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Memphis Grizzlies: Marc Gasol is Providing Something to Be Excited About in NBA Playoffs

By Christian Dudley

MILWAUKEE, WI - MAY 23: Marc Gasol #33 of the Toronto Raptors reacts against the Milwaukee Bucks during Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on May 23, 2019 at the Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images).
MILWAUKEE, WI - MAY 23: Marc Gasol #33 of the Toronto Raptors reacts against the Milwaukee Bucks during Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on May 23, 2019 at the Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images). /
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While the Memphis Grizzlies are currently sitting at home, Marc Gasol is providing excitement for fans as he is enjoying team success in the NBA Playoffs.

Considering the 2019 NBA Draft is looming large with June just days away, there is just one person on a basketball court that can excite fans of the Memphis Grizzlies right now. That name would be none other than Marc Gasol.

Gasol spent 10.5 seasons as a member of the Grizzlies franchise. He played a large role in achieving some of the club’s best days, though you could argue all day long where he ranks among the infamous Core Four of himself, Zach Randolph, Tony Allen, and Mike Conley.

Marc meant a lot to the city of Memphis. Between him and his older brother — Pau Gasol — Memphis, Tennessee had not endured any days within the Grizzlies’ existence without the name “Gasol” on the roster. That is, until February of 2019 when the end of an era — or rather, a legacy — took place.

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For the most part, Memphis Grizzlies fans have poured out well wishes and notes of appreciation to Marc Gasol upon his departure to Toronto Raptors territory. Honestly, the appreciation has not stopped. It is ongoing. That is how it probably will always be. Still, there is a portion of Grizz Nation that was not as sincere with saying goodbye to Big Spain.

Those that were not as sincere toward Marc have a few key complaints. Yes, his rift with David Fizdale in 2017 did get the head coach fired. Still, Fizdale was not the guy for the job — clearly. Memphis continues to funnel through head coaches and currently reside without one just four weeks prior to the 2019 NBA Draft. However, this was not the naysayers’ only concern.

As Marc Gasol began the 2018-19 NBA season as a member of the Memphis Grizzlies, he was not filling the stat sheet with a large sum of points. In today’s basketball game that is so high-scoring, most fans want to see lots of shots and made baskets. Though Gasol quickly implemented and perfected the three-point shot into his repertoire over the past five seasons, his consistently low point totals raised eyebrows.

From a shooting accuracy perspective, those critics have a point with Marc Gasol’s percentages. He has followed his career-worst season in field goal percentage with his second-worst. However, he still managed to produce 15.7 points per game with the Grizzlies this season, which to some fans’ surprise, actually equates to his fifth-highest.

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While Big Spain may not have been efficient when shooting the ball this season, being one of the league’s best all-around centers — even to this very date — makes him a valuable asset on the offensive end. The game is not only about scoring and point totals, but for Gasol, he gets more pleasure in showcasing his superior passing skills for his 7’1″ size. The former Grizzly ranked second in the NBA this season in assists per game (4.4) by a center. Plus, he has mastered the pick-‘n’-roll game over the years.

Marc Gasol’s defense is where his primary focus is, and numbers support this. Even at the age of 34, Big Spain is good for at least one block per game, though he alters more shots than he blocks. Gasol’s best attributes do not visually appear in the box score. Hard screens. Good hedges. Floor spacing. Defending without fouling. A high basketball IQ. Making the right pass or play. Even Kyle Lowry agrees with this sentiment.

Marc is fully fundamental, and it is a major reason why his Toronto Raptors have not only lived up to the hype in the NBA Playoffs as a whole, but have also taken a 3-2 series lead over the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals. Gasol is now the fourth or even fifth option for the Raptors on offense, but he is carrying the team on his shoulders defensively. He is the anchor in the paint, stifling guys such as Joel Embiid, Brook Lopez, and Giannis Antetokounmpo upon their entrance into the painted area.

When Marc Gasol plays well, the Toronto Raptors play well. His now able to focus more on defense and does not have to force things to happen on offense. His current role — which leans more toward the “glue guy” role — is exactly what he was wanting this season.

Big Spain is getting older, and already not being a known vocal leader, he did not want to be the center of attention any longer. His body language on and off the court was demonstrating supreme frustration. Some fans were expecting things out of Gasol that he was not able to do.

Yes, he is a three-time NBA All-Star, but today, he is not your go-to franchise cornerstone. Plus, he wanted to win games and contend for a shot at an NBA World Championship while the Grizzlies were in tank-mode. Thankfully for him, the Memphis Grizzlies found the perfect landing spot for him in Toronto, and they owed it to him for his role in delivering the best days in franchise history earlier this decade.

Regardless of which side of the fence your fandom is on regarding Marc Gasol, he has earned each and every Memphis Grizzlies fan’s support. It is a matter of his critics to realize all the excellence he provided for Memphis over the years.

Though he was a large figure in the community, he also garnered 29 playoff victories, three NBA All-Star appearances, a Defensive Player of the Year award, and two All-NBA selections on top of global recognition. Prior to his days in a Grizzlies uniform, Memphis had zero wins in the NBA Playoffs and far less awards and accolades. Now that the Memphis Grizzlies did not even qualify for the NBA Playoffs this season, Gasol has provided some excitement and something for Grizz Nation to watch during the late-April, May, and perhaps June months.

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On Saturday, the Toronto Raptors take on the Milwaukee Bucks north of the border for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Marc Gasol is just one win away from his first NBA Finals appearance. Though Toronto is the slight underdog in this particular series, Gasol’s impact on both ends of the floor has led to the Raptors stealing homecourt advantage and perhaps the series, too.

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