By most standards, from most vantage points, the Toronto Raptors were in the midst of a successful season — delightfully so, given expectations.
But Marc Gasol’s standards are higher than most, his expectations for himself unforgiving and unrelenting.
So while the Raptors were rolling along at 46-18 before the season paused, mounting an impressive championship defence even in the absence of starters Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green, Gasol was stewing.
Twice his season had been interrupted by a balky hamstring, a condition that limited him to 36 out of a possible 64 games and saw him on the shelf for 15 games and counting when the season was put on hiatus on March 11th due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
“It was a frustrating season for me personally because I could never get a rhythm and help the team the way that I should be helping the team,” he said on a conference call from Walt Disney Resort near Orlando, where the Raptors and 21 other teams are have sequestered themselves to finish the 2019-20 regular season and playoffs. “As soon as, I can’t remember which day it was that we got informed the facility was closing down, I got together with my team on a phone call and got going on a plan to resolve these ongoing issues.”
The source wasn’t all that complicated. Between the regular season, the Raptors run to the NBA championship and leading Spain to gold at the World Cup in China last September, Gasol played a career-high 115 games, competing at the highest level of basketball for 11 months without interruption.
“You go from a late [playoff] run in June, a great late run in June, and putting everything on the line for the team. In mid-July, we started with the national team and try to complete something special with them, too, which we obviously did. Those are two very taxing efforts, right?” said Gasol. “At the end of the day, you have to put in the time, you have to put in the work if you’re going to use that much energy.
“If you only take money out of the bank and never put money in the bank, you’re gonna go broke.”
To extend the analogy, Gasol was determined to use the nearly four-month break from competition – almost unprecedented for him given he’s been in the playoffs seven times in the past nine NBA seasons and has played internationally in the summers 11 of his 14 years as a professional – to pay off his credit cards and build up his savings again.
Based on the head-turning physical transformation he was able to accomplish while in Spain and largely under lockdown, Gasol could be ready to splash some money around when competition heats up — beginning with the Raptors’ first of eight seeding games, on Aug. 1 against the Los Angeles Lakers.
‘Skinny Marc Gasol’ became a social media talking point the minute photographs of a leaner, more muscular version of the 35-year-old seven footer began circulating online in late May and early June.
Once he joined his teammates in Florida and they could see the transformation was not due to some clever filter usage, the reactions were even more evocative.
“I was shocked seeing him,” Raptors wing Patrick McCaw said Wednesday. “It was like, ‘Sheesh,’ …I think he thinks he’s my age again now but he looks great, moving well, moving fast, handling the ball, just the change that he made is super … it’s good and I’m excited to see him play”
Gasol’s no stranger to physical transformations. The most significant he ever made came when he shed, by his estimate, 100 pounds from the end of his days as a Big Mac-bingeing high school star in 2002 and 2003 in Memphis — where lived while his older brother, Pau, starred for the Grizzlies — to when he earned Spanish League MVP honours in 2008 prior to coming to the NBA for the 2008-09 season.
In the NBA, he’s generally been listed at 255 pounds and his commitment to managing his weight and fitness was described as “fanatical” by Spanish national team head coach and Raptors assistant Sergio Scariolo when Toronto acquired Gasol at the trade deadline in 2019.
But what’s often missing in a busy NBA life that other elite athletes point to as essential in making the small gains and adjustments that matter at the highest levels is time, routine and consistency.
With a schedule suddenly devoid of flights, late nights and intense competition almost every other day, Gasol went to work.
“I just thought about maximizing the situation,” he said. Not only for professional reasons, but for personal reasons, too: spending time with your family, understanding what’s important and what’s not, kind of reflecting a bit on everything. I think we all had the time to do that a little bit.”
The two-time All-Star didn’t roll out his diet plans for anyone to follow during his conference call on Wednesday, but his big-picture explanation for achieving the professional athlete triple crown — better fitness, more muscle mass and less body fat — made perfect sense:
“Consistency goes with everything. It goes with training regimen, goals, sleeping habits, everything. Obviously when you’re at home, everything is a lot easier than when you’re on the road and travelling and trying to make everything work and winning games, which at the end of the day, that’s what you’re judged for.”
How this translates when the ball goes up is the next picture everyone wants to see.
As a Raptor, Gasol has settled into a place that has been a bit curious, given his role over most of his 10-plus years with the Grizzlies. His contributions are significant, but statistically less obvious. The Raptors’ surge in three-point shooting after the trade deadline last year — they led the NBA in accuracy in that most crucial statistical category — was largely attributed to the veteran’s rapid-fire ball movement and screening ability, as an example.
This season – even though he’s only played 36 games – Gasol has similarly made himself felt.
Of the Raptors’ six lineups that have played together for 100 minutes or more, per Basketball Reference, the three Gasol is featured in rank first, second and third in net rating — outscoring the opposition by 14.8 points per 100 positions, 13.2 per 100 and 11.7 per 100, respectively.
For context, the Milwaukee Bucks have been running roughshod over the rest of the NBA and their net rating is a league-best 10.7.
Interestingly Gasol’s been able to unlock elite play without putting up numbers that look anything like the scoring load he carried with the Grizzlies. As a Raptor he’s averaged just 8.4 points a game on 44 per cent shooting, a significant dip from 18.4 points a game he contributed over last two full seasons in Memphis.
Livestream the Raptors’ quest to defend their NBA title with select NBA playoff games on Sportsnet NOW.
The Raptors have different needs: last season the offence was dominated by Leonard and this year Pascal Siakam’s usage has increased, while a long list of other Raptors have upped their production also.
But it’s hard to look at Gasol’s sharpened physique and good health and wonder if it could mean he’s preparing to chip in more offensively as the Raptors make their title defence.
It’s another topic that Gasol bats away, typically. He convincingly argues that his goals are only team goals, but Nurse has mused about getting more punch from Gasol routinely and his teammates seem to welcome the possibilities, too:
“It’s going to be huge,” says McCaw. “I think for him he’s just taking care of his body, maintaining, doing the things he needs to do to stay in shape and the changes he’s made is drastic.
“Not saying that he’s old but the age that he is and how he still wants to continue to get better and make improvements is huge. It’s going to be huge for us, he’s healthy, he’s in great shape, he looks amazing. It just adds another dynamic to our team.”
Gasol looks fantastic, by all accounts, but he’d be the first to tell you winning in the NBA is about substance and sacrifice, rather than ego and a well-curated Instagram account.
So yes, he’s lost weight. No he doesn’t know how much.
“Not really sure. I don’t think that’s really relevant,” he said. “What’s important [is] we’ll all be measured by winning games and getting another ring. That’s what we’re all for. We’re all trying to be in the best situation personally to do that.”
So new-look Gasol? Sure.
But otherwise?
Same guy.
If there is a podcasting odd couple, this might be it. Donnovan Bennett and JD Bunkis don’t agree on much, but you’ll agree this is the best Toronto Raptors podcast going.
Quick Dribbles
McCaw chooses statement for back of his jersey:
In order to keep the Black Lives Matter movement top of mind as basketball returns to action, the NBA has approved a list of relevant phrases players can have on the back of their jerseys instead of their last name.
“Out of the options they gave us, I chose ‘Say Their Names’ just for the people that have been affected by social injustice and racism,” said McCaw. “So many names from [the previous] year on to now and now’s just at the most pivotal time in history [to make] a change …It’s huge just to understand the people that have been affected and still are being affected by social injustice and systematic racism, things like that …I’m excited just to be able to play on national T.V. and show my support and where I stand.”
The view from Spain:
Gasol has long been active in social causes. He observed the Black Lives Matter protest that gained momentum after the murder by police of George Floyd in Minneapolis from Spain and understood the parallels and the reach.
“I don’t think people in Europe have to look only to the U.S. [for examples of racism]. I think we can see how we treat a lot of immigrants that come from Africa to Europe, the way we deal with it. Not ‘we’ but a lot of people do, sadly, in Spain or Italy or other countries around Europe,” Gasol said. “You know, we look at them as immigrants, not only as human beings. So that tag that you put on [them] already tells you a lot of stuff about the way you view them.
“So, I think, all those things needs to change and if it doesn’t come from the top and from the government, it has to come from the people. So hopefully we can [react] positively and respectfully to those changes and provoke that change.”
VANCOUVER – As the Major League Soccer season ticks down, Vanni Sartini wants his Vancouver Whitecaps to make a declaration — the team is ready to compete.
“The time of hiding ourselves, I think it’s over,” the coach said after the ‘Caps earned a 2-0 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday.
“We need to really say that we are here to try to be at the ball until the end and trying to shoot for the highest position. That doesn’t mean that we’re going to make it, but we have the quality to do it.”
With seven games left on their regular-season schedule, the ‘Caps (13-8-6) sit in fifth spot in the congested Western Conference, just two points out of fourth.
Saturday’s loss officially eliminated the last-place Earthquakes (5-21-2) from post-season action.
Vancouver has been on a hot streak since returning from the Leagues Cup break and is unbeaten (3-0-1) in its last four outings across all competitions. The team has not allowed a goal in those matches.
“It’s the fact that we play really well,” Sartini said of the clean sheets. “We have the ball a lot, we finish our attack most of the time in their box. So it’s really hard for the other team to attack us. And then when they attack us, in the rare times that they arrive in the final third, we’re very solid.”
Recent additions have bolstered the team’s ranks, including the club’s newest designated player, Stuart Armstrong. The 32-year-old Scottish midfielder scored his first MLS goal Saturday.
Three minutes after coming on as a substitute for Alessandro Schopf, Armstrong gave Vancouver a two-goal cushion in the 87th minute.
Midfielder Pedro Vite dished a short pass to ‘Caps captain Ryan Gauld, who tapped it toward Armstrong. The former Southampton FC player then blasted a shot into the top of the net for his first strike in a Whitecaps’ jersey.
He was mobbed by teammates in the corner of the field.
“I think everyone was happy. Also for the first goal, but also that it was an important three points,” said Armstrong, who signed with the ‘Caps on Sept. 3.
“It kind of felt a little bit like last week, when we had a lot of chances and we didn’t get the three points. So today, I think everyone was just relieved to have that two-goal cushion.”
Vancouver was the dominant team from the outset Saturday and did not relent, outshooting the visitors 19-5 and controlling 54.1 per cent of possession.
Fafa Picault also found the back of the net for Vancouver, while Gauld contributed a pair of assists.
Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka stopped both shots he faced to collect his seventh clean sheet of the year, while Daniel made nine saves for the Quakes.
Gauld and Picault teamed up in the 22nd minute when Gauld curled a cross in and the Haitian striker headed it down toward the net, only to see Daniel catch a piece of the shot with his forearm and redirect it out of harm’s way.
The duo connected again in the 35th minute on a Vancouver corner. Gauld swung a ball in and Picault jumped up from the pack to send a glancing header in past Daniel for his ninth MLS goal of the season.
San Jose briefly appeared to level the score in the 68th minute when an unmarked Ousseni Bouda collected the ball, froze Takaoka and tapped a shot into the Vancouver net. An official quickly raised the offside flag and waved off the tally.
Daniel kept San Jose’s deficit to a single goal with a pair of solid stops in the 82nd minute.
First, the Brazilian ‘keeper dove sideways on his line to tip away a bomb from Alessandro Schopf. He was tested again on the ensuing corner and jumped up to send a header from Picault over the crossbar.
“I think we created a lot of chances again,” Gauld said.
“We probably should have put the game out of their reach sooner. But we’d be more worried if we weren’t creating the chances. Three clean sheets in a row in the league, I think it’s a big thing for us. And it gives us a good platform to go forward.”
NOTES
Vancouver played without leading scorer Brian White for a third consecutive game as the American striker works his way back from a concussion. … Gauld’s second assist marked his 15th goal contribution (six goals, nine assists) in his last 15 Whitecaps games across all competitions. … An announced crowd of 21,309 took in the game at B.C. Place.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps kick off a two-game road swing Wednesday against the Houston Dynamo. The Earthquakes host the Seattle Sounders the same night.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 14, 2024.
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Not good enough. That was Arne Slot’s verdict after his first defeat as Liverpool manager on Saturday.
A shock 1-0 loss at home to Nottingham Forest in the English Premier League ended Slot’s perfect record since succeeding Jurgen Klopp at Anfield at the end of last season.
“We had a lot of ball possession but only managed to create three (or) four quite good chances, so that is by far not enough if you have so much ball possession,” said the Dutchman, who suggested his team should not be losing to the likes of Forest.
“If you lose a home game it’s always a setback, especially if you face a team … we never know, maybe they will go all the way to fight for Champions League tickets, but normally this team is not ending up in the top 10, so if you lose a game against them that’s a big disappointment.”
Slot won his first three games in charge, including a memorable 3-0 victory against Manchester United before the international break.
But that run came to an end after Callum Hudson-Odoi struck in the 72nd with a curling effort from the edge of the box and beyond goalkeeper Alisson.
Liverpool’s defeat leaves Manchester City as the only team with a 100% record in the league after a 2-1 win against Brentford kept the defending champion at the top of the table.
United won at Southampton 3-0 to end its two-game losing streak.
Unstoppable Haaland
Erling Haaland moved to 99 goals for City after scoring twice against Brentford.
The Norwegian’s double came after Yoane Wissa fired Brentford ahead with just 22 seconds on the clock.
Haaland scored his 98th and 99th goals in his 103rd City appearance in all competitions. And he was the width of the post away from his third consecutive hat trick after trebles against Ipswich and West Ham.
“He’s been really, really good. Yeah, I would say he’s the best (he’s been), but it’s only four fixtures (this season),” City manager Pep Guardiola said.
Haaland, who has been nominated for the Ballon d’Or, has nine goals in four league games. He has topped the league scoring charts in each of his two seasons at City since joining from Borussia Dortmund in 2022 for $63 million.
Haaland’s first goal after 19 minutes evened the game following Wissa’s opener, which stunned the Etihad Stadium crowd. Haaland turned and swept a shot past goalkeeper Mark Flekken after a slight deflection off Ethan Pinnock.
He was then too strong for Pinnock when shaking off the defender and running through for his second in the 32nd.
He was inches away in the 81st; the shot came back off the post after beating the keeper.
Rashford snaps run
Marcus Rashford snapped a 12-game barren run in front of goal as United beat Southampton.
Rashford doubled United’s lead at Saint Mary’s after Matthijs de Ligt’s scored his first for the club. Substitute Alejandro Garnacho scored a third in the sixth minute of stoppage time.
The win came after back-to-back defeats for United.
Rashford hadn’t scored since March in United’s win over Liverpool in the FA Cup quarterfinals. He curled in a shot from the edge of the area to put Erik ten Hag’s team 2-0 up at Southampton in the 41st minute.
Ten Hag said it could be a turning point for the forward.
“For every striker, they want to be on the scoring list. Once the first is in, more is coming. Like a ketchup bottle, once it’s going, it’s coming more,” he said.
De Ligt, who joined United from Bayern Munich in the offseason, headed in from Bruno Fernandes’ cross in the 35th.
It could have been a different story if Cameron Archer converted a penalty for Southampton in the 33rd. Instead, his effort was saved by goalkeeper Andre Onana.
Newly promoted Southampton was reduced to 10 men when Jack Stephens was sent off in the 79th for a high challenge on Garnacho.
Villa comeback
After three straight defeats to start the league, Everton looked set for its first win when leading Aston Villa 2-0.
Goals from Dwight McNeil and Dominic Calvert-Lewin put Sean Dyche’s team in control until Ollie Watkins struck twice to even the game.
Jhon Duran completed Villa’s comeback and sealed a 3-2 win in the 76th to leave Everton rooted to the bottom of the table and the only top flight team without a point.
Late drama
Jean-Philippe Mateta converted a stoppage time penalty to salvage a 2-2 draw for Crystal Palace against Leicester.
Leicester led 2-0 at Selhurst Park after goals from Jamie Vardy and Stephy Mavididi.
But Mateta sparked Palace’s response with a goal in the 47th, a minute after Mavididi doubled Leicester’s advantage.
Conor Coady fouled Ismaili Sarr in the box right near fulltime and Mateta was cool enough to convert.
West Ham left it even later to salvage a point in a 1-1 draw at Fulham.
Danny Ings struck in the fifth minute of added time after Raul Jimenez’s goal looked like earning Fulham the win.
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler, the manager of the month for August, was frustrated as his team was held to 0-0 at home by Ipswich.
CLEVELAND (AP) — Restricted free agent forward Isaac Okoro has agreed to re-sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers on a three-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Saturday.
Okoro’s new deal is worth $38 million, according to the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the contract has not been signed or announced by the team.
ESPN.com first reported the agreement, citing Okoro’s representation.
The fifth overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft, Okoro is Cleveland’s best perimeter defender, often drawing the assignment of guarding the opponent’s top scorer. Okoro also has worked to improve his offensive game.
The 23-year-old averaged 9.4 points and 3.0 rebounds in 69 games — 42 starts — last season for the Cavs, who beat Orlando in the opening round of the playoffs before losing to eventual champion Boston.
Okoro shot a career-best 39% on 3-pointers, forcing teams to come out and guard him.
His agreement caps an extraordinarily busy summer for the Cavs that began with coach J.B. Bickerstaff being fired and replaced by Kenny Atkinson. All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell signed a three-year, $150 million extension in July, ending months of speculation that he wanted out of Cleveland.
Also, power forward Evan Mobley signed a five-year, $224 deal and center Jarrett Allen signed a three-year, $91 million extension.
