When Marc Gasol went down with a broken foot last season, the Grizzlies dreams of a playoff run went down with him.
This season the Grizzlies are bringing “grit and grind” back with the re-signing of Mike Conley, and they are adding a pretty new face to it in the form of Chandler Parsons. The team has potential — but only if Gasol is the anchor in the middle.
On that front, good news for Grizzlies fans via Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal.Center Marc Gasol has been cleared to play after recovering from a broken right foot.
The 7-footer suffered the injury in February and subsequently missed playing for his native Spain in the Rio Olympics. However, Gasol recently returned to Memphis for strength and conditioning. Gasol is also playing pickup games, according to sources with knowledge of his progress. The Griz took a cautious approach to Gasol’s rehabilitation and are upbeat about his return to form on the basketball court, according to the sources.
This also is good news for anyone who likes to watch smart, well-played basketball.
Memphis is going to be an interesting team to watch this season. If healthy, if they can come together for new coach David Fizdale in a system that fits their needs, if Zach Randolph can outrun father time a little longer, this is a good and dangerous team in Memphis. But their margin for error (and injury) is small. At some point it feels like this team will take a couple of steps back, but that may not be this season.