Midwest

?Biggest priority. The first thing Vancouver has to find out is whether 7-foot rookie Bryant Reeves can play. If Reeves proves he is potentially a top-flight center, the expansion Grizzlies have the player to build a team around. If Big Country is a big bust—which looked like it might be the case during the exhibition season—things could get grisly for Vancouver.

?Why the Grizzlies won't look like an expansion team. Because they have an experienced backcourt that will include Greg Anthony, Byron Scott and Gerald Wilkins. Anthony is a good defender, but he has always seemed to have a higher opinion of his offensive talents than anyone else. It is time for him to put up or shut up.

?Why the Grizzlies will look like an expansion team. Their uniforms. Expansion teams tend to have ugly uniforms, and Vancouver, with its teal-and-black color scheme, fits right in.

?Outlook. The Grizzlies are thinking long-term. Their goal this season is to be better than their expansion cousins, the Toronto Raptors. However, on paper, Toronto seems to have the edge.