Zach Randolph, Model Teammate And Leader. Who Would Have Thought?

Let's play fill in the blank.  Here's the story in question.

The [NBA Team] received an early Christmas gift in mid-July when [NBA Player] officially joined the franchise.

Unwrapped, he has simply been the gift that keeps on giving. And no one put out more Sunday afternoon in [NBA Team's Home Arena] than [NBA Player].

Where would the [NBA Team] be without the nine-year veteran?

NBA Team?  The Memphis Grizzlies.  NBA Player?  Zach Randolph.  You heard me.  Zach Randolph.

It's not a joke either.  The Grizzlies just beat the Nuggets behind Randolph's 32 points and 24 rebounds.  They're 6-3 this month, including wins over the Cavaliers, Mavericks and Nuggets.  All of this with Zach Randolph -- Zach Randolph -- as the veteran leader of a talented kiddie core that includes Mike Conley, Rudy Gay, O.J. Mayo, Marc Gasol and Hasheem Thabeet. 

Here's what Conley said about Randolph (emphasis added):

“I knew he’d be good. I had no idea it would be like this,” Griz point guard Mike Conley said. “Shockingly, people here were down on him. But he’s 100 percent different than what people thought.”

Are we in an alternate universe, or are the Grizzlies just proving everyone that bashed the offseason Randolph trade (myself included) wrong?  I guess it could be the alternate universe.  It did just snow two feet in Washington D.C. after all.