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MEMPHIS -- Nearly two hours into the Memphis Grizzlies first training camp practice, a screaming whistle blew what seemed to be a chaotic shooting drill to a screeching halt.Players anticipated their first of two workout sessions Tuesday was over. But new coach David Fizdale spotted someones effort lagging so he abruptly charged toward the middle of the court.What the hell is this? Fizdale shouted as he mimicked a player who loafed through the drill. What are we doing? Practice aint over. These are game shots were working on, guys. Championship shots.The Grizzlies have never won an NBA title or even a conference finals game. Doesnt matter. The language from the outset of training camp has apparently changed around here. And so has much more.About 1,043 miles separate Fizdales current job from his previous one. Memphis, on this particular late September day, was also 20 degrees cooler than the place that groomed him for this shot to become a first-time NBA head coach. From the motivating buzzwords to the bulletin boards throughout the practice gym, and from the system tweaks to the redesigned locker rooms and hallways, theres an unmistakable Miami Heat way of doing things that Fizdale has imported from South Florida.Theres a specific hope in Memphis. Its that Fizdale draws from his experiences in Miami, where he spent six seasons as Erik Spoelstras lead assistant in an organization run by Hall of Famer Pat Riley. Fizdale was with Heat teams that advanced to the playoffs five times, made four straight trips to the NBA Finals and won two titles in a system that featured LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.Theres no guarantee that incorporating elements of the Heat culture will result in a championship-level breakthrough in Memphis. Especially when no blueprint exists for avoiding the devastating rash of injuries that led to the Grizzlies using an NBA-record 28 players on the roster last season. Despite losing Marc Gasol (foot), Mike Conley (Achilles) and several other key rotation players, Memphis still finished seventh in the West and made the playoffs before being swept by San Antonio in the first round.If nothing else, Fizdales energy, engaging personality and accountability represent a fresh start for the Grizzlies. Many have taken notice of the initial changes in camp. Gasol, Conley, Zach Randolph and Tony Allen are on their third coach in a four-year span. Yet even after reaching the 2013 Western Conference finals with Lionel Hollins at the helm, then holding a 2-1 series lead over Golden State in a second-round series under Dave Joerger two years ago, Memphis Core Four sense a distinctive difference with Fizdale.Hes clear with his message about his culture, Gasol said. Hes coming from a place that went four straight times to the Finals. We havent talked much about Xs and Os. The last two months, its been about culture and trust. His message has been so profound from Day 1 ... and I needed that.New coaches make it a priority to establish an early connection with key players. For Fizdale, its risen to a passion. In Miami after the Big Threes first season ended with a loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the Finals, Spoelstra spent an unconventional offseason studying the psychology of football coaches Urban Meyer and Chip Kelly.Earlier this week, Fizdale referenced a quote that inspired him from Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh.I remember seeing a quote from Harbaugh, pretty much saying that 90 percent of his time is spent with his players; and that rang true with me, Fizdale said. Thats the most important thing I could do -- spend time with my players over the summer, give them a vision as to how they fit into this thing.For Fizdale, that meant reaching out to Gasol soon after accepting the coaching job in late May.In my first conversation with Marc, I said, Well, you know Im going to start taking you out if you dont get up at least four 3-pointers a game, Fizdale said. And I think he about fell out of his chair when I said it. I wouldnt have a job right now as a head coach if Chris Bosh couldnt shoot 3s. And he developed that in Miami. I plan to do the same thing with Marc, and hes already working on it like crazy.Fizdale then followed up weeks later with a visit to Gasols home in Barcelona. It was a trip that came at a rough time for Gasol, the former NBA Defensive Player of the Year who was rehabbing a broken foot that cut his season short in February. Gasol wasnt healthy enough to compete for Spain in the Olympics.He came and said, Youre not going to play for the national team, but here are the things I want you to work on for next season, Gasol said of Fizdale. And he said, Heres how I want you to lead the team, heres how I want you to be a captain and heres how Im going to do my job as coach to establish the culture we want to have in a city like Memphis. And hes doing what he says hes going to do.Its a message and a method that resonated in free agency when the time came to retain Conley and land free agent Chandler Parsons. Conleys $153 million deal to stay in Memphis was the richest five-year contract in NBA history, and Parsons scored a $94 million contract.Fizdale has told both that the onus to perform to the standards of those contracts falls as much on the coaching staff and other teammates as it does on the players directly under the scrutiny.I dont think Mike ever wanted to leave, Fizdale said. What Mike wanted to hear was what was going to be different, how wed take it to a different level. When I talked to him about the system and culture, we clicked from the beginning. Chandler wanted to see us keep Mike first. Once we got Mike, who wouldnt want to play with the most unselfish point guard and big man in the league?Fizdales recruiting and reinforcement of expectations havent stopped since.Hes like, Man, I just want you thinking All-Star, All-Star, All-Star, said Conley, who has yet to represent a conference in which Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry and Tony Parker have stacked up selections. Youre going to be an All-Star, is what he tells me every single day, outside of Were going to win a championship. I had kind of put that on the backburner, but it would be cool.Conley, Gasol and Parsons are all early into long-term new max deals. But convincing Randolph and Allen to fully buy in despite entering the season with expiring contracts represented a different challenge. They also possess the strongest personalities and roughest edges in the locker room.Im not the easiest guy [to talk to], but hes brave enough to do it, Allen said of Fizdale. Hes straight up front with it - nothing behind the scenes. I never had it like that from a coach. He put the light into our eyes that our window is not that big, so we need to get it done now.Fizdale is also literally shining a brighter light along the players path to the FedEx Forum court. Thats another not-so-minor detail hes borrowed from the Heat. The tunnel in Miami that leads from the Heats locker room to the court is referred to as Championship Alley and is lined with floor-to-ceiling game photos of players and images from championship runs in 2006, 2012 and 2013.Among the Fizdale-inspired makeovers in Memphis are oversized images of Conley, Allen, Gasol and Randolph in the hallway leading to the court. Theres also a redesigned team and family lounge. Along another wall is a quote from a Chinese author and philosopher about character being forged by fire. The concept comes from a collection of motivational books Miamis staff annually gives to players as gifts.All thats missing is the championship memorabilia in Memphis.Hes changing the culture already here and bringing that championship attitude, Randolph said. Hes looking guys right in the eyes. Youve got to respect what Fiz brings. Hes got the formula for the recipe.Fittingly, Fizdales first batch of Memphis practices were devoted almost entirely to defense.It was ugly in some stretches because they arent connected yet, but were working, Fizdale said of the schematic instillations. Spo and Coach Riley would kill me if they found out I did it any other way. Buy Air Jordan NZ . The Islanders dealt Thomas Vanek to the Montreal Canadiens after less than a year on Long Island. Meanwhile, the Oilers dealt long-time sniper Ales hemsky to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday for a fifth-round pick in 2014 and a third-rounder in 2015. Air Jordan Basketball Shoes NZ . Lack made 20 saves for his third shutout of the season as the Canucks blanked the St. Louis Blues 1-0 in the first post-Olympic game for both teams night. http://www.discountairjordannz.com/ . Pierce was ejected in the third quarter of Indianas 103-86 win Monday. George Hill stole a bad pass and was going in for a layup, and Pierce hustled back and appeared to be trying to wrap him up. Air Jordans For Sale NZ . -- For the first time in two months, an opponent was standing up to Alabama. Air Jordan Retro NZ . LOUIS -- Cardinals cleanup hitter Allen Craig says hes recovered from a foot injury and ready to be put on St. ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- If a quarterback wants to keep Denvers devastating pass rush at bay, it seems his only option is to hand the ball off to his running back.Andy Dalton stayed upright while throwing just eight times in the first half Sunday, but once the Broncos adjusted to stuff the run, he was forced to drop back.Thats when Von Miller picked up his NFL-best fifth sack and Shane Ray became the first player in 14 years to collect three sacks in his first NFL start as the Broncos (3-0) beat the Bengals 29-17 .I think it was obvious that they were trying to keep Von off of their quarterback, Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said. ... But we hung in there. They key was us coming back in the second half and stopping the run. If we dont stop it, were probably in for a long day.The Broncos dropped a safety into the box and inched their linebackers closer to the line of scrimmage after getting gashed for 75 yards in the first quarter, including Jeremy Hills 50-yard run on Cincinnatis opening drive. Cincinnati managed only 68 yards rushing in the last three quarters.Eventually, we got them in a position where we could start rushing and we were able to capitalize on it, Ray said.The Broncos (3-0) will surely work on their run defense this week as they prepare to travel to Tampa Bay (1-2) to face QB Jameis Winston next weekend.A teams No. 1 option with us is that they want to come in and run the ball. They feel like if they can beat us with the run, then they can save their quarterbacks, Ray said. But we make good adjustments and corrections.Kubiak isnt just concerned about Denvers trouble with whats known as the C gap, the lane between the tackle and the tight end, but with quarterbacks breaking free on third down.Weve been giving up some quartterback movement, Kubiak said.ddddddddddddLike Andrew Lucks 21-yard scramble on third-and-20 two weeks ago.Its being more gap disciplined on third down, Ray said. Teams know that were playing man coverage so quarterbacks start trying to get out of the pocket. When they see that lane, they take off running. We see that, we know whats going on, were just going to go to the film room and see what we can do to counter that and well get back to doing what we do.Safety T.J. Ward said the Broncos will have their run defense and QB corralling issues settled by Sunday.Its hard to find a crack this defense, Ward said. You can try to do something from last week that a team had a little success on, but were probably going to fix that and be ready for it the next week. You have to come up with something creative. Thats hard because even if you have a scheme, you still have to beat us one-on-one. You have to block Von, you have to get open on Chris (Harris Jr.) and Aqib (Talib). You have to get open on me. You have to stop the blitz and you have to protect.Fixing the flaws are a matter of pride, Ward said.We were at Vons house last night after the game reviewing the tape -- me, Talib, Von and K-Web (Kayvon Webster), Ward said. Before we even get in the meeting room, for them to tell us where we made mistakes, we already know. Thats the next level if you want to be great. Everyone has to be great, not only here, but on their own time.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton ' ' '