Marc Gasol return performance wasn’t expected
Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol returned to the basketball floor for NBA competition Monday night at Georgia Tech, and what I saw was nothing like the old Marc.
It looks like growing his own vegetables is going great for Gasol. He looks quicker, lighter, and stronger. Gasol, making his 2017-18 season debut during Monday nights game against the Atlanta Hawks on Georgia Tech’s floor. He logged 22 minutes, four points, four assists and 13 rebounds. Of course there were the fadeaway jump shots, craze after the whistle shots, and the ridiculous looks to guys cutting through the lane, but there was a different vibe around him.
Yeah, 13 rebounds, but about half of those rebounds were attacking rebounds. Gasol finally scooted guys out of the paint and rushed after loose balls, and it seemed like he was just playing basketball again. No more questions about his attitude towards teammates, no worries about injuries, and no more talk about style of play. Gasol looked like he was playing free. Less than five minutes into the game, Gasol dove into the Grizzlies bench after a loose ball. Something I haven’t seen from Marc since the end of the 2015 season.
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No, I haven’t forgot about last season where he had a 40-point game and averaged 19.5 points per game, but Gasol was grabbing rebounds when needed. Many Grizzly fans, and media members talked last season about “if he cared” on that end of the floor with the minutes he was logging. Those questions made their way into this season, but last night Gasol put those to rest. At least, for now, and if last night was a preview of what the Grizzlies will get from Gasol for all 82 games this season, it’ll be fun to watch. It’ll be fun since Gasol has space to move in the paint compared to previous years, due to talent on the wings.
The Grizzlies will continue their 2017/2018 preseason run in a game against the hot shooting Houston Rockets in Memphis October 11, at 8:30 P.M., on ESPN.