May 10
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Marc Gasol received the basketball along the baseline about 10 feet from the hoop. The Grizzlies' center sized up Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin and then charged at him. When the play was over, Gasol had scooped in a reverse layup that Griffin couldn't stop. By the time the Grizzlies polished off a 92-80 victory Wednesday night in Game 5 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series, they clearly had rediscovered their advantage against Clippers. The Griz pummeled the Clippers in the post with Gasol and Zach Randolph providing the muscle. The inside force allowed Memphis to play with a double-digit lead for most of the game, and then fend off a late Los Angeles rally"
May 8
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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When you're restless on a red-eye flight from Los Angeles -- as was the case with me following Game 4 - a billion things run through your mind. So I decided to pull out my Grizzlies media guide and check something. Yep, Marc Gasol is indeed listed as 7-1 and weighing almost 270 pounds. Yet he couldn't possibly seem more miniature in the Grizzlies' first-round series against the Clippers. He's not a factor. He's not scoring. He's not rebounding. He's not defending. He's fouling. This version of Marc Gasol isn't the reason Griz owner Michael Heisley handed out a four-year, $58 million contract when the lockout was lifted. The Griz are paying Gasol the maximum allowed, starting at $12.9"
April 17
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The Grizzlies breathed a collective sigh of relief Monday when results of magnetic resonance imaging on center Marc Gasol's left knee revealed a bone bruise. Gasol received the MRI late Sunday night after leaving in the fourth quarter of an 88-75 road loss to the New Orleans Hornets with what was initially diagnosed as a hyperextended left knee. Gasol experienced no ligament or structural damage and is listed as day-to-day heading into the Grizzlies' road game tonight against the Minnesota Timberwolves. "It's all good. I'll be back as soon as possible," Gasol wrote on his Twitter page. Gasol, who has missed time with an ankle injury this season, is likely doubtful for tonight."
April 16
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Forget the number of times the Grizzlies lost the basketball. Too many to count. Or so it seemed. Forget the amount of defensive lapses. That's what the New Orleans Hornets kept track of as they routinely pick-and-rolled the Griz into surrendering the paint. Just put the Grizzlies' 88-75 loss Sunday night to the Hornets out of your mind. Griz guard Tony Allen even flung the box score into a bucket of ice at his feet afterwards in the visitor's locker room in New Orleans Arena. It was a cold night, indeed."
March 30
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Grizzlies center Marc Gasol didn't practice Thursday because of a sprained right ankle and is questionable for a road game tonight against the Houston Rockets. Gasol sat out Tuesday's win against the Minnesota Timberwolves after aggravating the injury last weekend. He was told to rest this week in hopes of playing during the Grizzlies' toughest stretch this season. Memphis will play seven games in nine days, including five on the road, beginning tonight at Houston. The Grizzlies' only back-to-back-to-back set is on the schedule during that span."
March 28
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Grizzlies all-star center Marc Gasol will not play tonight against the Minnesota Timberwolves because of a sprained ankle. The 7-footer has been playing with the injury for more than a week and aggravated it Sunday during the Grizzlies' road win against the Los Angeles Lakers. Team officials decided that Gasol should sit so that he could have four days of rest before returning Friday at Houston."
March 11
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Grizzlies center Marc Gasol didn't wait for media reports to learn about injured Minnesota point guard Ricky Rubio's prognosis. Gasol reached out to his fellow Spaniard on Friday night and told Rubio to contact him as soon as doctors determined the extent of his knee injury. Rubio sent Gasol a text early Saturday with the bad news. The rookie sensation suffered a torn left ACL and will be lost for the season. "It's tough," Gasol said. "He's got to be patient now. It's a different kind of challenge. He knows that. He knows that it's a messed-up thing, but he's positive about it. He's going to be OK." Gasol is close to Rubio. The two have spent several years together playing for Spain's"
March 4
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The Grizzlies began arguably their most emphatic display of defense this season by forcing a simple traveling violation. What followed almost seemed criminal. Memphis harassed the Detroit Pistons into one shot under duress after another. And as the Griz became more disruptive, turning deflections into steals and celebrating a couple of 24-second shot clock violations, the Pistons became more discombobulated. It was a startling stretch that lasted six minutes Saturday night during the fourth quarter of the Grizzlies' 100-83 victory before 17,569 in FedExForum. The Griz flew around and disallowed the Pistons from running offense or getting a quality shot. For about six minutes the Pistons"
March 1
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The Grizzlies stopped short of calling their precious two practice days a mini training camp earlier this week. But they covered a lot of ground — figuratively and literally. The team ran what seemed like miles for conditioning purposes the first day. The second day was geared toward sharpening its execution with great emphasis on details. Griz coach Lionel Hollins then commended his players Wednesday night for how well they handled everything he threw at them. The Dallas Mavericks found out, too, during the Grizzlies' 96-85 victory before a crowd of 17,023 in FedExForum."
February 27
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Do the math: Being selected to an NBA All-Star team is a lofty accomplishment. Only two dozen players each year make the rosters. Given the nearly 400 players that play in the league, it's only natural that it could lead to a loftier self-evaluation of a player's abilities or worth. Which, in turns, has pitfalls like comfort and complacency. So enter the Grizzlies' Marc Gasol, selected to the team for the first time and a 14-minute, four-point player in Sunday night's 152-149 Western Conference win here at Amway Center. Does being selected to such an elite circle make him think he's reached a peak, make him think he's achieved — with no incentive to do more?"
February 22
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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n some ways, the Grizzlies' final game before this weekend's All-Star break summed up how they navigated through the first half of a trying season. Memphis beat the Philadelphia 76ers, 89-76, Tuesday night in FedExForum by relying on just about every active player, and defensive intensity that caused problems at the start and then sealed the win. "We started out shaky this season," Griz forward Rudy Gay said, "but we picked it up and showed our will.""
February 10
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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When the Grizzlies traded Pau Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers for salary-cap relief, draft picks and his once chubby and not highly regarded little brother, the deal was considered a joke. Marc Gasol recalled his draft status just the other day and even saw the humor in it. "Nobody wanted me at first," Marc said, chuckling. "The Lakers said you can show up for training camp (in 2007) and we'll give you a practice jersey. But they never told me to come here and be part of the team. They never offered me that." Memphis gave Marc Gasol a chance when it insisted on acquiring him as part of the 2008 trade package for Pau. Now, the Griz and their versatile 7-1 center are having the last laugh."
January 24
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Grizzlies' center Marc Gasol, who led the team to a 4-0 week and a spot atop the Southwest Division standings, was named Western Conference Player of the Week for the period Jan. 16-22, the NBA announced today. Orlando center Dwight Howard won the Eastern Conference award."
January 19
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Marc Gasol had five assists and four rebounds before he even scored a point. The Grizzlies' do-all center then scored all of his 22 points through three quarters. And when the final period called for tighter defense and clutch rebounds, Gasol put himself in that mode with blinders on. Look no further than Gasol as the poster child for the Grizzlies' selfless play as of late. His season-high point total, 12 rebounds and seven assists Wednesday night helped steer the Grizzlies' to their fourth straight win — a 93-87 victory over the never-say-die New Orleans Hornets. But Gasol couldn't have cared less about his statistical line as he stood in the visitors' locker room at New Orleans Arena."
January 15
Memphis Commercial Appeal
columnist Geoff Calkins
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Mike Conley flew down the court for the layup and everyone rose and cheered, but the best part of the play might have been what was happening clear back at the other end. Marc Gasol was celebrating with Marreese Speights, the Grizzlies' new power forward. He reached over and gave him an encouraging rub on the head. Speights — whose casual approach to defense had gotten him benched and then run out of Philadelphia — had started the play by altering the shot of New Orleans center Chris Kaman. Gasol had scooped up the rebound and fired the ball to Conley for the easy score. So Gasol immediately went and found Speights. To ask for more of the same. "I'm going to try to make him better," said"
December 15
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Amid the chaos going on around the NBA, Marc Gasol was certain about two things regarding his position as a restricted free agent. "There was a lot of interest," the Grizzlies' center said, adding: "I didn't want a lot of drama." Gasol, 26, made official Wednesday his four-year, $57.7 million contract agreement with the Grizzlies. The 7-footer also made this clear: leaving Memphis this season was never an option."
December 13
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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It was gigantic news delivered on Twitter directly from the big fella at about 7:30 p.m. Monday: Marc Gasol, the Grizzlies center floating in restricted free agency, announced that he had reached an agreement to rejoin the team. Just like during last season's playoff run, Memphis could believe. Gasol, 26, accepted a four-year deal worth $57.7 million — the maximum the Grizzlies could offer. He'll be paid a starting salary of $12.9 million with a 7.5 percent raise in each year of the deal. The contract is conventional, meaning there are no player or team options."
December 12
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The Houston Rockets are preparing a maximum-contract offer sheet worth $55 million over four years for Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol, according to several media reports. Griz owner Michael Heisley expressed his reluctance to negotiate Gasol's contract in the media Sunday afternoon so he responded with an economy of words. "We'd match that," said Heisley, who would have three days to make good on his word under NBA rules."
December 1
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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As the NBA lockout moved closer to an official end Wednesday the Grizzlies began their attempt to forge a new beginning with center Marc Gasol. The 7-footer is a restricted free agent. Gasol is also the Grizzlies' top priority now that the NBA has reached a tentative collective bargaining agreement with its players union. Free agency and training camps are expected to begin Dec. 9, but the league allowed teams to contact player agents early Wednesday. Griz general manager Chris Wallace spoke with Gasol's representative, Arn Tellem, and both agreed to set the tone for contract negotiations in the coming days."
November 27
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Call it a buzzer-beater by the NBA. After months of negotiating and the threat of litigation, the league and its players reached a surprise agreement early Saturday morning that ended the 149-day lockout and salvaged the 2011-12 season. A tentative deal is in place for the league to begin a 66-game regular season on Christmas Day. The Grizzlies, who captivated the Mid-South with last season's playoff run that lasted until Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals, now have a month to work through a training camp, free-agent period and the process of schmoozing fans before the season officially begins. "I want to encourage every Memphian and every Grizzlies fan to get behind our team and"
September 19
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Marc Gasol has been a bit distracted this summer to worry too much about the NBA lockout. The 7-footer culminated a thrilling offseason Sunday with chest bumps for his teammates as Spain beat France to win the European basketball championship. With a second straight European crown in his back pocket, Gasol now wants to hold on to another title: Grizzlies starting center. Gasol will be a restricted free agent whenever the NBA and its players' union agree to a new collective bargaining agreement. He wants to remain a Grizzly so much that you just might see the giant Spaniard strolling around town by the end of this month or early October."
June 22
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Guard Sam Young will remain with the Grizzlies, and the team is on the verge of making its first move to keep center Marc Gasol. The Griz will soon exercise a contract option on Young in order to secure his services for the 2011-12 season, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. Memphis will also extend a $4.5 million qualifying offer to Gasol, making him a restricted free agent and giving the Griz the right to match any contract offer the 7-footer receives this summer. Griz owner Michael Heisley has said he plans to retain Gasol amid expectations that the Spaniard will generate great interest once free agency begins. The Griz have until June 30 to exercise the options on"
May 17
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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From the money man in Chicago to the people who made the Grizzlies' magical playoff run happen on the court, they were all in agreement on how to keep the good times rolling. Re-sign 7-foot center Marc Gasol and find a deft 3-pointer shooter or two. That, and welcome back injured forward Rudy Gay with his good arm reloaded. Griz owner Michael Heisley normally has his calendar cleared for a date with the NBA draft lottery, which unfolds tonight in Secaucus, N.J. But Heisley spent Monday basking in the reality that his Griz only need a minor tweak -- not a roster overhaul or lottery luck -- to improve on their historic season. The Griz, who won their first playoff games and series, became"
May 7
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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He normally is 7 feet of unadulterated selflessness, yet Marc Gasol's coming-out party in the postseason can partly be explained by the fact that he's shrunk a bit in that area. "Now," the Grizzlies center said, "is no time to pass up shots. It's winning time. It's time to be more aggressive." While the basketball universe rightfully lauds Zach Randolph for the Grizzlies' playoff success, there is another major reason the Griz have their first series win and are even at a game apiece with the Oklahoma City Thunder going into Game 3 today in FedExForum. With Gasol's scoring and rebounding averages well above his regular-season output, the Griz could still stand tall if the Thunder is again"
May 6
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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In all that surrounded Game 2, the Oklahoma City Thunder held a players-only meeting. It began at Kevin Durant's house and ended in the paint with the Thunder crowded around Grizzlies power forward Zach Randolph. Game 3 will be a test of how well Randolph and the Griz took notes. By their own admission, the Griz didn't handle the aggressive infiltration of their offense with the intelligence that's guided them to this point. Memphis watched film Thursday morning and the popcorn-less viewing only confirmed what the team already knew: Oklahoma City did nothing special. The Griz had poor spacing. They made bad decisions passing the basketball and settled for jump shots. "They packed it in on"
January 23
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Amid all the talk of what it'll take for the Grizzlies to be in the playoff picture at the end of the season, Marc Gasol has kept his mind focused on short-term goals. He badly wanted to win the first game of the Grizzlies' four-game East Coast trip. So the 7-foot center walked into the Bradley Center on Saturday night, and emphatically made sure that happened. Gasol amassed 24 points and a season-high 16 rebounds as the Griz overpowered the Milwaukee Bucks down low and earned a 94-81 victory. It was Gasol's first game this season with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds, and he had accomplished that through three quarters. The Bucks had no answer for Gasol around the rim. Because of that,"
December 21
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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He is the all-time franchise leader in field-goal percentage and set the Grizzlies' single-season record for accuracy last season. So the apocalypse must be upon us when Marc Gasol is misfiring at a 21-percent rate for more than a game. The Grizzlies' starting center has been off his game in the past four outings, and the aim will be to get him on track offensively tonight when the New Jersey Nets visit FedExForum. "I knew I wasn't shooting well. I knew I wasn't shooting a high percentage and being as productive as I usually am. But I didn't know the number," Gasol said about converting just 8 of 28 shots last week. "The last couple of games have been really tough because we didn't win. I"
December 12
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Occasionally, Tony Allen can simply be known as "The Closer." Allen only plays spot duty for the Grizzlies. He's always prepared and ready to cover the opposition with his defensive intensity. That couldn't have been more evident Saturday afternoon when Allen tied his team record with four steals in the fourth quarter of the Grizzlies' 84-83 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in Staples Center. Memphis (10-14) ended a four-game road trip by winning back-to-back games when Clippers guard Baron Davis' 18-footer bounced off the rim as the final buzzer sounded. Allen, the veteran guard signed during the offseason, drew special praise from Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins afterward. "Tony"
October 30
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The Grizzlies starting center was also there at the end to put an exclamation point on his heroic return from a grade 2 left ankle sprain. Gasol grabbed the game's biggest defensive rebound and then picked up an offensive board that led to his game-winning free throw Friday night as the Griz stunned the Dallas Mavericks with a 91-90 victory in American Airlines Center. Memphis earned its first win of the regular season with a renewed spirit on both ends of the court following their depressing opening-night loss to Atlanta. "I just felt like my teammates really needed me," said Gasol, who finished with 10 points and 15 rebounds. "I wanted to help. It was a big game for us." The Griz ended a"
October 28
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Grizzlies center Marc Gasol missed the regular-season opener Wednesday night against the Atlanta Hawks, and no timetable was given for his return. The 7-footer is recovering from a grade 2 left-ankle sprain. Gasol will be evaluated daily to determine his availability. "My feeling is if he doesn't play against Dallas (Friday), then he probably won't play against Minnesota (Saturday)," Griz coach Lionel Hollins said. "But I wouldn't bet against him." Gasol tried to run early Wednesday and couldn't push off on the left ankle. He did not participate in the Grizzlies' pregame shootaround, and the team's medical staff recommended that he sit out. Gasol was injured when he landed awkwardly on"
October 26
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Grizzlies center Marc Gasol purchased 500 seats for the team's season opener Wednesday, and those tickets will be handed out in the Grand Lobby of FedExForum Tuesday starting at 5:30 p.m. The 7-footer wants to encourage as many people as possible to help with the "Beale Street Blue-Out" of FedExForum on opening night of the Grizzlies' 10th season in Memphis."
October 26
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The moment Marc Gasol landed on Hasheem Thabeet's foot, all movement in the gym came to a screeching halt. Well, almost. Gasol rolled around on the court, writhed in pain and grabbed the upper part of his left ankle Sunday afternoon as teammates stood over him wearing concerned expressions. One by one, fellow members of the Grizzlies' starting five filed into the trainer's room where Gasol would eventually lay with his foot wrapped in ice. Power forward Zach Randolph was the last to walk out. "Man," he said. "We need him." The Grizzlies said Monday that their starting center has a grade 2 left ankle sprain. X-rays were negative and magnetic resonance imaging produced better-than-expected"
October 25
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Grizzlies starting center Marc Gasol left practice Sunday afternoon with a high left ankle sprain. The 7-foot Spaniard landed awkwardly on backup center Hasheem Thabeet's foot. and Gasol's ankle was quickly wrapped in ice. The severity of Gasol's injury won't be known until today, when the Grizzlies' medical staff reviews X-ray and MRI results."
October 14
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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He ran through mountains for recreation, tripped over hurdles in the World Championships and hit a brick wall during the early stages of Grizzlies training camp. Marc Gasol's teammates were a bit concerned before the Grizzlies' dominated the Oklahoma City Thunder in a preseason victory Tuesday night. He seemed a bit disoriented by the string of events. "I talked to the big fella and told him to turn it up," Griz power forward Zach Randolph said. "We need him to score. I know what he's got. He's the catalyst to the team. I need him to get down on that block and do what he does. We need him to win." Gasol - the center trying to power his way out of the shadows of older brother, Pau - seems"
September 20
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Soon after his native Spain wrapped up the World Championships without a medal in Turkey, center Marc Gasol began thinking of the mettle expected from his NBA team this season. The Grizzlies 7-footer is well aware of owner Michael Heisley's playoff guarantee. "We're all on the same page," Gasol said in a recent telephone conversation from Spain. "I can't wait to get back to start working toward that goal. We're going to definitely try to (make the playoffs). I think we can because we believe in each other." For as much as Griz general manager Chris Wallace has "never seen a better teammate than Marc," it's going to take more than an I-think-I-can attitude to satisfy Heisley's promise. It"
September 4
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Marc Gasol was not exactly vacationing near the world-famous beaches around Izmir this week. Not with a swell of Spanish media members -- about 70 -- that could rival those of the nearby Aegean Sea waters that are home to annual international windsurfing championships. And not with the small matter of why Gasol's in Turkey in the first place -- to defend the gold medal Spain won at the 2006 worlds in Japan. It's no surprise that Gasol -- the Grizzlies center, in his day job -- couldn't even sniff sand on an off day this week. There's too much practice, too many interview requests, all of it about one thing: "We're here for a reason," Gasol said in the Swissotel Grand Efes Izmir's"
April 23
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Houston Rockets point guard Aaron Brooks won the NBA's Most Improved Player honor today by a wide margin. But there was a three-way for second place, including Grizzlies center Marc Gasol. A 7-footer, Gasol shared the runner-up position with Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant and San Antonio's George Hill. Each player received 101 points, more 300 behind Brooks. After setting career highs in points (19.6 per game), assists (5.3) and rebounds (2.6), Brooks received 403 of a possible 615 points. Brooks picked up 62 first-place votes, Durant got 17 and Gasol had nine. In his second NBA season, Gasol enjoyed career bests in points (14.6 per game), rebounds (9.3), assists (2.4), blocks (1.6) and"
April 3
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Marc Gasol looked straight ahead for several moments after the Grizzlies' latest defeat. He asked for time to gather himself before speaking with reporters. Perhaps Gasol needed a moment to reflect. The second-year center will not play again this season. Griz brass has decided to allow Gasol to rehabilitate his partially torn neck muscle. Grizzlies swingman Ronnie Brewer also will miss the rest of the regular season, the team announced today. Brewer sat out the past three games with a sore right hamstring. He returned to action March 16 -- a little more than three weeks after he suffered a partially torn right hamstring. The 6-8 guard/forward said earlier this week that he hoped to return"
March 27
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Marc Gasol is ready to resume his iron-man sophomore season. The Grizzlies starting center plans to return from a five-game layoff Sunday for a road game at Milwaukee. Gasol has missed time for the first time in his 149-game NBA career with a partially torn neck muscle but participated in full-contact practice Friday without limitations. "I feel really good," said Gasol, who could be heard singing as he exited the court. "There's going to be pain. I don't enjoy that. The pain won't go away, but as long as I can play through it, I will." Griz coach Lionel Hollins has said he wouldn't advocate shutting down Gasol for the rest of the season. Hollins wants Gasol on the floor if he's capable of"
March 18
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Starting center Marc Gasol sat out a second straight game due to a strained neck muscle. The Grizzlies 7-footer accompanied the team to Houston for its game against the Rockets. Gasol even ran sprints on the court 90 minutes before tip-off. Gasol also revealed that while the injury likely won't end his season, his recovery might last through the weekend because there is a slight tear in a muscle on the left side of the collarbone. "It's kind of detached," Gasol said. "Every time I try to stretch with my arm and reach, it hurts pretty bad. Hopefully, it's not (season-ending). It's a very painful thing, but we're going to see how it feels from day to day. Griz coach Lionel Hollins pointed"
February 23
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace isn't crowing, though who could blame him? And there's no longer a loud chorus of criticism around the NBA, either. The Grizzlies' trade of Pau Gasol to the L.A. Lakers two years ago generated tons of salary-cap space and draft picks. Here's how that has translated to the current roster: Darrell Arthur (draft) Ronnie Brewer (cap space) DeMarre Carroll (cap space, draft) Marc Gasol (trade) Hamed Haddadi (cap space) Lester Hudson (cap space) Steven Hunter (cap space) Zach Randolph (cap space) Sam Young (cap space, draft) The once-maligned trade that moved Pau Gasol from Memphis to the Los Angeles Lakers two years ago this month looks a lot different"