Memphis Grizzlies: Marc Gasol The Scorer
The Memphis Grizzlies put their perfect home record on the line Sunday night against the Los Angeles Clippers and Zach Randolph’s old buddy Blake Griffin. Heading into the contest, the Grizzlies sat atop the Western Conference standings with an 11-2 record, thanks to their elite defense and a career best start from Marc Gasol.
The Clippers have had an up-and-down start, looking good at times, but also struggling defensively. Both teams are expected to be in contention for the championship in the long term, so this game would serve as a measuring stick for Memphis.
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The last week has been difficult for the Grizzlies, but not for basketball reasons. A stomach virus has made its way through most of the team, leading to a few shorthanded games against Toronto and Boston. Last night they would be back at full strength where they would make a statement against Los Angeles with a 107-91 win.
One giant reason behind this 12-2 NBA-best start has been the increased scoring from Gasol.
There are a few different styles Marc Gasol tends to play. Through his career he has had the ability to add new facets to his game as he develops, that has been apparent early this season. Some games, he will not be as aggressive a scorer and just focus on defense and rebounding. Then there is facilitator Marc, who uses his passing ability in the high post to get his teammates involved.
Then there is the version that has been more present to begin this season.
The first 14 games of 2014-2015 have seen Gasol become more of a primary scoring threat on offense. He is averaging 14 field goal attempts per game, surpassing his previous career high of 12.1 he set last season. His usage rate also is the highest on the team at 25.8. It sure seems like he is making a conscious effort to shoot more, and that he is more confident in his scoring ability than ever.
Before last night’s meeting with the Clippers Gasol was averaging 19.1 points per game with a PER of 21.39, both of which are career highs. All three types of Marc Gasol showed up against the Clippers, primarily the scorer. His aggressiveness was on full display, Gasol exploded in the first quarter for 12 points on 6-of-8 shooting.
He took advantage of DeAndre Jordan, giving him space in the high post by showing off his smooth midrange jumper, knocking down four of them in the process. There was no hesitation. As soon as he had the ball in his hands he looked to shoot. He even hit one off the dribble on a handoff from Mike Conley.
Gasol would finish with 30 points and 12 rebounds on 13-of-18 shooting in the Memphis beat-down. It made for back-to-back 30-point games after he dropped 32 on the Celtics Friday night, and was his third of the season. DeAndre Jordan and Glen Davis had no answer for the skilled Spaniard.
His versatility is what makes him so difficult to guard. He can unleash the aforementioned jumper, face up and drive to the rim, and score while posting up, thanks to his crafty hook shot or his spin move that he used to make Big Baby Davis (probably) cry on Sunday. The evolution of his game is an impressive one, and just goes to show that even elite NBA stars are always looking to improve their game.
The best offense for Memphis comes when Gasol is aggressive like he has been lately. When the defense knows they have their hands full with him, it opens up shots for Zach Randolph, Mike Conley, and Courtney Lee. He has surpassed Randolph as the team’s best offensive player, and the team is better for it.
If Gasol keeps up this pace, and the Grizzlies continue to win, could he be in the running for MVP? It may sound like a stretch, but with the increased scoring, always stout defense, and overall team success, a compelling case could be made. Regardless, the Grizzlies and Gasol have proven they will be a force to be reckoned with this season.