ust inside Swedens blue line with a little over nine minutes to play. Lepisto

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The Grizzlies have little time to celebrate and appreciate the best season in this franchises history after being swept from the Western Conference finals. The organization faces several pivotal decisions, including the future of coach Lionel Hollins, free agent Tony Allen and how to handle a couple of burgeoning player salaries. "Were definitely thinking the future," guard Mike Conley said Tuesday. "Were definitely thinking that we got a good taste of what we could be, and now were going to have to make some decisions this off-season obviously based around Marc (Gasol) and myself and the core guys and see if we can improve ourselves and get back to where our goals are at." The Grizzlies found themselves swept from the post-season Monday night after a 93-86 loss to the Spurs. It was not the way they wanted to cap the best season ever for the small-market franchise. Several players made it clear Tuesday they want Hollins back as their coach after he helped them improve each season since taking over in January 2009. They were at their best this season going 56-26 and just missing the Southwest Division title by two games to the Spurs. They set franchise marks winning 32 games at home, 24 on the road and with a 58.5 winning percentage. They had never played or won as many post-season games as they did this season. They also extended their post-season sellout streak to 17 straight games. That is why Hollins already is being mentioned as a candidate elsewhere with openings at the Clippers, Bucks and Nets being possibilities. Clippers owner Donald Sterling was at Game 1 of the Western finals in San Antonio with speculation that he was taking a close look at Hollins, who knocked Los Angeles out of the playoffs in the first round. This is the first time the veteran coach has been a hot commodity. Hollins said nobody has asked to talk to him yet. He wants to be paid fair-market value but he said money will not be the final factor. "Hopefully, I will be here," Hollins said. "I love the guys. I love this city and the fans and everybody associated with the team. But weve got to be very, very realistic in what the future holds." Hollins had little negotiating leverage in 2010 when he accepted a contract from then-owner Michael Heisley. Now Robert Pera heads up the new ownership group, and Hollins had his longest talk with the new boss after Monday nights loss though his future did not come up in conversation. "I think he just wants to win," Hollins said. But Hollins also wants to know what chief executive officer Jason Levien plans to do with the roster. Levien traded away leading scorer Rudy Gay on Jan. 30, the second trade clearing up space away from the luxury tax threshold. Now Levien must decide whether the Grizzlies can afford to keep Allen, 31, and a two-time member of the NBA All-Defensive first team who received votes for Defensive Player of the Year. Allen said he wants to stay in Memphis where he coined the teams "Grit and Grind" mantra and is the self-named "Grindfather" at the arena known as the Grindhouse. "Getting to the Western finals shows that its a team to be reckoned with," Allen said. Guard Jerryd Bayless, who helped handle the ball to relieve the pressure on Conley, has a player option for next season. Tayshaun Prince, acquired in the Gay trade, will cost more than $7 million each of the next two seasons, but he struggled so much with his shot this post-season that teams left him open, daring him to shoot. Zach Randolph is a candidate for a trade or amnesty with a contract for two more years at $34 million. The two-time All Star led Memphis with 15.4 points and 11.2 rebounds a game with 45 double-doubles during the season. He averaged 20 points against the Clippers and 18 against the Thunder only to be limited by the Spurs to 11 points in the finals. They frustrated him with a wave of big bodies pushing him off his usual low block, and the Grizzlies couldnt adapt or make the Spurs pay. Randolph said reaching the finals for the first time helped him learn exactly what he needs to do now in his game. He also wants to finish his career in Memphis. "But its a business, and I understand that." The Grizzlies still need perimeter shooting after the Spurs dominated the paint in the last three games, able to focus on shutting down Randolph and Gasol. Quincy Pondexter should push for a starting spot after shooting 49 per cent from the floor and 45 per cent from 3-point range, but it wasnt enough. Right now, Memphis core is Gasol and Conley. Gasol was voted Defensive Player of the Year, and Conley was voted to the NBAs All-Defensive second team. Gasol said the Grizzlies themselves can work this off-season to get better as players. "I got to get better, Mike has to get better, Zach has to get better," Gasol said. "Everybody has to get better. Now we seen what it takes to make it to the finals and you see how you got to work through the whole season creating those habits, those good habits to play at the highest level." Pittsburgh Penguins Shirts . Andrew Luck lost his favourite target and the Indianapolis locker room lost one of its most revered leaders when Reggie Wayne was diagnosed Monday with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that will cost him the rest of the season. Cheap Penguins Jerseys . Kiriasis and brakeman Franziska Fritz finished two runs in one minute 55.41 seconds -- a mere 0.01 seconds ahead of Meyers and Lolo Jones, who likely bolstered her Olympic hopes by helping give USA-1 a huge push in the second heat. https://www.cheappenguinsjersey.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. Stitched Penguins Jerseys . -- Timbers coach Caleb Porter didnt stray from his business-like approach to the season even after Portland downed the two-time defending league champion Los Angeles Galaxy to gain crucial playoff position. Pittsburgh Penguins Gear . Ashley Youngs cross was inadvertently headed by Chester into his own net in the 66th minute, allowing United to claim a third straight league win. "We had to dig deep with our fighting spirit and weve done that," United striker Wayne Rooney said. TORONTO -- The old Henrik Lundqvist was back in net for Sweden.The 34-year-old Lundqvist made 36 saves to help Sweden beat Finland 2-0 in the World Cup of Hockey on Tuesday.We were confident with him coming in today, even after Jacob (Markstrom) played such a good game like he did (on Sunday), Swedish captain Henrik Sedin said. Being around Henrik for a few weeks now, we knew he was going to come in and have a great game.Anton Stralman and Loui Eriksson scored as the Swedes (2-0-0) got a firm grip on the top spot in Group B. Finland (0-2-0) is facing long odds for advancing to the semifinals.Lundqvist, who missed Swedens first game of the tournament due to an illness, struggled in pre-tournament competition, posting a 4.49 goals-against average and a .778 save percentage in two appearances. The Rangers goaltender was pulled from last Wednesdays game against Team Europe after allowing five goals on 22 shots in a 6-2 loss.I felt pretty rusty out there the first period, not as aware as I wanted to be, but I got some really good help with some loose pucks and stuff like that, Lundqvist said. Second and third, I felt more comfortable, but it was fun. I really enjoyed being out there playing. Big game, important game, not being able to play the first, you never know where its going when youre not healthy.Tuukka Rask, starting in the Finnish goal over Pekka Rinne, stopped 27 shots.We played such a great game, started off well, created so many good scoring chances, but we didnt score, Finnish coach Lauri Marjamaki said. OOf course the goalie Lundqvist was impressive.dddddddddddd But so proud of my players and our team effort. It was great today. But it is not enough.Finlands Mikael Granlund had two excellent scoring chances just past the midway mark of the third, but Lundqvist got his right pad on the first shot and Granlund put his rebound off the post.The matchup got physical in the third when Finlands Sami Lepisto caught Swedens Mikael Backlund with a questionable high hit just inside Swedens blue line with a little over nine minutes to play. Lepisto was assessed a minor penalty for roughing, while Backlund received treatment on the Swedish bench.It was a shoulder hit to the head, or towards the nose, Sweden coach Rikard Gronborg said. I know he was bleeding a little bit (from) his nose.Sweden led 1-0 after two periods. Stralman, a defenseman for the Tampa Bay Lightning, put a backhand feed from Sedin past Rask at 9:57 of the middle period.Finlands Patrik Laine had a strong scoring opportunity in the final minute of the second, but Lundqvist was able to get his glove on Laines one-timer.Every single Finnish player had a shot on goal. Laine, a first-round pick by the Winnipeg Jets, led the way with five.We had many good scoring chances, but he was playing awesome in the net, Laine said.Sweden concludes the preliminary round on Wednesday against Team North America, and Finland meets Russia on Thursday. ' ' '