How the NBA Draft Lottery Works:With the Grizzlies owning the best chance at the number one pick in the 2007 NBA Draft Lottery, here’s a look at how the process works:

• Fourteen ping pong balls numbered 1-14 are placed in a standard lottery machine.

• Four balls are drawn at random to determine the winner of each of the top three picks in the Draft. The order of the numbers drawn are not important, 1-2-3-4 is considered to be the same as 3-4-2-1.

• Each team in the lottery is assigned a certain amount of four- number combinations.

• Since the Grizzlies ended the season with the worst record, they will get 250 out of 1,000 number combinations available. The team with the best record in the lottery has only five combinations.

• Only the top three picks are drawn via the lottery. The remaining picks are decided by reverse order of finish.

• In the case of the Grizzlies, the lowest pick we could have is fourth overall.

The Future Starts Now. Looking ahead, it’s easy to see a bright future for the Grizz both on and off the court, beginning with the emergence of young guns Rudy Gay, Hakim Warrick, and Kyle Lowry. Coupled with the veteran leadership of Mike Miller and Pau Gasol, the salary cap space to pursue top free agent talent and a top four pick in the NBA Draft, 2007-08 looks to be fun-filled and full of promise.

Grizz Luck RitualsDo you avoid cracks in the sidewalk? Have you broken a mirror in the last seven years? Are you Irish? The Grizz needs your luck and good wishes. Here are just a few Grizz Luck rituals* so you can help the ping pong balls bounce our way on May 22.

• Always toss a pinch of spilt salt over your left shoulder.

• Pick up a Grizzlies Draft Lottery antenna ball from participating Memphis area Sonic Drive-Ins.

• Knock on wood every time you talk about the Draft Lottery. If you don’t have wood nearby, knock on your head.

• Pick up a penny if it’s face up and carry it with you everywhere until the Lottery.

• If you sneeze three times before breakfast, wish for Grizz Luck.

• The night before the Draft Lottery sleep facing south. When you step out of bed in the morning make sure to put your right foot down first.

• If you have a rabbit’s foot, four-leaf clover, horseshoe or dried acorn carry it everywhere you go. (Remember to remove before washing.)

• If you have a birthday between now and May 22, blow out your candles with one breath and wish for Grizz Luck.

• If you find an eyelash on your face, blow it off the back of your hand and wish for Grizz Luck.

* Avoid walking under ladders, the path of a black cat, opening an umbrella in-doors and walking on cracks in the sidewalk. (This will help your mother also.)

Grizzlies Draft Lottery Parties • Tuesday, May 22Get out of your warm-ups and off the bench to catch the 2007 NBA Draft Lottery with other Grizz fans at four locations. Meet members of the dance team, have a chance to win Grizzlies merchandise, tickets, a team-autographed basketball, and more.

Flying Saucer Fox & Hound Downtown & Cordova Sanderlin & Southaven

The NBA Draft Lottery will air live on ESPN at halftime of the NBA Conference Finals on Tuesday, May 22.

CHECK grizzlies.com F or a ComplE t E lis t oF MAY 22 NBA Dr Aft lottery C o N t E s t s a N d g E t d E ta i l s o N t H E gr iz zlie s’ JuNe 28 NBA Dr A f t PA r t y