Reason #40: The Qualifying Round

By: Freaknick

I used to own a pair of Allen Iverson Sneakers-the Reebok Question 2’s. On the insole of these beloved kicks read the inspirational, Darwinian motto: “Only the strong survive.” And now, for the irony: the team he’ll be suiting up for this season, the Memphis Grizzlies, finished with the 6th worst record in the NBA last season at 24-58, and they missed the playoffs by a Tennessee mile.  If this slogan emblazoned on his zapatos (and quite possibly somewhere else on the canvas formerly known as his body) held any merit, the Grizzlies should technically be dying, if not dead.  However the NBA threw them a 7′3″ life jacket named Hasheem Thabeet, offered them a warm bed and a clean slate, and invited them back to take a few more hacks in 2010.  How sweet.  If they were in the Euroleague, they’d be taking part in an eight team, two week tournament to decide which team deserves to hang with the big boys for another season. And believe me, these fellas aren’t just there for the free cake; day one of the Q-Rounds featured four games which were decided by a total of ten points.  Only the strong survive?  Maybe Iverson should’ve signed in Greece after all.