SLAM DUNKS: Anyone doubting the abilities of F Pau Gasol (20.4 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 4.6 bpg, 1.91 bpg) probably has been living in an igloo for the last year. The Spanish 7-foot All-Star dominated the World Championships with his triple-threat game and no longer is a shrinking violet in clutch situations, demanding the ball instead of hoping for it. ... G Damon Stoudamire (11.7, 4.7 apg) returns from a season-ending injury and will team with G Chucky Atkins (11.4, 3.0 with Memphis) to give the Grizzlies good speed and depth at the point, allowing Lowry to ease his way in. ... Sixth Man Award winner G-F Mike Miller (13.7, 5.4 rpg, .407 3-point FG) has a sweet stroke to go with good aggression and plays multiple positions. ... The return of Swift (8.9, 4.4) and addition of Gay to team with slowly improving F Hakim Warrick (4.1, 2.1) provides awesome athleticism and length in the frontcourt. ... G Eddie Jones (11.8, 3.7, 1.75 spg) may be getting on in years but is still a capable player with a very professional approach. ... G Dahntay Jones (4.0) is still a work in progress but one of the top dozen athletes in the game.

AIRBALLS: Gasol is the pivot point of everything the Grizzlies do on offense and is out until January due to a broken foot suffered in the World Championships. In the first two months of the season, the Grizzlies play 18 of 32 games on the road and could dig themselves a hole without their star. It is unlikely any of their young forwards will come close to replicating what Gasol does for this team. Lumbering C Jake Tsakalidis (5.0, 4.2) also will be on the spot. ... The point guards all are very small and at a defensive disadvantage. ... It would be nice if F Brian Cardinal (3.4, 1.5) started earning some of his money, given that he is entering the third year of a six-year, $45 million deal. GUESSWORK: What exactly is the direction here? A year ago, the Grizzlies moved all their malcontents, dealing Swift, Bonzi Wells and Jason Williams and adding Eddie Jones, Stoudamire and Jackson to instill a professional approach. This summer, president Jerry West allowed Jackson to leave via free agency and dealt Battier while bringing in Swift and Gay, exchanging professionalism for athleticism - and perhaps a return to baby-sitting for Fratello.

THINKING CAP: Eddie Jones is the highest-paid player on the team at $15.7 million but is in the last year of his contract. That slot is not enough to get the Grizzlies significantly under the salary cap to be a player in free agency but could be used to re-sign Dahntay Jones and Tsakalidis with plenty left over to bring back Eddie Jones at a lower figure. However, if Swift wasn't good enough to offer a multi-year deal last summer, then why is he good enough to bring back with three years and $17 million on the contract he signed with Houston? D-LEAGUE CANDIDATES: G Tarence Kinsey

THE COACH SAYS: "We're hoping that we can hang in there. We've got to steal some wins, there is no question. It's going to be hard to tell right now how good we can be without Pau, because we've had so many other guys out and haven't played yet for us or sparingly before they got hurt. But we've got great energy and enthusiasm with the young kids."