- Commissioner’s statement on Ventura, Marte
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: Masters champion ‘felt so vulnerable’ in final
- Arron Fletcher Wins 2017 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event ($140,224)
- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Kingery makes MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- New Zealand wrap up 2-0 after Bangladesh implosion
- Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka
- Elliott hopes for rain for Poli
Marc Gasol’s Newfound 3-Point Shooting Gives Memphis Grizzlies Hope
- Updated: November 28, 2016
MIAMI — Tony Allen isn’t having it.
Never mind what the numbers say about Marc Gasol’s miraculous emergence as a three-point threat. The Memphis Grizzlies’ defensive dynamo won’t let this intimate group of reporters discuss the improbable nature of Gasol’s newfound perimeter prowess without setting the record straight.
“He always shot them in practice like that,” Allen said, “so it’s no surprise.”
With all due respect to the Grindfather, it is surprising to everyone who didn’t see those practice sniping sessions. Staggering, even.
Gasol entered his ninth NBA season as an elite inside-the-arc presence. The 7’1″ center’s resume featured a pair of All-Star selections, the 2012-13 Defensive Player of the Year award and all of 12 triples over 569 career outings. His skill set wasn’t broken and in no obvious need of fixing, but first-year Grizzlies skipper David Fizdale brought along a vision formed during his championship days as a Miami Heat assistant.
“After what we saw here with Chris Bosh and his development,” Fizdale told Bleacher Report, “and what I saw that did for LeBron [James] and Dwyane [Wade] in those championship years, I saw an opportunity to let Mike Conley open up his game some by letting Marc step out behind the three.”
That was all Gasol needed to hear.
“He came to me over the summer once he got the job and told me about it,” Gasol said. “I’m like, ‘OK, I’m going to start working on it.'”
What’s transpired since could be classified as making something out of nothing. In a single offseason, Gasol transformed from a non-shooter outside to an active, efficient marksman.
Marc Gasol 3sCreate column charts
The numbers are incredible.
Gasol’s 23 threes almost double his total through eight seasons. Long-range looks had never accounted for more than 1.6 percent of his total shots in a season, but they make up 22.8 percent of his 2016-17 field-goal activity. He’s twice drilled four threes in the same game after never hitting more than three in the same season.
Oh, and if the campaign closed today, he’d have a top-30 three-point percentage among qualified shooters (41.1 percent, tied for 29th).
“Obviously, I always had a shot,” Gasol said. “It was just more of a 17- to 19-foot shot. Now, it’s just taking it a couple of steps back, getting a rhythm and getting comfortable with the shots.”
New recliners need longer to get comfortable.
During his third game in Fizdale’s offense, Gasol had a …
