When the Grizzlies limped into Houston with a 1-7 record three years ago, coach Lionel Hollins contemplated rewriting the script of a sad soap opera.

The 2011-12 season began with a kick — Hollins punted a basketball out of frustration during a practice. It was his way of trying to jolt a listless group struggling to deal with the sudden absence of an injured Randolph.

The more things have changed through the years it seems that the Grizzlies’ regular-season starts have remained like a picture in a frame. However, Hollins has designs on not staring at a slow, adversity-filled beginning to the 2012-13 campaign.

He’s challenged the relative mentally and physically healthy Grizzlies to get out of the starting blocks fast.

“Oh yeah, we’ve talked about this,” Randolph said. “We know we haven’t really gotten off to good starts. It’s just a matter of us coming out focused and finishing games. We have to understand what we’re trying to do from the opening tip. We’re trying to accomplish big things around here and a good start will help.”

via Ronald Tillery of the Commercial Appeal