NBA Playoffs 2017: What We Learned Over The Opening Weekend

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Apr 15, 2017; San Antonio, TX, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) drives to the basket as San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) and LaMarcus Aldridge (right) defend during the first half in game one of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /

Marc Gasol is the New Mike Conley

Mike Conley may have shed his underrated label when he signed a five-year, $153 million deal this offseason, but the label hasn’t left Memphis – Conley just slapped it on Gasol when no one was looking.

It might be because Memphis is a small market team. It might be because the Grizzlies can’t seem to get over the hump to earn a Finals berth, no matter how far they advance in the postseason. While they did make a surprise signing in giving Chandler Parsons all that money (*cough for nothing cough*), it probably won’t be enough if Game 1’s performance is an indicator of how the rest of the series is going to go. Big Spain is going to do everything in his power to make sure that doesn’t happen; or that Memphis goes down swinging.

I just wrote about how Grit-n-Grind may never die, but Gasol single-handedly yesterday was doing everything to stay in the present, while looking to the future.

Gasol has steadily improved his game season to season. He hovered around 14.6 PPG (minus the 2010-11 season), but has jumped to 19.5 PPG this season. While he has ballooned his 3PA to 3.6 (which averages his career attempts to 0.5), his eFG% is still his 4th-best; with his highest coming in the 2009-10 season. Keep in mind though he’s asked to do a lot on Memphis, with a lot of offense coming through him.

I think he’s a top-5 center that’s playing on one of the most hectic roster constructions I’ve ever seen.

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