Versatile Marc Gasol Wheels Grizzlies Into Title Contention
By jasaad
After upsetting the San Antonio Spurs in the 2011 postseason, advancing to the Western Conference Finals in 2013, and forcing a Game 7 in last year’s playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Grizzlies have established themselves as an elite defensive force; but, as stifling as their defense may be, Memphis’ offensive limitations have habitually stymied their championship aspirations in seasons past.
This season, however, Memphis’ offensive efficiency has made massive strides, as they’re currently in the top 10 of the league’s offensive ratings, per NBA.com/Stats.
Coach Dave Joerger has deciphered the code to embellishing the team’s offense by integrating Marc Gasol‘s offensive versatility more than ever before this season, and the results speak for themselves.
The Grizzlies didn’t make any major changes to their personnel this offseason, and Marc hasn’t necessarily improved his game; he’s simply receiving the ball much more, accentuating his multifaceted game and basketball IQ.
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With a paucity of perimeter shooting, Memphis relied on Zach Randolph‘s herculean work ethic in the post to generate points. After averaging 1.25 points per shot his first two seasons in Memphis, however, he’s regressed to a 1.14 average his last couple of seasons — an indication of his athletic decline.
Consequently, Gasol has become the fulcrum of the Grizzlies’ offense as a playmaker/shooter from the high post, and he has the highest usage rate on the team.
Perhaps Gasol’s greatest improvement this season is his scoring out of the pick-and-roll. His 7-foot, 265-pound frame is strenuous for on-ball defenders to navigate around when he sets screens, and his soft hands and touch near the basket enable him to catch and finish while rolling to the hoop.
According to Basketball-Reference, 26 percent of Gasol’s shots come within three feet of the hoop, and he converts them at a 76 percent clip. That’s quite impressive efficiency considering how Marc lacks the athletic edge that’s needed to play above the rim and finish on lobs a la Dwight Howard.
Gasol is much healthier and more spry than he has been in seasons prior, which may explain the extra spring in his step while driving down the lane. As a result, Marc is shooting a career-high 10 free throws per 100 possessions.
Additionally, Gasol has displayed prolific consistency on his mid-range jumpers. To respect his passing ability, defenders occasionally lay off of Marc, freeing him up to hoist mid range shots at a 44 percent clip.
If the shot isn’t there, Gasol’s decision-making and passing dexterity from the post allow him to dump the ball off to Randolph underneath the rim and accurately hit cutters and spot-up shooters in stride.
Although effective, Gasol has not been as spectacular as he used to be in the post this season. He uses his physicality to establish post position, but rarely uses it to back down his defender. Marc exercises his ball handling ability and patience to feel his defender and launches his patented running hook over the right shoulder.
He’s also apt at hitting turnaround, fade-away jump-shots from the baseline when needed, although his percentage on these shots aren’t elite. When it pertains to hook shots and fadeaways, Gasol only connects on 41 percent of them on the season.
Nonetheless, Marc is still a proficient post player due to his astuteness when handling double teams and court vision, an invaluable trait for his team as a whole.
The do-it-all big man has thrust himself into the realm of MVP contention. It’s no surprise, then, that the Grizzlies find themselves among the NBA’s top-tier teams. A Grizzlies team with a potent offense is certainly a formidable threat to opponents, even in the brutal Western Conference.