Raps @ Knicks

[G__Deane]

U sure Kawhi will definitely play? The status shows he’s questionable for the game


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Nope. Nothing has been confirmed. But I will speak it into fact; he's playing

[slaw]

Gasol has missed an average of 16 games per year over the previous three years, but okay.

For reference, even including this injury-ridden year, Kyle Lowry has played seven more games than Gasol over the past four years.

[Puffer]

I wonder how many fans of different teams look at the schedule and go "Alright. We're playing the Knicks tomorrow night. They are sooo trash. Mark this down as a win."

[Frank M.]

Kawhi will play. Gasol probable, he needs to complete paperwork

[DanH]

Yup. Moreover I don’t think anyone is making the argument that Serge should start because the starters as a unit are playing so well together. The observation is that Serge has been playing very well as a C especially in comparison to last year and it will be interesting how Nurse manages minutes.

To be clear I think Gasol should start. But people are talking about it because Serge is playing better than last year not because they ran advanced lineup stats on NBA.com

The only reason I brought any of this up is because of a trade piece from Lowe that suggested that the starting unit with Ibaka has been so good (not Ibaka, the lineup with Ibaka) that he questioned what they would do with Gasol.

[DanH]

But the most likely reason for that struggle is Lowry being injured and/or mentally checked out, combined with Fred being less than 100% when he starts. This is, IMO, the core issue.

Again, Fred being less than 100% is irrelevant because I'm not looking at the starters performance with Fred. I'm looking at the starters (Lowry, Green, Kawhi, Siakam, Serge and only that unit) performance.

It was very good early in the season. When it was very good, the JV version was dramatically better. Then it was OK (for a stretch before Lowry got hurt), and the JV version was good (ie far better than the Serge version). Then Lowry and JV got hurt, eventually Lowry came back, and it's been bad since. All of those samples are pretty sizeable ones.

So. We can pin all the struggles on Lowry. We can. But to do so ignores that it's been a constant downward trend since Lowry's insane shooting dropped off like 10 games into the season, and that at every stage where a JV alternative was available, that alternative performed better than the Serge unit. Why, given that, are we all excited about how the Serge unit has performed, to the extent that we may not be willing to start Marc Gasol for fear of losing the incredible value of starting Serge Ibaka?

[Scraptor]

One thing I kinda like about the Gasol thing is that he would play with a broken leg. Might be something for one of our other guys to ponder.

Gasol has missed an average of 16 games per year over the previous three years, but okay.

For reference, even including this injury-ridden year, Kyle Lowry has played seven more games than Gasol over the past four years.

[jacobdr4]

Gasol will play 100% book it. Because I say so ...

Bookmarked.

[slaw]

Kawhi will play. Gasol probable, he needs to complete paperwork

One thing I kinda like about the Gasol thing is that he would play with a broken leg. Might be something for one of our other guys to ponder.

[JimiCliff]

Is Dan untouchable in the off season?

The New Orleans message board wanted Dan in the Mirotic deal, that's why it didn't happen

[G__Deane]

Kawhi will play. Gasol probable, he needs to complete paperwork

Gasol will play 100% book it. Because I say so ...

[rocwell]

Gasol is expected to play tonight vs. Knicks but there is still some paperwork needed to be completed on Memphis end. https://t.co/rlAQyHwJlv

— Michael Grange (@michaelgrange) February 9, 2019

[rocwell]

Kawhi will play. Gasol probable, he needs to complete paperwork

[grindhouse]

I agree, Gasol should start. But the fit is bad, which is why I don't think it was a good trade.

Ibaka hasn’t done anything not to start but we have to go through the process of Gasol after learning the system plays better then we switch it up

[consmap]