The Los Angeles Lakers returned to enjoy a Gasol on the Staples Center court and with the purple and gold jersey this morning. Marc made his debut with the third franchise of his NBA career after Memphis and Toronto in the second pre-season derby of the city, which ended in another victory for Frank Vogel’s 131-106. The Spanish international was good in the 22 minutes he was on track with 6 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds in 22 minutes.
Scarce numbers? The important thing was not the content, but on the continent: Marc controlled the Lakers’ attack game from the top of the area, from a perimeter where he distributed all his teammates with intelligence and skill. It’s his best weapon, allowing him to do the “Howard and McGee and a little more” as Caldwell-Pope said, who started and finished with 16 points. Although the hero of the encounter was Talen Horton-Tucker: closed with 33 points. The 20-year-old guard is, for the moment, the great Los Angeles attraction of this preseason.
Marc Gasol vs. the Clippers
“I didn’t know him very well, but every day he surprises you with something else,” Gasol said about his partner. Marc also spoke at a press conference about his abilities to help the team: “I try to contribute everything that is asked of me. I try to provide leadership on and off the track, I try to bring calm in attack and defense, communication … I don’t know a bit what I am as a player ”, he explained. “I try to put all my tools at the service of the team, either for 10 minutes or for 35 minutes. I do not care. And enjoying a lot and making teammates enjoy, that for me is also very important to win: you have to know how to make your teammates enjoy ”, he closed.
Marc is the second Gasol to play for the Lakers after his brother Pau, who played his last game on April 1, 2014 in the loss against the Portland Trail Blazers. Since that day, 6 years, 8 months and two weeks have passed. Or, what is the same, 2,449 days since the last time a Gasol returned to play at Staples Center at home.
The Lakers played the derby without LeBron James and Anthony Davis again and with a very slim rotation of eight players to the 17 employed by Tyron Lue. Serge Ibaka started and scored 8 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 20 minutes. Kawhi reached 11 and the newly renewed Paul George, 9 in the second consecutive loss to his neighbors. In the Lakers, aside from the aforementioned Gasol and Horton-Tucker, Kyle Kuzma stood out: 25 points.
The rest of the day
The rest of the day was completed with five more games. Atlanta Hawks beat the Orlando Magic (116-107) with 21 points from Trae Young and 18 from Bogdanovic; and Detroit Pistons, to New York Knicks (99-91): Barrett closed with 25 points. In addition, Chicago Bulls and Sacramento Kings defeated the Houston Rockets (104-91) and Portland Trail Blazers (106-121), respectively with 23 points from Zach LaVine of Illinois (John Wall shot at 21 with the Texans) and 14 Guy and Holmes in California. By last, Brooklyn Nets beat Washington Wizards (119-114) in the lap of Kevin Durant (15) and Kyrie Irving (18). to the slopes.
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