The hot topic in the NBA right now is undoubtedly Derrick Rose’s knee injury that could see him miss anywhere from the most optomistic projections of 8-12 weeks, to the more pessimistic 4-6 months of this season. There has also been Portland and San Antonio’s brilliant 10-game winning streaks, along with a stunning dunk from Paul Millsap that have grabbed the spotlight. But among all that Marc Gasol has been forgotten, or even worse, ignored.
Just to fill you in, Memphis announced on Saturday that Gasol suffers a sprain of his MCL. I’m not much of a doctor, but I can tell you that’s somewhere in the knee, and more importantly, it will take a long time to heel. He is out indefinitely, but he is expected to be absent 10-12 weeks. Every cloud has a silver lining, and though this cloud is a very big, grey one, there is a good thing: The reigning Defensive player of the year will not need surgery.
For comparison’s sake, Gasol’s teammate, guard Quincy Pondexter, suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain late December 2012, and didn’t return until early February 2013. Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph suffered a slight tear in his MCL on Jan.1 2013 and didn’t return until March 16, 2013, although Memphis was able to survive without him as they went 23-14 during that time.
In my opinion, Marc Gasol, along with LaMarcus Aldridge, is the most under-rated player in the NBA. Going into the game on Friday night, he was second on the Grizzlies in points, rebounding and assists. That is simply remarkable for a forward. Needless to say, last year’s Western Conference finalists are going to miss him. The silence around the FedEx Forum on Friday night when he sustained the injury whilst defending Jeff Ayres says it all. In a conference that looks stronger than ever, it wasn’t the right moment for the Grizzlies to lose their star player.
But luckily for Memphis fans, the acquisition of Kosta Koufos from Denver in the offseason means that the Grizzlies have a good replacement for the time being. Yes, he doesn’t have the scoring nor passing talent of the Spaniard, but it’s better than nothing.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m very down about Rose’s injury. So go ahead and #PrayForDRose, but also remember Marc Gasol whilst doing it.
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