Memphis Grizzlies: 3 Players From 2018-19 Team To Compete In The Postseason
By Chris Kern
Marc Gasol
Marc Gasol is the one Grizzlies fans are interested in. They want to see their longtime star center get a chance to win an NBA Championship with the Raptors. Toronto sent Delon Wright, Jonas Valanciunas, and C.J. Miles to Memphis to acquire Gasol just prior to the trade deadline.
They get their playoff run started against the Orlando Magic. It will be a good test for them and for Gasol as he gets to match up with Nikola Vucevic. This should be an easy series for them before they get ready to face off with teams such as the Philadelphia 76ers and the Milwaukee Bucks.
He had an amazing career in Memphis. His ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor is truly elite and is something that will help the Raptors a lot in the postseason. Toronto is a perfect fit for him as he has helped them improve on both ends of the court in just a short period of time.
During his time with the Grizzlies, he played a much larger role, but he has benefited from a smaller role with the Raptors. It gives him a chance to be more fresh and ready to go as he gets set for a deep playoff run that he hasn’t done often.
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This season he played in 53 games with Memphis and was very effective in those games. He averaged 15.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game on 44% shooting and 34% from three-point range in 33.7 minutes per game.
With the Raptors, he has played in 26 games while starting in 19 of them. He has averaged just 9.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game on 47% shooting from the field, including 44% from three-point range in just 24.9 minutes per game. He has made the team so much better even without playing a large number of minutes.
The Raptors don’t need him to play huge minutes since they have Serge Ibaka who is a very good backup big to have. They also have Pascal Siakam who can play center in some situations if need be. Gasol playing fewer minutes than he’s used to is more about the depth of this team, rather than just him getting older. That plays a part of it, but he showed he can still make a big impact if needed to play a lot of minutes.
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Marc Gasol is ready to roll for these playoffs. Watching JaMychal Green and Garrett Temple battle with the Warriors will be fun, but they really don’t have a chance to make a deep run. Gasol has a chance to win a championship, and our team here at Beale Street Bears would like to wish him the best of luck, as he makes his first playoff run on another team.