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Memphis Grizzlies coach Hubie Brown spoke with InsideHoops.com and other major media outlets in a teleconference a few days ago. Here are the questions and answers:

Hubie Brown's Opening Statement: We’ve played three exhibition games. We defeated Orlando at Orlando by five or less; and then at home defeated Cleveland by, I think, 10 points; and the other night lost at home to Indiana by 17. As far as injuries go, Bonzi Wells has not played in any of the games. Jason Williams has not played on the road games because his wife is expecting a baby any day. Earl Watson was injured during the first six minutes of the Indiana game with a calf blowout. We will not know until later today what his status will be, probably out at least a week or two. James Posey has only played in one of the games due to a ligament strain in his big toe. Troy Bell has missed every game, as has Ryan Humphrey due to injuries in training camp.

Q: How do you see your player rotation shaking out and how much of a challenge is it to manage a roster as deep as the one you have?

Hubie Brown: First of all, we play everyone every night. Every guy in our rotation, in the three exhibition games, has played 12 minutes or more during the exhibition. As far as playing 10 guys, we did it in Kentucky when we won the ABA championship. We did it in Atlanta and we did it in New York, so it isn’t something new that we’re trying to do. We worry about whether people will adjust to it or not. Naturally, everyone does not play the same amount of minutes. The minutes are dictated by the talent difference between the first-unit player and the second-unit player. If there is very little difference, they will probably split the game. If there’s a greater difference, they’ll probably play 32/16. If there’s a great difference, it could be a 38/10 split. It depends on who we have starting and who we have backing up. Last year, we had 10 guys average 20 minutes or more. And with that, we had five guys average double figures in points with Pau Gasol at 18 per game, and then we had three guys at nine points per game. When you have a young team, which we did, it gives everyone an opportunity to play and contribute, but it also develops talent for us so that we’re able to make trades two-for-one and three-for-two etc. And we’ve been able to do that. It’s not just about playing 10 guys. It’s about developing talent. When you have a young team with no superstars, it allows us to have two guys playing at the same position with a lot of energy, and we just like that idea.

Q: Do you expect Pau Gasol to take a leap forward in terms of minutes, production and maybe become an All-Star?

Hubie Brown: Well, we have to see. First of all, before you say All-Star in the West, there are at least nine guys, maybe more at the power forward position who have played in an All-Star Game in the West. So, you have to be careful of putting guys ahead of where they are in their development. Pau definitely has incredible potential. We’ll see how he gets out of the box this year. Last year, there was a fatigue factor at the beginning and we had to build him up. Then, naturally at playoff time, he would play 36 to 38 minutes at playoff time, but we’re seeing the effects of the Olympic exercise and the amount of time that he had to put in. Probably when we start out, he’s probably not going to play more than 32 or 33 minutes.

Q: Can you talk about the Tracy McGrady-Yao Ming combination, and is it the next Shaq-Kobe type pairing?

Hubie Brown: I’m a believer that chemistry is always what it’s all about. Last year at this time everybody conceded the Los Angeles Lakers a championship, and I said, well they do have these four players, but I do believe that the Los Angeles Lakers before them had Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor and did not win. The only year they won it was the year Baylor retired. I always use that as a reference point. I never assume a team is going to have the necessary chemistry. I feel that Yao has incredible upside and potential. Tracy McGrady is the one that’s going to have to make the necessary adjustments for this to work, because he’s going to be put into a different style of play, meaning tempo, meaning halfcourt execution, working through a post guy and he’s going to have to make adjustments to his game for all of this to work, because he’s never, since he’s been in the league, played with a player the magnitude of a Yao, or that type of potential at the post. So before you say they’re going to be better than San Antonio, Minnesota and Sacramento, you have to be careful. That’s just my opinion. Maybe Jeff Van Gundy and his staff will get it to mesh and in the second half of the season, that’s where we could see a real push by that group if the chemistry is there. Before you start you saying they’re the force a West, I think you need to take a step back at look at the three teams I just mentioned.