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Toronto Raptors: 3 ways Marc Gasol will help the team

By Orestis Rantis

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 30: Marc Gasol #33 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on in the first quarter during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on January 30, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 30: Marc Gasol #33 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on in the first quarter during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on January 30, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors
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2. A solution to the 3-point shooting struggles

Marc Gasol did not have a reliable 3-point shot until the 2016-17 season, but since then, he has really modified his game to fit in this modern era of the NBA. That includes a shooting barrage from behind the arc.

Would you call Marc Gasol a good shooter around the league? Probably not. His 34.4 percent conversion rate from behind the arc ranks his relatively low when compared to his shorter colleagues. But by examining the centers, we embark upon a whole different story.

Centers tend to avoid spending that much time on the perimeter, and as a result, history has not seen many great 3-point shooting centers. Marc Gasol, though, is definitely one of the exceptions.

Take Valanciunas, for example. Since the start of the season, he has converted on nine of his 30 total 3 point attempts. When Gasol hit his ninth 3-pointer of the 2018-19 campaign, we still hadn’t flipped the calendar over to November.

When compared to his fellow centers, Gasol ranks third in 3-pointers per game with 1.4 makes per game. That pick-and-roll with Kyle Lowry is about to be pretty exciting to watch.

Toronto’s style of ball movement could suit him perfectly to increase those numbers and continue adjusting his game to match his age and physical skills. Let’s see if he will be the one to make Toronto’s 3-point shooting ordeal come to an end.

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