NEW YORK -- Don't look now (you're too late, anyway, the preseason is over), but the Grizzlies were the NBA's most improved Canadian outcast during the exhibition schedule, their sole setback to the champion Spurs.
Pau Gasol's even better than last season. Jason Williams has gotten himself under more control. James Posey, Earl Watson and Bo Outlaw actually listen to Hubie Brown's lectures and learn from them.
Mike Miller is making plays. Jake Tsakalidis held Chicago's Eddy Curry scoreless from the field (0-8) the other night. And a lot of GMs already are conceiving excuses for permitting Troy Bell and Dahntay Jones to seep past them into the second round.