the Glide” and Gervin, aka “The Iceman,” into uniform and find a way to make the years magically melt away for a couple of hours.

15. Westbrook, Durant Lead Thunder Over Grizzlies - Wednesday, January 11, 2012

MEMPHIS (AP) – Russell Westbrook couldn't hit a shot last time he faced the Memphis Grizzlies.

16. Excitement of NBA Returns to Memphis - Friday, December 30, 2011

The NBA lockout was in large measure about protecting, even enhancing, competitive balance in the league. So it was only right that the first home game of the Memphis Grizzlies’ season offered a reprise of their seven-game playoff series last season with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

17. Excitement of NBA Returns to Memphis - Thursday, December 29, 2011

The NBA lockout was in large measure about protecting, even enhancing, competitive balance in the league. So it was only right that the first home game of the Memphis Grizzlies’ season offered a reprise of their seven-game playoff series last season with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

18. Grizzlies Start Preparing For Shortened Season - Tuesday, November 29, 2011

When an NBA lockout shortened the 1998-1999 season, the Grizzlies still made their home in Vancouver and current Griz player Rudy Gay was just a kid.

“I vaguely remember ’98,” Gay said recently. “I was 12.”

19. Lockout Denies City Chance to ‘Believe’ - Thursday, November 24, 2011

What’s the cost of anticipation abandoned on the altar of BRI – Basketball-Related Income – and “systems issues” during the NBA lockout?

Because anticipation was the great commodity coming out of the Grizzlies’ breakthrough in the playoffs last season.

20. NBA Players File Antitrust Lawsuits Against League - Thursday, November 17, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) – NBA players kept offering economic concessions, and it was never enough to satisfy owners.

So with no labor deal and no place else to go, players decided to take their fight to the courtroom.

21. Game Nice Diversion From NBA Labor Woes - Thursday, November 10, 2011

If NBA labor negotiations could mirror the action on the court during Rudy Gay’s Charity All-Star Game Tuesday, Nov. 8, at the DeSoto Civic Center, solving the league’s lockout would be an uncontested slam dunk.