Memphis Grizzlies need to reduce Marc Gasol’s minutes

The Memphis Grizzlies’ season is essentially over, and they’re still playing Marc Gasol over 30 minutes a night. Stop this madness!

The Memphis Grizzlies lost their 54th game on Saturday night, and Marc Gasol still played 33 minutes. What’s the point of this?

The coaching staff has done a somewhat better job of managing his minutes, as he’s not playing both games of a back-to-back. However, he’s 33 years old and averaging 32.2 minutes a game in March — even though they’ve been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention since the start of the month.

Though he’s resting on back-to-back’s, the coaching staff needs to reduce his minutes. At his age, he shouldn’t be playing this many minutes when the basketball is meaningless right now. The Grizzlies aren’t going to make the playoffs. Why keep adding more and more unnecessary miles to an aging center that’s a major factor for next year’s success?

The Injury Factor

Here’s the scary thing with Gasol. He’s playing this many minutes, thus adding more and more miles to his career. On top of that, he did have season-ending surgery on his foot just two years ago.

Why risk another potential career-harming injury by playing him over 30 minutes a game when you’re eliminated from playoff contention?

As an aging center with an injury history, this has to be a concern for the Memphis Grizzlies. They’re looking to reload for a playoff run next season upon Mike Conley’s return, the arrival of a top-five pick and the hopeful re-signing of Tyreke Evans. It’ll surely be impossible if they don’t have Marc Gasol.

Don’t risk it now when your primary focus isn’t in the present.

Young bucks behind him

Surprisingly, Gasol has a few interesting prospects behind him, and neither of them have made a strong case to become his backup next season.

Deyonta Davis has logged the most minutes of the three young big men thus far. Though there have been some mediocre performances, he still has upside as a rim-protector and a lob threat. If he can expand his knowledge of the game and stretch the floor a bit more, he could be a nice option going forward for the Grizzlies.

They also have the newly-acquired Brice Johnson. After a strong career at North Carolina, Johnson has struggled to find his niche in the NBA. He proved himself as a double-double threat in college, but his size (6’10”, 230 pounds) and his low basketball IQ haven’t served him well in the NBA. His athleticism and bounce though make him an interesting prospect to at least look at.

Ivan Rabb has the most upside of the three big man, as he has a nice basketball IQ and is a skillful big man. He can pass the ball well out of the low and high post. In addition, he has proven himself as a double-double threat on both the collegiate and professional (ok the G-League) level. If he can add some muscle to his frame, he could become Gasol’s backup next season.

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Right now, they should look to play Gasol roughly 20 minutes a night and spread the remaining 28 minutes to one or two of these young big men.

Closing Remarks

I have often found myself on the edge of my seat for the past month and a half. I’m so worried that Marc Gasol is going to get himself seriously hurt when the Grizzlies are only playing for ping pong balls at this point of the season.

He’s an important piece to the Grizzlies’ masterplan of returning to the playoffs next season. Play the young guys right now and get Gasol ready for next season.