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MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The Memphis Grizzlies have parted with team CEO Jason Levien and director of player personnel Stu Lash in a front-office shake-up that follows the Grizzlies elimination in the first round of the NBA playoffs. The Grizzlies announced the moves Monday. General manager Chris Wallace assumes interim responsibility for basketball operations. Jason Wexler, the Grizzlies chief operating officer, remains responsible for business operations. Robert Pera, the Grizzlies controlling owner, thanked Levien for his hard work in a statement. "Rest assured that we remain as committed as ever to bringing a championship to this great city, and we are confident that when the new season begins our fans will be excited about both our roster and the direction of our organization," Pera said. Levien had been the Grizzlies CEO since Pera and his ownership group took control of the team in November 2012, and one of his biggest decisions was the hiring of Lash as director of player personnel and former ESPN writer John Hollinger as vice-president of basketball operations. The first season went well as the Grizzlies reached the Western Conference finals for the first time in franchise history. Then Grizzlies decided not to bring back coach Lionel Hollins, instead promoting Dave Joerger to head coach. Under the first-year coach, the Grizzlies went 50-32 and reached the playoffs for the fourth straight season. But Memphis lost in seven games to Oklahoma City in the opening round of the playoffs. Under Joerger, the Grizzlies struggled at the start of the season going 10-15. He also lost centre Marc Gasol 23 games with a sprained left knee, and guards Mike Conley and Tony Allen also missed games with injuries. Joerger wound up using 17 different starting lineups with Levien and the front office making a variety of moves bringing in Courtney Lee, James Johnson from the D-League and Beno Udrih off waivers. The Grizzlies had to win the final five games of the regular season to earn the No. 7 seed. But guard Nick Calathes was suspended for 20 games for violating the leagues anti-drug policy by testing positive for tamoxifen, Memphis was blown out with a chance to close out the Thunder on its own court in Game 6 and then Zach Randolph was suspended for Game 7. Memphis has some big decisions to make this off-season. Randolph has a player option for next season at more than $16 million, and Gasol has two more seasons left on his contract. "Wow," Allen wrote on Twitter. Dion Waiters Jersey . Chan captured two silver medals at last months Sochi Winter Games — mens singles and the inaugural team event. But he doesnt have the urge to resume training to defend his world title when the event is held in Saitama, Japan, later this month. Tyler Johnson Jersey . Phoenix originally signed Barbosa to a 10-day contract on Jan. 8 after Eric Bledsoe injured his knee and then signed him to another 10-day deal. http://www.authenticbasketballshopheat.info/wayne-ellington-heat-jersey/ . -- Barry Bonds is all set to return to the San Francisco Giants. Chris Bosh Jersey .com) - The Oakland Athletics needed to rely on a lot of young pitchers to win an American League West title this season. Justise Winslow Jersey . A criminal complaint filed in Hennepin County District Court said his girlfriend told police they got into the argument early Thursday at his suburban Minneapolis home.FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Tom Brady and the New England Patriots are aiming for their fourth Super Bowl title.Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs are going for their sixth NBA championship.Different sports. Similar dynasties.Theyre built and designed culturally very similarly, said Scott Pioli, head of the Patriots player personnel department during the championship seasons, knowing who the leader is and making sure that people are going to fit in with what the leadership wants and how they want to do it.Stability at the top is crucial to both teams success.Brady is in his 15th season, Duncan his 18th. Theyre humble superstars who set a team-first example.Bill Belichick has coached the Patriots to 11 division titles in the last 12 seasons and has home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs for the fourth time in five years. Gregg Popovich has led the Spurs to the playoffs in 17 of his 18 full seasons as coach.Longtime owners Robert Kraft and Peter Holt have made it clear who has authority — Belichick on the Patriots, Popovich and general manager R.C. Buford on the Spurs.And theres mutual admiration.Any successful franchise has good synergy between ownership, management and coaches, Popovich said. The Patriots obviously have that. Its a fantastic organization.Belichick returned the compliment.I love the way he coaches that team, the Patriots leader said. I admire it.Pioli is very familiar with both clubs.He was with the Patriots from 2000-08 and has had many discussions about team building with Buford, a close friend.Having a locker room that is dominated by the right kind of people and the right makeup is just as important as talent if you want to sustain championship level football or basketball, said Pioli, now assistant general manager of the Atlanta Falcons. The key (was) to make sure that we went out and got players that loved and were willing to commit to football the way that the head coach would. And thats what San Antonio does.Belichick and Popovich are the longest serving active coaches in their leagues. They demand precision in practices and games, stress team over individual success and treat their stars like their other players.When they mess up, Brady and Duncan hear about it.The Spurs and the Patriots have a collection of guys that are over themselves, said Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers, who became friendly with Belichick while coaching the Boston Celtics. Pop talks about that all the time, and so does Belichick: I need guys to be over themselves and about the team.Duncan passes to Tony Parker for baskets. Brady throws to Rob Gronkowski for touchdowns.When you have a superstar player that is humble and buys in and is willing to do whats best ffor the team, that sets the tone for the rest of the team, Patriots special teams star Matthew Slater said.dddddddddddd. Looking at Tim Duncan from afar, you definitely see that. And then being in the locker room with Thomas, its the same thing.That constant excellence has come in an era when parity and salary caps mitigate against it.The Patriots won Super Bowls in the 2001, 2003 and 2004 seasons. Since Brady became a starter in 2001, they have the best record in the four major American pro sports leagues with the Spurs second.The Spurs won NBA titles in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014. Since Duncan arrived in 1997, theyre first in winning percentage with the Patriots second.Your success is very much dependent on the person next to you and their ability and dependability in those two sports, Pioli said. Its about the players being able to respond to the great leader.Some luck helped.Brady was still available in the sixth round when the Patriots drafted him in 2000. Duncan was a cinch to be the No. 1 pick in 1997 and the Spurs got it even though the Celtics had the best chance to win the lottery.Both organizations have found veterans who could contribute.Marco Belinelli, Boris Diaw and Danny Green all helped the Spurs win the title last season after being traded or cut elsewhere.Linebackers Mike Vrabel and Larry Izzo joined the Patriots in 2001 and played key roles in all three championships. Running back LeGarrette Blount and linebacker Akeem Ayers have played well since their midseason additions this year.Bill needed smart players that were tough and low maintenance, Pioli said.There are, of course, differences in how the franchises have thrived.The longer you spend in this industry, you learn that there is not one formula for success in professional sports, Kraft said. What works for one organization doesnt necessarily translate to another. But what is important is that you find a formula that works best for you. Clearly, the Spurs have found a formula that works best for them.Just because Patriots assistant coaches learned from the master, success didnt follow them — Romeo Crennel, Eric Mangini, Josh McDaniels — when they became NFL head coaches.So why does New England keep winning?That comes down to three people, Slater said. Mr. Kraft, coach Belichick and Tom Brady.The Spurs have a similar foundation.What is the goal? Do you want to win just one championship or do you want to sustain it? Pioli said. When your core chemistry is hitting on all cylinders, thats when you have a chance to win championships.___AP freelancer Raul Dominguez in San Antonio contributed to this report.___Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Cheap Buffalo Sabres Gear Wholesale Calgary Flames Jerseys Cheap Adidas Colorado Avalanche Jerseys Montreal Canadiens Outlet Store Wholesale New Jersey Devils Jerseys Adidas Arizona Coyotes Jerseys Cheap Adidas Boston Bruins Jerseys Cheap Adidas Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys Chicago Blackhawks Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Columbus Blue Jackets Jerseys Dallas Stars Shop Free Shipping Cheap Adidas Detroit Red Wings Jerseys Anaheim Ducks Jerseys China Wholesale Edmonton Oilers Jerseys Florida Panthers Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Los Angeles Kings Jerseys Minnesota Wild Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Nashville Predators Jerseys Cheap Adidas New York Islanders Jerseys New York Rangers Winter Classic Jerseys Cheap Adidas Ottawa Senators Jerseys Cheap Adidas Philadelphia Flyers Jerseys Wholesale Pittsburgh Penguins Jerseys Cheap Adidas San Jose Sharks Jerseys St. Louis Blues Winter Classic Jerseys Wholesale Tampa Bay Lightning Jerseys Toronto Maple Leafs Outlet Store Vancouver Canucks Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Vegas Golden Knights Jerseys Cheap Adidas Washington Capitals Jerseys Cheap Adidas Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '