Editor's note: Each week during the NBA regular season, Dr. Jack Ramsay makes a house call with a sickly team.

This week's team: Memphis Grizzlies.

The Symptoms
Symptoms of the floundering Memphis team are obvious. The team is winless (0-8) and ranks last in the league in points allowed (104.0) and field-goal percentage defense (.466). Teams have blistered Memphis from 3-point range, as well (.394). There has been a visible lack of defensive organization and purpose.

	Pau Gasol and the Grizzlies must play defense in order to get playing time from Hubie Brown.

The Grizzlies also were manhandled on the backboards. The team ranks 28th in total rebounds (39.4 per game) and allows the second-highest number of rebounds to opponents (47.5). Those are damning statistics and far outweigh the Grizzlies' modest ability to score (93.4 points a game) -- which is 13th best in the NBA. Memphis also turns the ball over two more times (18) than it forces from opponents (16). None of these statistics is associated with winning basketball.

Another reason for the team's bad start is its youth. Six of the 15 players on its payroll are rookies, and another three have had but one year of experience. No other team in the league has that proportion of inexperienced players -- many of whom start or play significant minutes. Two of the team's top three scorers (Drew Gooden and Gordan Giricek) are rookies, and the leading scorer, Pau Gasol, is in his second NBA season.

Before giving up his coaching duties Tuesday, Sidney Lowe tried a variety of lineups and didn't find success with any of them. In the process, players weren't sure if they would start, come off the bench or perhaps not play at all. In its two most recent losses, the Grizzlies couldn't find a way to beat teams (Denver and Golden State) that were struggling almost as much as they were.

The Diagnosis
Despite its poor record, there is some nice talent on this team. Gasol and Gooden should develop into All-Star players, and Shane Battier and Giricek will be solid performers. Guard Jason Williams has the tools to be an outstanding point, and Brevin Knight and young Earl Watson back him up. Veterans Wesley Person, Michael Dickerson (when healthy), Battier and Giricek can score from the edges, and there's enough size among the 7-foot Gasol, 6-11 Lorenzen Wright, 6-10 Gooden and 6-9 Stromile Swift for the Grizzlies to have effective interior defense and hold their own on the boards. Rookie big men Cezary Trybanski (7-2) and Robert Archibald (6-11) wait in the wings.

Those qualities led the Grizzlies' faithful to be optimistic about this season. That optimism has yet to be fulfilled. If the team is to turn its season around -- and there's time for that to happen -- it must start with a focus on defense. No team wins when it's last in the league in both points and field-goal percentage defense and gets hammered on the boards every game.

A decision must also be made on a consistent rotation of eight or nine players, and that decision must be adhered to for a significant period of time. Players must know who starts the game, who comes off the bench and for approximately how long they'll play. That is the only way for a system of team play to be developed.

The Cure
President of basketball operations Jerry West has already taken a major step in rectifying the team's problems with the hiring of veteran coach Hubie Brown. Brown is a great defensive coach who will install his system with positive results. He'll get the Memphis defenders to play tough on the ball, give effective weak-side help and block out and rebound. He'll also organize an effective trapping defense that will generate a lot of energy at both ends of the floor.

	Grizzlies fans can disregard the fact that Brown has been out of coaching since December of 1986. With his television work and continuous involvement in teaching the game to coaches and players all over the world, Brown has stayed on top of the game.

On offense, Brown will use a simplified but effective game that will utilize the skills of his best scorers. Brown will also work out a rotation of players, into and out of the game, that will lend consistency to their play.

I've done more than a 100 coaching clinics with Hubie Brown. He knows the NBA game thoroughly, is one of the best teachers the game has known and is firm in his dealings with players. You can be sure that his players will play the game Brown wants them to play or they won't play at all. Grizzlies fans can disregard the fact that Brown has been out of coaching since December of 1986. With his television work and continuous involvement in teaching the game to coaches and players all over the world, Brown has stayed on top of the game.

Brown will be ably assisted by longtime friend and associate Tony Barone, who is familiar with Brown's theories of the game, as well as Lionel Hollins, who was an excellent player for me on Portland's 1977 championship team and understands the importance of defense and teamwork.

The future of the Grizzlies took a dramatic turn for the better with the hiring of Brown. He'll have an immediate impact on his new team.

Dr. Jack Ramsay, who is an NBA analyst for ESPN, is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.