Marc Gasol Discussion: The Rain In Spain Falls Mainly On The Plain

i really think he was put under a lot of pressure from upper management to play drummond. i've harped on it a lot, but let's hope this is a learning experience for rob. the best organizations don't do this kind of stuff.

 

What really happened .....

 

We saw playoff poise tonight

 

.... AD's friend needs to ride the bench but instead Marc will probably do in the upcoming games for unknown reasons

 

It’s painfully clear the collective intelligence of the team both offensively and defensively jumps exponentially when Marc’s on the floor compared to when Dre is on the floor. It’s painful watching Vogel with his hands tied being forced to bench Marc. More painful watching Marc have to accept it. I know how we got here needing more verticality, but with promise Rob made to land Dre, after same with Marc to land him .... what a mess. And the team is worse for it.

 

it's almost like...he's the best center we've had in years? yes, yes that's correct.

 

My true hope is that Dre will verbally tell Frank and Rob he is fine the same way with being subbed for any time Frank sees better matchup for Marc or Trez, even coming off the bench. Certainly Schroeder .... just do it now, no need to worry about his feelings. But is Dre big enough and team first enough to do that now also? We’ll see.

 

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This is how you get the chemistry back on track as well.

 

In terms of Marc being “slow” ..... we don’t need him rim running anyway obviously and on defense he literally makes up for a lot of that by being as smart and effective as he is having been a past player of the year in that regard. Knows the angles instinctively and reacts quickly mentally. Cuts physical slow running speed substantially with those attributes. He gets faster LITERALLY again (and would have in normal season progression) if you keep him in shape with regular “game minutes”.

On defense and offense both he’s like a quarterback or coach on the floor directing players. How much value is lost not utilizing that? Hell if you let him play he’ll probably be willing to tutor Drummond to make him better too.

 

I’m glad Marc is playing better, but I’m not gonna pretend that I didn’t want another center before the trade deadline because I did. It seems that us signing Drummond lit a competitive fire under his backside which is good for him and us.

 

I did too, but not at the expense of him having to not see the floor. Don’t agree that he needed to “have a competitive fire lit under his backside” .... at all.

 

+20 cool points for the Pulp Fiction reference.

Marc was fantastic out there. This is the main matchup we got him for and he delivered. Grown man D, good box outs, facilitating from the top of the key, great ball movement, and silky smooth 3 ball that he actually didn't hesitate on at all. Maybe he's been spending time around Mac.

He needs to play. Let all 3 centers play full tilt. All are foul prone, so there will be PT for all 3. I don't start him, I like Drumm's first quarter offense especially with Bron and AD still getting their legs. But matchups have to start playing a bigger factor and feel it out in-game.