NBA Basketball Sports News in Philippines: Memphis Grizzlies

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Sunday, June 23, 2013

NBA News 2013: Andre Iguodala a priority

Andre Iguodala on November 23, 2010 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

New Denver Nuggets general manager Tim Connelly says re-signing free agent shooting guard Andre Iguodala is his No. 1 priority.

Connelly was formally introduced on Thursday by team president Josh Kroenke.

"The last guy we talked to before coming in for this press conference was Andre," Connelly told reporters. "He's such a pro that he's out there (on the court) working out."

The Nuggets' top defender, Iguodala recently opted out of the final year of his contract after averaging 13 points a game last season.

His situation is just one of several Connelly will have to deal with as he tries to help the Nuggets become a genuine playoff contender.

The 36-year-old Connelly comes to the Nuggets from New Orleans, where he served as assistant general manager under Dell Demps. He replaces NBA Executive of the Year Masai Ujiri, who took the GM job with the Toronto Raptors last week.

Considered a rising front-office talent, Connelly inherits a team that won a franchise-most 57 games during the regular season only to bow out in the first round of the playoffs again, this time to Golden State.

Besides the potential loss of Igoudala, the Nuggets will be without Danilo Gallinari for the start of next season as the Italian forward recovers from an ACL injury.

And Connelly, with Kroenke, also will have to find a replacement for NBA Coach of the Year George Karl, who was let go on June 6 after the early payoff exit.

The Nuggets interviewed former Memphis Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins on Wednesday and have also interviewed Indiana Pacers assistant coach Brian Shaw, but have not set a specific deadline for hiring a coach.

"I don't think we want to put a concrete timeline on anything," Connelly said. "There's the potential to talk to additional candidates, and we've talked to two great candidates. The two guys we've interviewed are tremendous, and I look forward to going into Josh's office and seeing where we are in that process."

Finding the right personality fit for the coaching job is most important to Connelly, who said he won't dictate a style or philosophy with the new coach.

"I would never try to impose any strategic restraints on a coach," Connelly said. "I'm looking for a good guy who's excited to have the job and build off where we are presently."

Kroenke, who offered Connelly the job during a Saturday night dinner, was bullish about his new hire.

"I'm really excited to have Tim here, and it's going to be a lot of fun moving forward," Kroenke said. "I hope Nuggets fans are as excited as I am. I've known Tim the last several years, and we've stayed in loose contact.

"It became a very easy decision to hire him and bring him here after a couple dominoes started to fall."

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9407778/tim-connelly-introduced-new-gm-denver-nuggets

Thursday, February 21, 2013

NBA News 2013: How the Grizzlies Cleared Over $16 Million

Memphis Grizzlies logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Memphis Grizzlies have cleared in the neighborhood of $16 million in a pair of deals that unloaded the contracts of Rudy Gay and Marreese Speights.

On Wednesday, Gay and Hamed Haddadi were sent to the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors in turn sent Ed Davis, a 2013 second-round pick and cash to Memphis. The Detroit Pistons also sent Tayshaun Prince and Austin Daye to the Grizzlies, in return for Jose Calderon from Toronto.

Just over a week earlier, the Grizzlies sent Josh Selby, Wayne Ellington, Speights and a first-round pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Jon Leuer.

The Speights’ deal set up the Gay trade, which was structured as three transactions.

- When Speights was traded to Memphis, the Grizzlies attained a $4.3 million trade exception. The Grizzlies used that exception to acquire Daye, who makes $2,958,077 this season. Memphis is left with $1,241,923 remaining in the Speights exception.

- The Grizzlies traded Gay, who makes $16,460,538 this season, for Prince ($6,764,045) and Davis ($2,207,040). With the two making a combined $8,971,085, Memphis also received a trade exception for the difference ($7,489,453).

- Haddadi was traded to the Raptors without any salary coming back in return, generating another Memphis trade exception ($1.3 million).

http://www.hoopsworld.com/how-the-grizzlies-cleared-16-million/

Friday, February 8, 2013

NBA 2013: Hollins Frustrated With Grizzlies' Lack Of Center Depth

Marc Gasol, con la camiseta del Akasvayu Girona, durante la disputa del tercer partido de los cuartos de final de los play-off de la liga ACB 2007-08 en el Pabellón Olímpico de Badalona. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Lionel Hollins has been left scrambling to fill the center position beyond Marc Gasol for the Memphis Grizzlies following the trades of Mo Speights and Hamed Haddadi.

The Grizzlies were outmatched by Luis Scola and Marcin Gortat when Gasol got into foul trouble in the Grizzlies' 96-90 loss to the Suns.

"One of the issues that I have is that neither Darrell (Arthur) or Ed (Davis) are fives. We don't have another big guy. We weren't able to play big and have two bigger people across the board because we don't have a bigger guy to put in the game."

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/225979/Hollins-Frustrated-With-Grizzlies-Lack-Of-Center-Depth-Following-Trades

Monday, January 21, 2013

NBA News 2013: Would Mavericks Consider Rudy Gay Trade?

English: Jump ball before the Memphis Grizzlies vs. Dallas Mavericks game, Dec. 23, 2008 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Just over a month away from the 2013 NBA Trade Deadline, trade winds are already stirring as one of the most controversial owners in sports has come out virtually guaranteeing his team makes a move. Dallas Mavericks’ owner Mark Cuban has come out and publicly stated that his team is going to be extremely active over the next month exploring trade options.

“There’s a 100 percent chance that we’re going to look to do something,” Cuban told Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News recently.

Cuban wasn’t finished there.

Just a day later, Cuban reinforced that he’s committed to making changes to the Mavericks, who currently sit at 12th in the Western Conference with a disappointing 16-23 record.

“We’re letting everybody know the Bank of Cuban’s open,” Cuban told Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News. “And if it’s the right deal, we don’t mind taking back money. But we’re not going to do a trade just to do a trade. It’s got to be worthwhile.

“Every day, I’m going through rosters, trying to come up with ideas for [Mavericks' General Manager] Donnie [Nelson],”

Despite Dallas putting together a nice little three-game winning streak over the past week, it’s clear that the Mavericks owner hasn’t been a fan of what he’s seen from his team so far this season

Even Mavericks’ head coach Rick Carlisle has iterated recently that he believes this season is going to continue to be an uphill climb with the team currently in place.

“It’s going to be work for us,” Carlisle said before Monday’s 113-98 blowout win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. “I’m not under any false presumptions that we’ve got it figured out and that’s not how this year’s going to be. Every game’s going to be challenging.”

Looking at the Mavericks’ roster, it may be easier said than done trying to put together enticing trade offers to propose to other teams around the NBA. As the “Bank of Cuban” statement alluded to, Dallas has plenty of expiring contracts to allow another team to make a salary dump that includes a talent the Mavs are interested in. While that’s a solid starting point, the Mavericks don’t exactly possess the young talent to go along with expiring contracts that perspective teams generally covet.

One name that’s been thrown around quite a bit, not just with Dallas, but across the NBA has been Memphis Grizzlies’ small forward Rudy Gay. Despite featuring the fourth best record in the brutally talented Western Conference at 24-12, the Grizzlies have seemingly been dangling their budding young superstar most of the season.

For the Mavericks, a team looking for that second superstar to place next to former NBA Most Valuable Player Dirk Nowitzki now and hope he becomes the face of the franchise later. If Memphis were to find a group of players they covet on the Mavs that came close to his roughly $16.4 salary this season, the 26-year old Gay is seemingly an excellent fit.

Still, it’s difficult to see Memphis disposing of Gay in what would amount to nothing more than a salary dump. With a team that’s right in the thick of contention in the West, it’s mind boggling that the Grizzlies are even discussing a deal behind the scenes for one of the most talented players on the roster.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/would-mavericks-consider-rudy-gay-trade/

Saturday, November 3, 2012

NBA News 2012: Bogut limited

Monta Ellis at the Golden State Warriors' open practice. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It made perfect sense there were so many high wires incorporated into the Golden State Warriors home opener Friday against the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Bay Bridge replicas that were used during player introductions were lowered by them. The athletic men and women in the Cirque du Soleil style halftime act hung for their entertaining lives from them. The season of one of the Western Conference’s most intriguing teams, quite clearly, is going to be a high-wire act of its own.

As if it’s not enough that a key piece of their promising core, four-year, $44 million man Stephen Curry, has spaghetti ankles that have compromised the early part of his career. Or that one of the team’s most valuable rotation players, veteran Brandon Rush, went down with a left knee injury in the first quarter after colliding with Zach Randolph that — while not yet diagnosed — left the Warriors small forward in tears and led to the Grizzlies forward following him into the opponent’s locker room during a brief break in play to check on his well-being.

All of that, and then there’s this: The Warriors’ main attraction — the center who is nothing short of their centerpiece, Andrew Bogut — is off to a torturous start.

It’s not about his play at this point; Bogut’s left ankle surgery in late April has proven more problematic than he or the Warriors initially thought. So here they are in early November, with Bogut — who was traded by the Milwaukee Bucks with Stephen Jackson for Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh and Kwame Brown in late March — limited to 20 minutes a game per doctor’s orders. The plan is to keep it that way until December at the earliest. The playoff race will not wait.

Bogut played 18 minutes in a season-opening win Wednesday at the Phoenix Suns, posting eight points and six rebounds. He logged 18 minutes again in the 104-94 loss to the Grizzlies, adding four points and three rebounds. The frustration seems to be there all the time these days.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/with-andrew-bogut-limited-warriors-future-teeters/

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

NBA News 2012: Lakers Exploring Sign-and-Trade for Courtney Lee?

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 04: Josh McRoberts #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after fouling Caron Butler #5 of the Los Angeles Clippers during the first half at Staples Center on April 4, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)
As options continue to emerge for the Lakers, the plot begins to thicken on which direction the storied franchise might go in, with some serious upgrading needed for the bench heading into next season.

Obviously, Lee is an intriguing acquisition for the Lakers as it gives them a promising young talent that can come off the bench to give Kobe Bryant some much needed rest. At 26 years-old, Lee has a bright future ahead of him in the NBA, and with the right situation he might be able to make a name for himself next season.

Another free agent option that the Lakers may also be exploring in terms of a sign-and-trade is O.J. Mayo. Players that may be involved in such a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies or Houston Rockets are Steve Blake and Josh McRoberts. The expiring contract of McRoberts is reportedly getting some of interest. With both of these players bringing youth to an aging Lakers squad, they’ve definitely perked the interest of Kupchak and company.

Last season, Lee averaged 11.4 points per game while shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc. Lee is strictly a scorer without much skill to distribute the basketball. Lee’s defense is another perk to a potential deal, but the Lakers are focusing on the fact that he can become a scoring threat off the bench that has been sorely missed after the departure of Lamar Odom.

In comparison to Mayo, Lee may be considered the lesser of the two candidates, but that might not be the case. Despite Mayo being the bigger name, Lee had the better shooting percentage from the floor (43 percent), charity stripe (82 percent) and from three-point range (40 percent). In terms of scoring average, Lee and Mayo are fairly close in comparison at 11.4 to 12.6 points per game.

Acquiring Lee via sign-and-trade may also be a much more realistic option with so many teams in the running to land Mayo in free agency.

Another option the Lakers are also considering as a backup for Kobe that can provide some offense off the bench is veteran Grant Hill. Even at 39 years-old, Hill is getting a lot of interest around the league with the New York Knicks and Miami Heat also showing interest. The Lakers are currently the frontrunners to sign Hill at the veteran’s minimum, but the Knicks are said to be emerging as legitimate candidates as well.

http://www.lakersnation.com/lakers-rumors-lakers-exploring-sign-and-trade-for-courtney-lee/2012/07/16/

Monday, May 14, 2012

NBA News 2012: Clippers advance, knock out Grizzlies

Los Angeles Clippers Blake Griffin during a game against the Washington Wizards at the Verizon Center in Washington on March 12, 2011. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Chris Paul played with an aching right hip and Blake Griffin's sprained left knee stiffened up during the game. If the Clippers were truly a two-man team, then they would have been in trouble facing elimination by the Memphis Grizzlies.

Good thing the guys on the Clippers' bench want to keep playing.

Kenyon Martin's 23-footer put the Clippers ahead to start a fourth quarter in which backups scored 25 of their 27 points, helping Los Angeles' other NBA team beat Memphis 82-72 Sunday and advance to the Western Conference semifinals.

''Our bench was our MVP,'' Clippers guard Randy Foye said. ''They realized what they had to do. We had a lot of guys hurt, so we just continued to grind.''

The Clippers reserves outscored Memphis' bench 41-11 to help Los Angeles clinch its first playoff series since 2006 and only the franchise's third overall. They also helped the Clippers avoid becoming the ninth NBA team to blow a 3-1 lead in a best-of-seven series and now they head to San Antonio for a second round starting Tuesday night.

Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said they will regroup Monday and focus on the Spurs then. He wanted his team to enjoy the series win for a little bit.

''But obviously another big challenge for us,'' Del Negro said.

Chris Paul scored 19 points despite his strained right hip flexor, and he was the only starter to score in the fourth quarter. Paul was so confident of victory he bought plane tickets for his wife and son to San Antonio on Saturday.

''I felt like we should have won earlier,'' Paul said. ''But it doesn't matter. As long as you win, I think it is a step in the right direction for our franchise.''

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/clippers-advance-knock-grizzlies-82-093909995--nba.html;_ylt=AoarG_rP9qkn_bUN_8zN.ww5nYcB

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

NBA News 2012: Chris Paul boosts Clippers in OT for 3-1 series lead vs. Grizzlies

Los Angeles Clippers logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The Los Angeles Clippers' 10-point lead late in regulation had evaporated, and Blake Griffin stood helplessly at their bench with hands on hips after fouling out in overtime. A building full of red-shirted fans sat nervously, dreading another disaster for a franchise with more than its share.

Except Chris Paul wasn't around for any of the Clippers' bad times.

While everybody else worried, he calmly shepherded his club out of another perilous spot and onto the brink of something big.

Paul scored eight of his 27 points in a dynamic overtime performance, and the Clippers moved to the verge of their second playoff series victory in 36 years with a 101-97 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night, taking a 3-1 series lead.

"It's fun, it's exciting," said Paul, who atoned for his inability to score at the regulation buzzer.

"The worst mistake I probably made in the game was not getting the shot at the end of regulation," he added. "If I was at home watching it on TV, I'd be talking so bad about me. But you've got to get through it. The [best] thing about it is that I have teammates that have confidence in me. Everything that we do is a team win."

Maybe so, but the Clippers were ever so grateful to rely on their All-Star point guard.

Griffin had 30 points and seven assists before fouling out with 2:26 left in overtime for the Clippers, who blew an 84-74 lead over the final 4½ minutes of regulation before Paul took charge in the overtime. He played with the same intensity he showed late in regulation, heedlessly flinging himself over the front row of chairs in an attempt to save a loose ball.

"He's a great player, and that's what great players do," Memphis coach Lionel Hollins said.

Game 5 is Wednesday night in Memphis, with Game 6 back at Staples Center on Friday if necessary.

After Paul hit consecutive jumpers to put the Clippers ahead 99-93 with 44 seconds left, Mike Conley's layup with 8.1 seconds left trimmed the Clippers' lead back to two points. But after Mo Williams hit two free throws with 7.2 seconds left and Rudy Gay missed a meaningless 3-pointer, Griffin and Paul embraced while another frenzied sellout crowd of long-suffering Clippers fans roared.

"Chris is always intense," Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said. "That's what makes him special. Chris is so good, not only at making plays for himself, but making the right play. That's what makes him a star."

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=320507012

Monday, April 30, 2012

NBA News 2012: Clippers rally from 27 down, stun Grizzlies 99-98

MEMPHIS, TN - APRIL 29: Vinny Del Negro the head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers talks with DeAndre Jordan #6 in Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Mephis Grizzlies in the 2012 NBA Playoffs at FedExForum on April 29, 2012 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)
Chris Paul begged coach Vinny Del Negro to put him back into the game for the fourth quarter and not give up despite being down 21 points.

The result was another Clippers comeback - one of the greatest in NBA playoff history.

Paul hit a pair of free throws with 23.7 seconds left, and the Clippers rallied from a deficit that had been as much as 27 to stun the Memphis Grizzlies 99-98 Sunday night in the opening game of their Western Conference series.

The key, Paul said, is to keep believing.
''Unfortunately, that's how we play,'' he said. ''We get killed in the first three quarters and in the fourth quarter we like to try to stand up for ourselves, and we found a way to win tonight.''

The Clippers tied the NBA playoff record for largest deficit overcome at the end of three quarters, when they trailed by 21.

''I don't think I've been part of a game like that ever,'' Clippers forward Blake Griffin said. ''It was unbelievable.''

Rudy Gay missed a 15-footer with 0.9 seconds left after the Grizzlies squandered a lead they held for the first 47 minutes, with a 24-point cushion disappearing in about nine minutes.

''Obviously, we gave it away, and everybody's kind of down,'' Gay said. ''We're still into it. It's a long series, and we're ready to fight. That's all this means. We've got to fight hard.''

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/clippers-rally-27-down-stun-042831257--nba.html;_ylt=Av8RKWosz5X860g6NtjaVSG8vLYF

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

NBA News 2011: Marc Gasol Off The Market?

NEW ORLEANS - MARCH 03: Zach Randolph #50, Mi...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife
The Grizzlies are finally stepping up to the plate, first by overpaying Rudy Gay to make sure he stayed in town, and more recently by inking Zach Randolph to a contract extension. Randolph was understandably concerned about what the might be on the horizon for his team before he committed the bulk of his prime to Memphis, and he liked what he heard. First and foremost, his front court mate - Marc Gasol - is expected to be re-signed, as well.

"It feels good to know I'm going to be in Memphis for another four years. It feels real good. A little bit at the beginning of the year I was distracted by it (the lack of a new contract). I put it out of my mind about halfway through the season. I haven't been thinking about it lately until now. I'm glad that it's done and I'm staying here. But I definitely want Marc here with us."

It is precisely the front court pairing of Randolph and Gasol that has made Memphis a tough customer all season. Even as they've dealt with injuries at other positions, the fact that they have two big men who patrol the paint and puts points and rebounds on the board in bunches has helped them stay in the playoff chase. The two combined for 49 points and 23 rebounds in Game 1 in San Antonio, which the Grizzlies won 101-98.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?STORY_ID=19486

Thursday, March 3, 2011

NBA News 2011: Grizzlies pulling off rare feat on … defense?

MEMPHIS, TN - NOVEMBER 20: Udonis Haslem #40 ...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife
We’re at the point now where it will be a surprise if Memphis does not make its first post-(Pau) Gasol playoff appearance, which shouldn’t be shocking, considering how close this group got last season and the talent level of its young core. Toss in another monster season from Zach Randolph — a guy who is totally unguardable for at least 75 percent of the league — and a win total in the mid/high-40s should have been the expected outcome for the Grizzlies.

What might be a bit surprising is how the Grizzlies have made their push over the last 20 games, in which they are 14-6. Over that span, they have played defense at a level only a half-dozen or so teams have reached this season. Those teams are known defensive royalty. The Grizzlies are not, and it was their borderline top-10 offense that carried their shaky defense to 40 wins last season.

That has flipped this season. The Grizzlies have jumped all the way to eighth in points allowed per possession, and in their last 16 games, they have allowed just 101 points per 100 possessions, according to Hoopdata. That is just about what the Hornets, Bucks and Spurs have done for the course of the season, and it’s a stingier mark than the Lakers and Mavs have put up.

http://nba-point-forward.si.com/2011/03/03/grizzlies-pulling-off-rare-feat-on-defense/

Monday, November 1, 2010

NBA News 2010: Derek Fisher-Steve Blake combo working for Lakers

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 02: Derek Fisher #...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

LOS ANGELES — The relationship between Los Angeles Lakers point guards Derek Fisher and Steve Blake isn't centered around competition.

They see it as cooperation.

"Our goal is to push each other. We're in the leadership position," says Fisher, the starter who was backed up by Jordan Farmar the last four seasons until he left as a free agent and Blake came aboard. "That's what Steve is focused on and that's what I'm focused on — making sure our entire team is playing a certain way."

In his 15th season, the 6-1 Fisher has had his doubters despite his penchant for hitting clutch shots and his five NBA championship rings.

Blake, in his eighth season, is two inches taller and six years younger at 30. His presence has resulted in Fisher getting fewer minutes with the Lakers off to a 3-0 start entering today's home game against the Memphis Grizzlies (2-1).

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/2010-11-01-lakers-point-guards_N.htm

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

NBA News 2010: US wins first meeting with Iran, stays unbeaten

Image by truthaboutit via Flickr

ISTANBUL (AP)—The United States eased its way to a top seed in the knockout round of the world championship, beating Iran 88-51 on Wednesday in the first meeting between the longtime political rivals.

The U.S. team, which downplayed the political aspect of the matchup, methodically pulled away in the first half, wearing down the Asian champions with its depth and athleticism.

Kevin Love scored 13 points and Kevin Durant 12 for the Americans (4-0), who will meet the fourth-place team from Group A in the round of 16.

The tensions between the nations’ governments provided the backdrop off the court, where before the game a group of fans sitting near midcourt held U.S. and Iran flags with a sign reading “PEACE” in between.

But the only sparring on the floor was a playful bump between Haddadi and U.S. forward Rudy Gay, teammates with the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies.

The U.S. team tried to keep the focus on the floor, with Krzyzewski saying he had played in Iran in the 1970s with an Armed Forces team and had great respect for the country.

“We are just here to play basketball,” Durant said Monday. “The political situation is something we cannot control. We have to go and just play the game of basketball.”

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AiVfSm9IP9EeIftMFmJbv5a8vLYF?slug=ap-us-iran

Friday, August 20, 2010

NBA News 2010: NBA's Best European Big Man: Pau Gasol Or Dirk Nowitzki

Image via WikipediaPlenty of big men in basketball make their journey from the European leagues to the NBA. In history, only several have reached All-Star and even superstar recognition in the NBA. Out of these players, the NBA has had the pleasure of having Pau Gasol and Dirk Nowitzki for the past decade.
Both big men are in their early 30s and still in their prime. Their level of productivity on the court both in the NBA and internationally has elevated their basketball status to icons worldwide. It goes without saying that they are the best European players to have ever played the game at the power forward/center position.
But which player can be recognized as the best European big man? Here are a few facts that might make that decision somewhat easier.
Dirk Nowitzki entered the league in 1998 and has played for the Dallas Mavericks ever since. Pau Gasol, who is two years younger, entered the league at the same age in 2000 and has since then split his time with the Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Lakers.
As rookies, Gasol had a much easier time adjusting to the NBA level of play. As a more traditional power forward, Gasol was able to dominate the paint in his rookie year, taking home Rookie of the Year honors. On the other hand, Nowitzki had a difficult rookie season, but quickly blossomed into a lethal scorer during his sophomore campaign.
After solidifying their level of play, both men took over their respective teams as the best player. Starting with his third year, Nowitzki has led his team to 10 straight 50 or more win seasons and playoff appearances. Also in his third year, Pau Gasol held his own by leading the Memphis Grizzlies to three straight playoff appearances and one 50-win season.
At the time, Gasol has having a difficult time in Memphis after the team failed to advance to the postseason in 2007. But his difficult times took a drastic turnaround when he was dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers at the trade deadline.
This gave Gasol the chance to pair up with superstar Kobe Bryant. Since then the Lakers have reached the NBA Finals in three straight seasons, capturing championships in the last two.
Gasol and Nowitzki have had plenty of success in the league. Both big men shoot the ball efficiently, with Nowitzki having a carrier field goal percentage of 47.3 and Gasol having a higher percentage of 52.1. Both men are extremely gifted rebounders and underrated passers. Dirk Nowitzki’s offensive arsenal is more complete than Gasol’s, since he can score from anywhere on the court, and can step out for three-point shots that me makes close to a 40 percent rate.
Conversely, Gasol has a more complete defensive repertoire that allows him to protect the paint with better shot blocking and defensive awareness.
The comparison of both players took a drastic change in 2007 when Gasol became a member of the Lakers. While Nowitzki remained the No. 1 option in his team, Gasol went from No. 1 to No. 2. While Gasol’s contribution to the Lakers' championships is undeniable, it is not a fair comparison to Nowitzki. As a Memphis Grizzly, Gasol had equal or less success as the main option as Nowitzki. Many experts can agree that replacing Gasol with Nowitzki in the Lakers lineup would have netted them championships as well.
While Gasol has an edge over Nowitzki in terms of championships, Nowitzki has an edge over Gasol in terms of productivity. While this decision can go both ways in terms of the definition of success and productivity, it is necessary to consider all possible scenarios that could have changed each player’s career to determine who the best is.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/440171-nbas-best-european-big-man-pau-gasol-or-dirk-nowitzki

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