If it wasn't evident yet, it's not totally clear. The Memphis Grizzlies gave up on this season before Monday's game against the Suns. Apparently, it's not all that uncommon for coaches to "fake" a timeout, but players generally know to keep playing until they hear the whistle. Seeing Alvin Gentry get up, as if to call a timeout, the Grizz stopped defending and Grant Hill swooped in for the easy lay-up.
Grant Hill, on the other hand, is not giving up on the season. Sure the Suns are statistically eliminated from the playoffs, and his teammates are acting like middle school morons (Okay, off court hi-jinx aside, most of the Suns still put in some good effort. Here's hoping for next year.), but Hill's still a model of professionalism and genuine love of the game. He's about to record his 82nd game of the season, which will be the first time in a fourteen year career. He hasn't played 80 plus games since '97-'98 and hasn't played more than 70 since the '99-'00 season when he put up nearly 26 points a game but seriously messed up his ankle in the playoffs. His career hasn't been the same since, but he's made this season one for the books. Here's to you, Grant Hill.
The Grizz better get practicing this off-season, otherwise they'll be seeing stars and sprite-bottles for a long time.
