collective attitude is part of that too.ddddddddddddWe are a

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Dave Joergers road through professional basketballs minor leagues has finally landed him in an NBA head coaching seat. His first job is at a familiar spot, with a team he has been a part of for six seasons. Joerger (YAY-gehr) was introduced as coach of the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday after a season in which they won a franchise-best 56 games but split with coach Lionel Hollins. "I am ready for this opportunity," Joerger said. "I have won in the past. I know how to win. Were going to win." Joerger, 39, was a successful head coach in the minor leagues and was the lead assistant under Hollins the last two seasons. He has been with the team six seasons. The Grizzlies are coming off a Western Conference finals appearance, but there was a disconnect between Hollins and the new ownership group led by Robert Pera. Hollins contract wasnt renewed despite a 196-155 record since becoming coach of the Grizzlies in January 2009. "Lionel Hollins did some great things for this organization. ... Now we turn the page to the Dave Joerger era," said Jason Levien, the Grizzlies chief executive officer and managing partner. Terms of Joergers contract werent released, but The Commercial Appeal newspaper in Memphis has reported Joerger signed a four-year deal with a starting salary of about $1.5 million. "This is a blue-collar town, and Im a blue-collar guy," Joerger said. "I came up the hard way. I came up through the minor leagues." Joergers name had been mentioned as the heir apparent to Hollins even as ownership and the former Grizzlies coach were trying to patch things up. On June 10, team leaders decided they had reached an impasse with Hollins and announced they wouldnt keep him. "This is something Ive been dreaming about for a long time," Joerger said. "This is something Ive been preparing for for a long time. This is Lionels job. When it wasnt Lionels job, then Im interested in coaching this team and leading this team. When that happened, then we started talking and going forward. The last couple of days, it went really fast." The Grizzlies also interviewed George Karl, the NBA coach of the year before being fired by Denver, Chicago Bulls assistant Ed Pinckney and former Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry. Through it all, Joergers name remained the one most mentioned. Levien said he was "positively inclined" toward Joerger as the coaching search began, but they had never talked about specific direction or style. "I thought it gave us an opportunity to spend real serious time in evaluating who the other options were," Levien said. "There arent too many times you get a first-time NBA head coach who has won professional basketball championships as much as Dave has." Joerger won an International Basketball Association title and two Continental Basketball Association crowns with the Dakota Wizards. A third CBA championship came as coach of the Sioux Falls Skyforce in 2005. He won a fifth minor league championship in 2007 with the Wizards after they had moved to the NBA Development League. Joerger was the Grizzlies lead assistant coach this season and helped co-ordinate a defence that allowed a league-low 89.3 points per game. His experience with the team also could help the Grizzlies have a smooth transition from the Hollins era. The dismissal of Hollins wasnt popular in many segments of the Grizzlies fan base. While Hollins had his detractors, his success made the departure tough to accept in the community, which has no other professional franchise. "I think coming off the success we had at the end of the season here in May and the excitement around the team was palpable," Levien said. "Certainly making changes, making adjustments is never easy. I think there is going to be an important time now for people to get to know Dave, to get to know our vision for the team as an organization, where we want to take this team and its role in the community. ... That said, I think also were going to soothe a lot of people when we start winning basketball games. We cant do that until Oct. 31 or so." Joerger said his style will be a faster pace than in the past, but not at the expense of the Grizzlies defensive reputation. He said the Grizzlies will maintain a grit-grind attitude and remain one of the most physical team in the league. Joerger said the faster pace wouldnt mean "vomit basketball" in which shots are taken in the first 5 seconds of the shot clock. "I think that would be silly regarding the fact we have two All-Stars playing the power forward and centre position," Joerger said referring to Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. "But by opening up the floor, moving the basketball, by spreading the floor a little bit, they are going to have more room to work. "Other teams arent going to have nine dudes in the paint when Zachs trying to back down and go to work. ... I like 3-pointers, but I love layups and I love free throws." Custom Rangers Jerseys . Dusautoir, the former World Player of the Year, sustained a torn bicep playing for Toulouse in the Heineken Cup on Saturday. The flanker, who has played 65 times for France, is expected to be out for up to four months. Authentic Custom Rangers Jersey . The mixed zone is not a place to make friends. http://www.customnhlrangersjersey.com/custom-eddie-giacomin-jersey-large-79b.html . The players spoke Jan. 13 during a Major League Baseball Players Association conference call after Rodriguez sued the union and Major League Baseball to overturn an arbitrators decision suspending him for the 2014 season and post-season. Wholesale Custom Rangers Shirts . Calgary scored on the first shift, and Michael Cammalleri scored twice as the Flames cruised to a 5-2 win over the Washington Capitals on Saturday. Custom Rangers Jersey China . Its sharpness matched my mind. This was no night to go to sleep.Luis Suarez insists Barcelona are the best team in the world, and that their strong team ethic should see them win a second successive La Liga title. Barca, a point ahead of Real in the standings, go to Granada at 4pm on Saturday, live on Sky Sports 3 HD with coverage starting at 3.30pm, while Real Madrid are at Deportivo, coverage starting at 3.55pm, on Sky Sports 4 HD.With the head-to-head record separating sides rather than goal difference, Barcas superior record over Real this season (5-2 on aggregate) means Zinedine Zidanes side must win and hope Barca draw or lose to take the title. Suarez has scored 56 goals for Barcelona this season Suarez says a clean sheet in Andalucia is the first priority, but is sure there will be one or two pressurised moments, such is the importance of the occasion.Its key to keep a clean sheet, we know that we have what it takes in attack, he said. We can win the two titles [Barca also play Sevilla in Copa del Rey final on May 22] or lose them. We are the best team in the world, and we know the pressure that comes with it, but we depend on ourselves. Granada will want to win for their own pride. With the goals and assists, if we win the league theyy have assisted that, but the collective attitude is part of that too.ddddddddddddWe are aware that the fate is in our hands. We have enough time to win the game. We know there will be difficult moments, as that always happens at this stage of the league. The final day of La Liga season will be live on Sky Sports on Saturday The Uruguay international has enjoyed a fine second season at the Nou Camp, scoring 56 goals to beat his tally of 25 from last term.And the former Liverpool forward says his team-mates trust in him has increased, meaning he receives the ball more frequently in attacking positions. Most of my teammates, like Messi or Neymar, have been looking to pick me out more, without me telling them, to give me options to score. It shows our team ethic.It is an honour to play at Barcelona with these players around me. On the field and off it they have been really important. This season we have shown we are great team-mates. Also See: Balagues La Liga best XI Barca could sell Neymar Casillas takes swipe at Madrid VOTE: La Liga goal of the season ' ' '