Memphis Grizzlies: Biggest Overreactions of 2017

It doesn’t need repeating that the Memphis Grizzlies were awful this year. Awful luck, awful front office decisions, and awful basketball.

With all the awfulness that went down this season, it is super easy to overreact without context. In this social media driven world, everyone on Twitter has an opinion and must share it. I am here to encourage some of you to slow it down a bit and not overreact to this anomaly of a season. I am going to debunk one of the biggest overreactions of the season.

Marc Gasol Is Washed Up

I tackle this one because it is the most common Twitter take I have seen (before the JB hire). It is also the most ridiculous take I have seen as well. Just by gaze of the naked eye, watching Gasol play this season, it could be easy to think Gasol’s skills have declined. I simply believe that it is not true.

Gasol was above his career average in points, rebounds, assists, and free throw %. While playing less minutes, as he was sitting fourth quarters and resting games, he managed his third highest season scoring average at 17.2. The only seasons he scored more than that, he was an All Star. His rebound rate was significantly higher this season, which had to happen with the absence of ZBo.

Yes. Marc Gasol won Defensive Player of the Year in 2012-2013.

Yes. Marc Gasol is older.

But I do not believe the numbers truly tell the story. Marc was never the incredible one on one defender. He has never been the crazy shot blocker like a DeAndre Jordan. Gasol has always been the anchor of an incredible team defense.

During the 7 year playoff run, there were at least 4 common faces, common voices in that line up  — the Core Four. The familiarity and the chemistry was there. They always trusted their teammate would be where they were supposed to be. They knew where to be. Gasol led that team defense beautifully for so long.

The Truth

Then we have this season. Before November is out, Marc finds himself surrounded by Parsons (who barely played last year), Tyreke Evans, Dillon Brooks, and Andrew Harrison. So Marc is trying to lead a rookie, a sophomore who played sparingly, a brand new player who is only there to score, and a guy who might as well not have knees.

His decline in shot attempts, which was 3/game, and his uptick in assists, show that Gasol was focused on getting his teammates going this year. We have always known and been frustrated by Gasol’s offensive passiveness. This was the year he needed to demand the ball, and average over 20 per game. But Marc remains committed to playing basketball the right way.

Anyone who has played organized team basketball should understand how important communication is on defense and how difficult it is with a new group of guys. The numbers may point at a decline, but I believe numbers also lie.

With Mike returning and this team, and hopefully Tyreke, getting another summer together, Marc will prove that it is in fact an overreaction. He’s not washed up. He will be geared up, playing at an All Star level leading us back to the playoffs in 2018-19.