Gasol: Lack of Grizzlies' urgency is 'mind-boggling'
The Memphis Grizzlies lost for the 16th time in 19 games Friday night, falling 116-107 at home to the Toronto Raptors. Memphis was outscored 24-14 in the fourth quarter, shooting 1-for-7 from outside the paint in the final period.
Afterward, center Marc Gasol called out the rest of his team to some degree.
"We started thinking about ourselves too much," Gasol said, per 92.9 ESPN's Devin Walker. "I don't understand, when you've lost ... 12 out of 13 games, how guys can't have urgency. That to me is mind-boggling."
The Grizzlies are still in disarray. Since coach David Fizdale was fired - allegedly in part because of a falling out with Gasol - and replaced by J.B. Bickerstaff, they have lost five of six games by an average of nine points. They're still without injured point guard Mike Conley for at least another week, and since Oct. 30 they are third-last in the NBA in 3-point percentage.
But while perimeter shot selection is one issue, so apparently are attempts at the rim. While the Grizzlies led the Raptors by 13 at the time, Ben McLemore's failed 360 dunk attempt summed up another loss quite well.
Grizzlies bench reaction to Ben McLemore trying to show off easily the best highlight of the night so far pic.twitter.com/XbIuWnlQyD
— BenchMobology, M.D. (@World_Wide_Wob) December 9, 2017
It's not as if Gasol is carrying the team though. He's shooting a career-low 42 percent, and opponents are outscoring the Grizz by 6.1 points per 100 possessions when he's on the floor.
However, again the center hinted at potential problems in the locker room. When asked Friday why the Grizzlies lacked cohesion, according to the Commercial Appeal's Ronald Tillery, he replied, "I'd rather not comment on that right now."