Toronto Raptors: Stock Take, plus Norman Powell lights it up

Marc Gasol

Hey, hey, hey. Actual statistical numbers from Marc Gasol. Real-life – and good – numbers from our man, Big Burrito. Those numbers are the best numbers, especially when they impact games in a positive way.

Over the last three games, Gasol has averaged 11.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.0 steal per game, shooting 62-percent from the field and 39-percent from three. They aren’t historically good numbers, by any means, but Gasol is in the midst of the lowest scoring numbers of career, averaging 7.8 points per game while shooting 42-percent from the field.

So, that means we’ll take anything that comes our way. That’s not to say that Gasol is playing bad, no, no, no. He’s still a key component of the Raptors. He’s the domineering interior presence, as well as a strong screener, floor-spacer, and a hell of a passer.

Against the 76ers, Gasol was perfect, shooting 7-of-7 from the field for 17 points, including a perfect 3-of-3 from deep. Still, as good as his performance was, he wasn’t needed down the stretch in the fourth as the Raptors made their run.

That doesn’t mean those points were empty, though. Gasol kept the Raptors in the game and primed them for the late third-quarter run and oncoming fourth-quarter surge that put the game to bed. He wasn’t on the court, but he’s still as valuable as ever.

VERDICT: STOCK UP