Dave Fizdale got fired from his job as Memphis Grizzlies head coach in large part due to the benching of All-Star center and former Defensive Player of the Year Marc Gasol for the entire fourth quarter of their loss to the Brooklyn Nets.
But as David Aldridge of NBA.com points out, Gasol has hardly been that elite, Defensive Player of the Year-caliber player this year.
So far this season, per NBA.com/Stats, Gasol ranks 25th in Defensive Rating among centers who play 20 or more minutes per game (106.8 points allowed per 100 possessions).
“He’s gone from Defensive Player of the Year level to starter level,” said one veteran pro scout, who thinks Gasol is a good team defender who can protect the paint, but who was helped by the slower pace of play favored by former Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger, and who was aided by having an elite wing defender in Tony Allen on the floor with him.
Apart from other factors like the change in pace and the absence of Allen, though, age could also play a significant part in Gasol’s defensive decline this season. The big Spaniard is now 32 years old and his already limited athleticism could be waning even further.
Given how the Grizzlies have leaned heavily on their defense over the years because of their lack of offensive talent, Gasol’s drop-off on that end of the floor is not a promising sign for the team's short- and long-term outlook.
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