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Thread: Marc Gasol is a Grizzly

  1. #61
    Senior Member Neozyrus's Avatar
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    First of all, imho he has done a great season, having suffering a rookie wall, trying to adapt to a new style of play, much more psysichal and with many more games.

    But i have some doubts about his future cause i havnet seen any significant progress in his skills like i have see it in him in the last 2 years, and as i think that he's already strong and tall, he has to improve in his defense, probably even gaining a little more of pure muscle, but also trying to improve some movements towards the rim that could make him more umpredictable (Ive seen him making 6.5m shots in ACB with a pretty high accurancy but this year i hardly have seen him doing that for example).

    And im saying this because he has dome these great numbers playing more than 30 min per game, and yes i know he's a rookie, he has in his team two ballhogs as Mayo and Gay..etc, but if he doesnt become more dominant and unpredictable imo he will never be a decisive player in the league ( and imo he has the potential for it) and when another coach comes his time and numbers could be drastically reduced.

    Anyway if he keeps progressing i think that with time he could beciome some sort of Ilgauskas kind of player.
    You know, call me parnaoid, but i cant stop being quite sceptical about NBA's coaches.
    I KISS BASKET

  2. #62
    Administrator mvblair's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Neozyrus View Post
    But i have some doubts about his future cause i havnet seen any significant progress in his skills like i have see it in him in the last 2 years
    I think there is usually a big jump after a big player's first year in the NBA, even if that player is a "veteran" rookie like Marc. The reason is...
    , and as i think that he's already strong and tall, he has to improve in his defense, probably even gaining a little more of pure muscle
    ...those second year big men put on a lot of muscle. Say what you will about the US athletic system, but we always produce very muscular players. International players always put on more muscle when they're in the US.
    , but also trying to improve some movements towards the rim that could make him more umpredictable (Ive seen him making 6.5m shots in ACB with a pretty high accurancy but this year i hardly have seen him doing that for example).
    You're right. I didn't see that very often. I don't think I ever saw that, in fact.
    You know, call me parnaoid, but i cant stop being quite sceptical about NBA's coaches.
    You're right to be paranoid. There are a lot of terrible coaches in the NBA. Well, there are lots of terrible coaches everywhere. Is Marc being under-used in Memphis? I don't know. Probably a little. But he's a rookie big man and over the summer, as he does more conditioning and training, he's going to get some more skills.

    I'm very optimistic about Marc Gasol, Zyrus. I think he's going to be a fantastic player. No, he's not as good as his brother, but he's certainly as good as a player like Emeka Okafor, and Gasol still has some potential to reach. I'm optimistic.
    "I really like the attitudes of eagles. They never give up. When they grab a fish or something else, they never let it go. It doesn't matter. In a book, they write they find a skeleton of [an] eagle and there is no fish. It means that the fish beat him and killed him, but he didn't let go." -- Donatas Motiejunas

  3. #63
    Senior Member Neozyrus's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by mvblair View Post
    I think there is usually a big jump after a big player's first year in the NBA, even if that player is a "veteran" rookie like Marc. The reason is... ...those second year big men put on a lot of muscle. Say what you will about the US athletic system, but we always produce very muscular players. International players always put on more muscle when they're in the US. You're right. I didn't see that very often. I don't think I ever saw that, in fact. You're right to be paranoid. There are a lot of terrible coaches in the NBA. Well, there are lots of terrible coaches everywhere. Is Marc being under-used in Memphis? I don't know. Probably a little. But he's a rookie big man and over the summer, as he does more conditioning and training, he's going to get some more skills.

    I'm very optimistic about Marc Gasol, Zyrus. I think he's going to be a fantastic player. No, he's not as good as his brother, but he's certainly as good as a player like Emeka Okafor, and Gasol still has some potential to reach. I'm optimistic.
    Yeah i think you are right here, i just remember the case of Pau, that even though his first season was great, the second one was even better, even if the numbers were similar, in the second season the player seems to be more confident, not so "surprised/intimidated" by the stars, arenas, ambiance and most important of all imo, they get used to the huge quantity of games and travels.

    About the athletic system in the US, for me there is no doubt thet its the best in the world. Theyre specialists in putting a lot of muscle in players without almost losing quickness. You have the best possible example of that on P.Gasol, look at the pictures oif his first season in Memphis and compare them to one of this season, you will be reaaally surprised.

    About the coaches, yeah there are terrible coaches in NBA and in Europe, and even good coaches in both sides make terrible decisions about some players too, so you really never know, no matter where you are Just an example of that: Ivanovic in Barcelona didnt want Marc in the team: he considered him fat, slow, with no shooting abilities and with no game vision. At that time many fans thought that he just was there beacuse of his brother, and continued thinking it till the moment that he went with the NT to Japan. Its curious how things change

    And, as during these years he has demonstrated being a hard worker, i want to believe that he will keep progressing an adjusting his game to the NBA, and yeah i agree that he will never be at the level of his brother, but i think too that, with this progression, and taking into account the lack of quality centers in the league, in a "short" period of time he could be a quite important player in almost any team of the league (Im probably subjective here i know)
    I KISS BASKET

  4. #64
    Administrator mvblair's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Neozyrus View Post
    About the athletic system in the US, for me there is no doubt thet its the best in the world. Theyre specialists in putting a lot of muscle in players without almost losing quickness. You have the best possible example of that on P.Gasol, look at the pictures oif his first season in Memphis and compare them to one of this season, you will be reaaally surprised.
    Yes! Pau and Dirk are both great exampmles. They were so skinny and now have so much muscle.
    Just an example of that: Ivanovic in Barcelona didnt want Marc in the team: he considered him fat, slow, with no shooting abilities and with no game vision.
    Wow. Really? Fat and slow, maybe, but Marc is a very bright (smart) player. He's got some great talent.
    And, as during these years he has demonstrated being a hard worker, i want to believe that he will keep progressing an adjusting his game to the NBA, and yeah i agree that he will never be at the level of his brother, but i think too that, with this progression, and taking into account the lack of quality centers in the league, in a "short" period of time he could be a quite important player in almost any team of the league (Im probably subjective here i know)
    No, I think he'll be a fine player in the league. Heck, a 12 point, 7 rebound center is much better than the average starting center in the league!!
    "I really like the attitudes of eagles. They never give up. When they grab a fish or something else, they never let it go. It doesn't matter. In a book, they write they find a skeleton of [an] eagle and there is no fish. It means that the fish beat him and killed him, but he didn't let go." -- Donatas Motiejunas

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    Quote Originally Posted by Neozyrus View Post
    ust an example of that: Ivanovic in Barcelona didnt want Marc in the team: he considered him fat, slow, with no shooting abilities and with no game vision.
    To be fair, that's also what I heard from people in the US that saw him when he played high school here. He really got himself in shape and improved a lot.

    A vintage pic:
    Last edited by JGX; 04-20-2009 at 02:41 AM.
    Quote Originally Posted by Fedfan
    Most ppl get childish when they lose.

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    Administrator mvblair's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by JGX View Post
    To be fair, that's also what I heard from people in the US that saw him when he played high school here. He really got himself in shape and improved a lot.
    Wow! He really does look a little "chunky" in that picture.

    I think a lot of people expect Europeans to be skinny, not those kind of chunky players like "Tractor" Traylor, Zach Randolph, Eddy Curry, or Baron Davis. So, I guess it's a stereotype that Marc dealt with in HS and in Europe.
    "I really like the attitudes of eagles. They never give up. When they grab a fish or something else, they never let it go. It doesn't matter. In a book, they write they find a skeleton of [an] eagle and there is no fish. It means that the fish beat him and killed him, but he didn't let go." -- Donatas Motiejunas

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    Difficult vintage trivia question: Can you identify the defender in Gasol pic? He probably defended Gasol a bit in the NBA this season as well.
    Quote Originally Posted by Fedfan
    Most ppl get childish when they lose.

  8. #68
    Administrator rikhardur's Avatar
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    Nilsen: The 'Other' Gasol Makes Ready

    Whether he likes it or not, Marc Gasol is a player that has unfortunately always lived in the shadow of his brother. But after impressive back to back seasons, that shadow is shortening rapidly as he becomes a bona-fide worldwide star in his own right.

    The odds are now also stacked firmly in favour of Marc stepping up in his role for the Spanish National Team at EuroBasket 2009 in Poland and few would bet against him further enhancing his flourishing reputation.

    After a truly spectacular season in 2007/08 for Spanish side Akasvayu Girona culminated in him being crowned as the MVP of the best league in Europe, Gasol then made the move to the best league in the world.

    Despite his success in Spain, many doubter thought he wouldn't have what it takes to cut it Stateside, perhaps not truly appreciating the way that he had tore it up in the ACB and recognising he was capable of making the necessary improvements in his game.

    The sight of Spanish stars Juan Carlos Navarro and Jorge Garbajosa moving back to Europe last summer from the NBA also didn't help his cause and merely provided more misplaced ammunition for the sceptics, but having pitched up in Memphis, Gasol has surprised many with solid numbers.

    He proved he has an NBA calibre with the Grizzlies picking up 17 double-doubles on his way to averaging 11.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game during his rookie season in the big league.

    Now he is ready to step up his production and influence for the reigning World Champions in Poland when Spain go for their first EuroBasket gold medal and try to make up for the heartbreaking 2007 loss against Russia.

    FIBA Europe: Hi Marc, tell us about your memories of EuroBasket 2007 in your home country. It was a tough way for the tournament to end for you and the rest of the guys on the National Team.


    Marc Gasol: My memories of EuroBasket 2007 are really great because the whole country really got involved in that tournament. Obviously we lost in that final game against Russia. I mean if we had played Russia ten times I think we would have beaten them nine times but we lost that one game which was not so good even though we had played pretty well in the tournament generally.

    FIBA Europe: How much do you think you have improved as a player in the two years since that tournament, it seems a lot has happened since that 2007 Final for you?

    Marc Gasol: Sure, I have had a lot of chances to play a lot of basketball since then. I played a big year in Girona and played I think during that time at a great level and I was the MVP of the Spanish League. I got a lot of help that year from all of my team-mates and the coaches and since that time I have come over to the NBA so yes I guess I have improved.

    FIBA Europe: Are you ready to step up and play a bigger role for the National Team with the likes of Felipe Reyes which will be essential if Pau maybe chooses not to play for the National Team in Poland?

    Marc Gasol: Definitely that is no problem for me. I am up to the challenge and I really like the possibility of this challenge. I am excited about it. I don't know whether Pau will play or not - that's not in my hands. All that is in my hands is that I am ready for it and can be up to the challenge if it happens.

    FIBA Europe: Tell us about your views about Carlos Jimenez announcing his retirement. He will be a big loss around the National Team?

    Marc Gasol: Of course, I mean he will be a big miss for us because he was always a player who did a lot to get those intangibles for the team - those things that you never get to see on any stat sheet after the game. He was an excellent captain and for me will always be the number one captain for the team. He was also my roommate so not having him around will mean a lot for me.

    FIBA Europe: A lot of people have been focusing on the belief that Spain has a really tough qualifying group. Serbia, Slovenia and maybe even Great Britain can cause an upset - I guess you will have to be prepared well?

    Marc Gasol: It will definitely be very tough for us but we will be the favourites and that is to be expected as we are the defending World Champions. We will be ready even from the friendly games before the tournament because we need to send a big message to everyone that nobody can mess with this team.

    FIBA Europe: How different do you think the team could be under new coach Sergio Scariolo compared to Pepu Hernandez? Do you think there will be any major changes or surprises?

    Marc Gasol: I don't think so. I mean it is always the same in that it depends who is available to go. I think that we have a really good group of players and especially if Pau, Fernandez and Calderon go then we will definitely have a lot of strength. The importance thing is always the bench and having good guys ready if some of the main guys are not going or aren't doing it in games.

    FIBA Europe: Do you speak with Darko Milicic about EuroBasket? You could be up going up against him when Spain meet Serbia and that would be fun for both of you guys!

    Marc Gasol: Ha Ha! I can tell you we speak about it all of the time. We are always talking about it and so if we both go with each of our National Teams to EuroBasket we will definitely enjoy the possibility of going up against each other.

    FIBA Europe: Some people thought that you might not make it in the NBA but they didn't appreciate what a big, big season you had in the ACB for Girona. Do you think that you have played at your best this season?

    Marc Gasol: Yeah definitely because I feel that I have had a pretty good season again and have played well in most of the games. I am very happy with the way the season has gone and I am always waiting for the next game and the next season because I just want to get better and always improve.
    http://www.fibaeurope.com/coid_I8V-y...frontpage.html
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    Administrator mvblair's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by JGX View Post
    Difficult vintage trivia question: Can you identify the defender in Gasol pic? He probably defended Gasol a bit in the NBA this season as well.
    Hmm. Well, the guy looks a little small. I know that's a high school picture, but I'm trying to think of someone who played basketball at a college in Tennessee around 04/05. I can't think of anybody. Does he wear number 34 in the NBA?
    "I really like the attitudes of eagles. They never give up. When they grab a fish or something else, they never let it go. It doesn't matter. In a book, they write they find a skeleton of [an] eagle and there is no fish. It means that the fish beat him and killed him, but he didn't let go." -- Donatas Motiejunas

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    Quote Originally Posted by mvblair View Post
    Hmm. Well, the guy looks a little small. I know that's a high school picture, but I'm trying to think of someone who played basketball at a college in Tennessee around 04/05. I can't think of anybody. Does he wear number 34 in the NBA?
    No but he wears a number in the 30s. And he did not play at a college in Tennessee.
    Quote Originally Posted by Fedfan
    Most ppl get childish when they lose.

  11. #71
    Senior Member damelo's Avatar
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    Don't know... His face looks familiar, but...
    It's a bird? It's a plane? No, it's Rudy!

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    Senior Member robbe's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by JGX View Post
    Difficult vintage trivia question: Can you identify the defender in Gasol pic? He probably defended Gasol a bit in the NBA this season as well.
    Former Tar Heel Brandan Wright?

  13. #73
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    Quote Originally Posted by robbe View Post
    Former Tar Heel Brandan Wright?
    Correct! You get 2 experience points and the Beard of Gasol...use it wisely.

    Postgame quotes:

    "He was huge. He was the tallest guy I've ever gone against," Wright said. "I'm about 190 pounds, he's about 300, so that's a tough matchup. I just had to elevate higher. I respect him dearly."

    Gasol also enjoyed the competition.

    "I had fun playing those guys," Gasol said. "The freshman has a long career in front of him. It was good to be able to push around in there. Some of those 6-2 guys, you push them and they fall, and then you get called for a foul."
    Quote Originally Posted by Fedfan
    Most ppl get childish when they lose.

  14. #74
    Administrator rikhardur's Avatar
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    Marc Speaks Out On Pau's Plans And Rubio

    Spain's Marc Gasol admits even he doesn't know if his big brother Pau is going to play at the EuroBasket this summer.

    The elder Gasol is playing in the NBA post-season with the Los Angeles Lakers, who lead the Utah Jazz 2-1 in their first-round play-off series.

    "He (Pau) hasn't decided yet what he will do," Gasol said.

    "But our aim in Poland is to achieve the maximum."

    Spain has been in the news a lot in the United States of late because of the performances of the world champions' players in the NBA, and the much anticipated arrival of Ricky Rubio.

    The DKV Joventut playmaker, who is just 18 years old, shone at the Olympics last summer for Spain and announced this week that he is declaring for the NBA draft.

    Gasol, who met with the press in Barcelona on Friday, said: "Everyone knows Ricky Rubio, even my teammates who don't know where Barcelona is."

    As for Rubio's prospects, Gasol said: "I have advised Ricky to be patient. It's going to be very hard, but he has a lot of quality."

    Gasol is back in Spain after a very solid rookie campaign with the Memphis Grizzlies.

    While Memphis struggled all season long and didn't make the play-offs, Gasol started most games and ended up playing an average of almost 31 minutes.

    "I am very happy with what I've done in Memphis," he said.

    "I have no regrets to have gone there."
    http://www.fibaeurope.com/coid_YqcwC...leMode_on.html
    Die Liebe wird eine Krankheit, wenn man sie als eine Heilung sieht
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  15. #75
    Senior Member jugoplastika's Avatar
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    "The link above talks about Marc Gasol in review from this past season comparing how he played over in Europe to how he has played during his rookie season. It's a good read."

    Rookie Retrospective: Marc Gasol
    C 7’1” 265 Memphis Grizzlies

    Part One: Inside Scoring & Post Skills

    Then:
    "The young Gasol is a rather skilled player and delivers some nice intensity. He can play in the low post, although he could take better advantage of his big body and improve his jump-hook, he has a decent mid-range jumper, can pass the ball, understands the game and can even put the ball on the floor, although it’s not that much of a help considering his limited quickness."
    -2007 Spanish King's Cup: NBA Draft Prospects - 2/13/07

    "On the negative side, this Final Four again exposed that he could certainly use a better left hand. He loses space and effectiveness going for an orthodox right-handed short shot instead of a left-handed jump-hook whenever he attacks a rival from the left."
    -Roundup: Marc Gasol, Substance Over Spectacle - 4/19/07

    Now:
    After a successful European career in which he was named MVP of the Spanish ACB and contributed during his country’s Olympic run, Gasol was expected to provide the Memphis Grizzlies with some much needed frontcourt depth and toughness. Throughout his rookie season, he answered this call by developing into a reliable post presence, and was in serious consideration for the ROY award. According to Synergy Sports Technology, single covered post-ups accounted for 43% of his overall attempts, and Gasol has shown a surprising amount of finesse around the rim in these situations, although his statistics are relatively pedestrian (NBA - 49% FG%, 0.98 PPP).

    Gasol received the ball on the left block about twice as often as he did on the right one, and he's proven to be more effective from the left side of the floor (NBA - 48% FGM, 0.98 PPP) than the right side (NBA - 40% FGM, 0.83 PPP). When comparing Gasol's NBA post preferences with his situational stats from his previous season with Akasvayu Girona, there are some notable differences. For one, he didn't seem to prefer one block over the other in Europe; however, he did prefer his baseline shoulder on both blocks and scored very effectively with a variety of hook shots and wheel moves. Perhaps since he faces fewer double teams in the NBA and has a very small physical advantage over most NBA defenders, the Grizzlies feel Gasol maximizes his scoring ability when turning to the middle of the floor and utilizing a sweeping hook rather than a baseline hook shot from a tough angle.

    Regardless of which block Gasol makes the initial catch, he displays a sweeping hook shot across the lane that's extremely difficult to defend and really showcases his interior touch. If he shoots this hook shot going toward the rim, it's an effective play; however, sometimes he'll get knocked off balance and let it fly as he's fading away from about 12-15 feet. In these cases, the hook rarely falls, and Gasol's teammates are often left out of position to hit the offensive glass. When he senses a lot of defensive resistance when he dribbles to set up the sweeping hook, he needs to look to kick the ball to a teammate on the opposite wing. It will save the possession and give him a chance to repost and work against his man in a much more efficient way.

    The one glaring weakness in Gasol's NBA post statistics is his inability to score when turning baseline from the right block. On the left block, Gasol utilizes a surprisingly quick wheel move to seal his man inside and get to the rim. If he developed this move for the right baseline, Gasol would have one solid "go-to" and counter move for each block, making him a more reliable inside offensive presence at the NBA level.


    Part Two: Mid-Range Shooting

    Then:
    "Indeed his shooting range extends out to the [European] three-point line, while he greatly combines his scoring power with his passing game, not really looking for definitive passes, but feeding his team’s offensive flow by distributing the ball from both the high and low post."
    -Scouting the NBA Rights-Held Players at the 2008 Copa del Rey - 2/19/08

    ” Although we have dealt it before, it deserves to be stressed again the way he contributes to his team’s offensive fluidity, showing a high basketball IQ and excellent court vision--always being aware of his teammates’ position. That fluidity comes both in the set offense, particularly they way Gasol ships the ball quickly to the weak side, and in transition, as he’s automatic sending the ball to a guard after a defensive rebound to ignite the offense.”
    -Roundup: Marc Gasol, Substance Over Spectacle - 4/19/07

    Now:
    Although Gasol has an impressive amount of finesse around the rim, it really does not translate into his midrange game. He ranks 3rd in true shooting percentage among rookies at an impressive 59%, but this comes mainly from his inside finishes and the fact that he's a relatively efficient free throw shooter at 73%. Through one NBA season, he's done a solid job of getting to the free throw line averaging 4.6 FTA/G - a number that will improve as his role increases within the Grizzlies offense. From outside the lane, Gasol is not yet a great mid-range shooter (41% FG between 17 feet and the NBA 3-point line, 0.88 PPP) and may have some issues with his mechanics.

    In analyzing film, the problem which stands out most is his lack of knee bend and elevation on his jump shot. Given his size, Gasol doesn't need to elevate over defenders, but a little more knee bend and lift from his legs would provide him with a better shot trajectory and more fluidity on his jumper, since he’s compensated for his lack of lift by cocking his wrist back a bit excessively, which hurts his consistency as well. Right now, his release point remains a bit low, which may be a direct result of this lack of lift. Individual work could improve Gasol's shooting numbers even more and allow the Grizzlies to space the floor very effectively next year, especially if they pick up another post presence this offseason.

    Part Three: Decision-Making

    Then:
    "The current leader in efficiency rating in the ACB League, Marc Gasol has built a pretty mistake-free style of game that helps him to emerge as a statistical standout. He’s long, very strong, nicely skilled, and very smart playing the game."
    -Scouting the NBA Rights-Held Players at the 2008 Copa del Rey - 2/19/08

    "Although we have dealt it before, it deserves to be stressed again the way he contributes to his team’s offensive fluidity, showing a high basketball IQ and excellent court vision--always being aware of his teammates’ position."
    -Roundup: Marc Gasol, Substance Over Spectacle - 4/19/07

    Now:
    Watching Gasol operate in the half-court really showcases his decision-making ability and high basketball IQ. He's rarely impatient when he catches the ball on the block, and has the ability to set up his initial post move with a series of fakes or crab dribbles. He hasn't faced many double teams in the NBA, but Gasol showed solid post passing throughout his career in the Spanish ACB League. His turnover ratio is approximately the same as it was in Europe, but one would expect this ratio to be lower considering his diminished role in the Grizzlies offense. As his responsibilities increase in their halfcourt sets, Gasol will need to ensure that he protects the basketball and values each possession for a Memphis team that turns the ball over quite frequently compared to most of the League.

    Part Four: Rebounding & Athleticism

    Then:
    "In short, we’re talking about an absolute stud at this level. It’s still not 100% clear that he’s athletic enough to play substantial minutes in today’s NBA, especially early on, but to land a player this big with this kind of skill level and basketball IQ is an absolute coup. He might be the best big man in the ACB these days, which is saying an awful lot."
    -Blogging Through Europe (Part 2: Belgium) - 11/28/07

    "How much will Gasol’s lack of athleticism get exposed in the NBA? I guess that’s the question every single decision maker will be asking himself when it comes to evaluating the big Spanish center. With much more individual oriented defenses, it’s a very legit concern. In the ACB League, he relies on his excellent positioning to emerge as a very solid defensive presence. It’s not going to be the same in the NBA."
    -Roundup: Marc Gasol, Substance Over Spectacle - 4/19/07

    Now:
    Just finished with his rookie season, Marc Gasol has shown the ability to rebound at a decent rate on the NBA level. And although he possesses respectable numbers in terms of per game averages (7.4 RPG - 3rd among rookies), his 9.8 rebounds per-40 pace adjusted rate is rather mediocre for a gifted seven-footer seeing extensive minutes. His average production can be attributed to his lack of explosiveness and strength, as well as his physical conditioning. He has struggled against much more physical and athletic NBA post players, and because he's sometimes lazy in getting to the weakside block on shot opportunities, his defensive rebounding numbers are a little lower than the Grizzlies had hoped. By working to improve his conditioning to help his interior positioning just before shots are fired, Gasol should see his rebounding numbers increase next season, particularly if the Grizzlies can surround him with another interior scorer this offseason.

    On the offensive glass, Gasol has been notably more effective than he was during his years with Akasvayu Girona. As a member of the Grizzlies, offensive rebounds account for 10% of Gasol's offensive possessions, compared to just 5% last season in Europe. This increased production is due to the fact that Gasol spends the majority of his time roaming the paint and plays a diminished role in the Grizzlies offense compared to what he was expected to do on the offensive end of the floor with Akasvayu Girona. Regardless, his willingness to crash the boards helped him immensely this season.


    Part Five: Defense

    Then:
    "He wasn't really a go-to guy for Girona on the offensive end (mainly because of Real Madrid’s double-teaming defense), but especially he doesn't make a great impact on the defensive end. His limited mobility gets exploited in pick-and-roll situations that the opponents throw at him; he's not a great intimidator, he allows smaller opponents to shoot over him; and given his superb size, he's not the best rebounder around."
    -Scouting the NBA Rights-Held Players at the 2008 Copa del Rey - 2/19/08

    Now:
    Much of what we documented about Gasol during his European career has held true during his rookie season in the NBA. Given his lack of vertical explosiveness and lateral quickness, he actually creates a surprising number of defensive turnovers (1.0 STLPG, 1.5 BLKPG); however, he still struggles whenever forced to guard perimeter oriented big men or the pick-and-roll. When guarding ball screens, the Grizzlies seem to hedge most frequently, which often results in Gasol getting caught outside of the three point arc and failing to rotate successfully back to his man. Gasol must improve upon his conditioning to improve his lateral quickness and pick-and-roll defense to avoid becoming a defensive liability moving forward. If he fails in this department and/or the Grizzlies don't improve their interior defense this offseason by surrounding him with more talent, we can expect to see Memphis continue their defensive struggles through another season.

    In instances where Gasol is defending the interior, he holds his ground well, although he rarely makes highlight-reel defensive stops. Since he's a step slow, he's a victim of quick-footed bigs possessing great wheel or seal moves which pin him on the backside of the offensive player. And although he'll never really be the type of intimidating, explosive defender the Grizzlies desperately need, Gasol still shows good fundamentals to counter the offensive skill sets of more talented NBA players and keep them out of the lane.

    Help side defense is the area in which Gasol must improve his defensive game the most. As we previously wrote, he often allows smaller defenders to shoot over him and lacks lateral quickness - both of which usually equate to subpar defense. Gasol also tends to play lackadaisically off the ball, rarely knocking down cutters and looking to aggressively box out on when shots goo up. If he improves on his work ethic and hustle, we should see him develop into a respectable NBA defender - particularly if he increases his tenacity against more athletic players. Being a member of a struggling defensive system like Memphis' certainly hurts Gasol's numbers, but the addition of another interior presence this offseason should help the team's defensive play.


    Part Six: Intangibles

    Then:
    "As usual, he didn’t make much noise, nor did he capture the headlines in his team’s victory in the FIBA EuroCup. But he was again an important foundation in Akasvayu’s game. Gasol has emerged as a guy you can count on in every game, whether your routine regular season visit or a crucial appointment such as the EuroCup Final Four."
    -Roundup: Marc Gasol, Substance Over Spectacle - 4/19/07


    Now:
    As we previously documented, Gasol was a steady staple of his European club and consistently produced on even the biggest stages. This consistency has translated to the NBA, where Gasol's per month averages remained relatively constant for the entire NBA season - something that's unheard of for most rookies adapting to an 82-game season. Throughout the course of his rookie campaign, it seemed like he earned his teammates' trust, as they began to feed him more in the low post. If he can continue to develop his game and lead by example for the Grizzlies' young nucleus, we might see a very exciting team out of Memphis in the next few seasons, especially when they get him some help down low to better utilize his skill set in their system as a complementary player.
    http://www.draftexpress.com/blog/NBA...arc-Gasol-3226

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  16. #76
    Administrator rikhardur's Avatar
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    Sophomore season starting and blasting with a solid double-double: 21 points and 15 rebounds to go along with 3 blocks.
    Die Liebe wird eine Krankheit, wenn man sie als eine Heilung sieht
    Artificial Nature

  17. #77
    Senior Member Visseira's Avatar
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    Another great game: 17 points (8-8 FG's) and 16 rebounds
    Season stats: 35:42; 14,8 points; 56% FG's; 11,4 rebounds; 1,3 steals; 1,7 blocks...

  18. #78
    Senior Member Franz's Avatar
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    If Gasol's team didn't suck so hard, he might have a case for being an Allstar.

  19. #79
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    Quote Originally Posted by Franz View Post
    If Gasol's team didn't suck so hard, he might have a case for being an Allstar.
    He will soon become equal with his brother all things given, if not better.

  20. #80
    Senior Member Visseira's Avatar
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    14-14 yesterday. But the Grizzlies lost...

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