NEW ORLEANS – The battle always comes before the bear hug of approval.
That’s typically how it plays out now when someone new joins the Grizzlies. Unofficially, consider it the ‘Stack Up To Stackhouse’ indoctrination. Last month, it was Joakim Noah who went through it after arriving as a free agent.
The other night, it was newly acquired swingman Justin Holiday who was initially greeted with a workout battle on the court before receiving the welcoming bear hug ahead of Saturday’s debut in San Antonio.
Already lathered in sweat, assistant coach and former NBA All-Star Jerry Stackhouse sized up Holiday on the baseline, then drove toward the basket before spinning into the lane for a turnaround jumper.