With two games left, the Grizzlies are 22-58 — the second worst team in the Western Conference. Yet despite the nightmare season, Grizzlies fans know that credit is due to the whole squad, especially to Marc Gasol.
The Grizzlies won over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night for their final home game. With a minute remaining and victory in the bag, Gasol checked out of the game for the final time at home. And he got the standing ovation that he deserved.
Below is the video of the Grizzlies' fans showing Gasol some love and appreciation:
.@MarcGasol gets a standing ovation as he checks out of the final @memgrizz home game of the season 👏. #GrindCity pic.twitter.com/Od8gwefSRI
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 8, 2018
Gasol finished the game with 20 pts, nine rebounds, and nine assists. For the season, he is averaging 17.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game.
After the game, Gasol said, per Geoff Calkins of Commercial Today:
Article Continues Below“I understand how tough this season has been for everyone,” Gasol said. “For them to show us support through bad and worse, and how bad it really got, it means a lot.”
Their victory against the Pistons, was in fact, probably their best offensive showcase in the season. Four players scored at least 20 points including MarShon Brooks with 25 points, Kobi Simmons with 20, and Dillon Brooks with 22 points.
Prior to the game, Mike Conley, who played only 12 games in the season due to an injury, shared his thoughts on the team's potential:
“I think we all have just a hidden confidence,” said Mike Conley, before the opener. “We're just being reserved at the moment because we're kind of feeling like, ‘Man, we saw what we could do the last preseason game.' We're capable of doing some good things. I think everybody, when we got in the locker room over the last few games was like, ‘You know, we're going to be really good.’”