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Every time an offseason basketball event comes up, fans lose their mind and hope that their team’s stars stay home. People worry about fatigue, injury, and players coming home out of shape. The Paul George injury only escalated this fear in 2014. As a Grizzlies fan, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a victim of this fear and desire to have Marc Gasol stay home. But the truth is, a tournament like FIBA provides a positive environment for players to grow and sharpen their skills. The chance of a player getting hurt is just as likely in the Seattle Pro-Am or Bluff City Classic. This year, two Grizzlies laid the three shades of blue to the side in order to don their country’s colors for the quadrennial FIBA World Cup. Nick Calathes and Marc Gasol finished group play (for Greece and Spain, respectively), both going undefeated. Greece suffered a loss to Croatia in the round of 16, ending Calathes’s run. In the quarterfinals, Spain played a horrendous game, losing to France in an upset. FIBA play is over for the Grizzlies involved, and we have about 7 weeks until the NBA season tips off.
Marc Gasol
My man crush on the 7’1″ Spaniard has elevated immensely during this offseason. He is enjoying himself and having a great time with his wife of one year (as they welcome in their new baby) while continuing his dominance on the court.
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Right now, he looks to be in the best shape of his life since that memorable 2009 offseason. In 2009, Gasol was back in Barcelona shedding pounds by running up a mountain named Tibidabo; he had never looked better, on or off the court. Though it was only his second year in the Association, the 2009-2010 season is Marc’s best statistically. Simply watch Marc steal the ball from beloved Hamed Haddadi, gracefully dribble down the court, and seriously get up on his dunk.
Though I doubt we see too many breakaway dunks by Marc, those are some pretty serious hops for a 265-pound beast man.
While playing alongside two elite bigs in Pau and Serge Ibaka, Marc has continued to put up solid numbers, averaging 11.3 points per game and 6.7 rebounds per game. Also, he is dunking on everybody.
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Although Marc had a solid tournament, he was outplayed by older brother Pau in nearly every game. The elder Gasol put up a wonderful stat line throughout the World Cup averaging 20 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks in only 27 minutes of play per game. Remember when the Thunder were reported to be in the lead of the Pau sweepstakes? Pau starting in place of Kendrick Perkins alongside Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and fellow Spaniard Serge Ibaka is a frightening thought. In what Pau called their “worst game of the tournament by far,” Spain suffered a 10-point loss to France. Marc played his worst game of the tournament, scoring only 3 points on 14 percent shooting. It’s tough to see Spain knocked out before the finals, but now Marc can rest up and prepare for what is undoubtedly the biggest season of his NBA career. Many Grizzlies fans, including myself, admitted that they would have cheered for Marc and Team Spain against Team USA if they met in the finals, and the Grizzlies hosted a watch party this afternoon to support Marc and Spain. Even though they lost, it is nice to see Memphis pouring out so much support for Marc.
I am just happy to see Marc looking healthy while enjoying himself over in Spain. Oh, and then there’s this thing of beauty from Big Spain.
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Grizz Nation, prepare yourselves: Marc is coming into this season with a championship mindset.
John Hollinger section
26.3 minutes per game- Led Spain in MPG
35.8 minutes per game- career high in MPG from 2009-10 season, following his Summer running mountains in Barcelona. Could we see a new career high this season?
70.7%- field goal percentage this FIBA World Cup, also leading team Spain.
3/5- 3 point shooting during this FIBA World Cup
7/46- All time NBA 3 point shooting
6-1- Spain’s record in the world cup
-14- Marc’s +/- in Spain’s loss to France
This is the debut piece for 3SOB’s newest writer/intern, Robert Stukenborg.