Is Marc Gasol’s injury a legitimate concern for the Toronto Raptors?

Marc Gasol of the Toronto Raptors is still not ready to return to game action, even after nine days thanks to the All-Star break. How worrisome should this news be to the injury-plagued Raptors?

Marc Gasol, to date, has missed 20 games for the Toronto Raptors this season, and Friday night when Toronto takes on the Phoenix Suns, he’ll miss his 21st contest of the 2019-20 campaign.

Head coach Nick Nurse recently spoke to the media about the revised timeline for Gasol’s recovery and made it seem like the big Spaniard could be out longer than initially expected:

Tomorrow is now today – Friday, February 20, 2020 – and as mentioned above, Gasol won’t be in Toronto’s lineup. It remains to be seen when he’ll return, perhaps Nurse plans to alter course in the coming days and claim Gasol healthy for the highly anticipated Raptors-Bucks clash going down on Feb. 25.

But again, if Gasol sits out versus Milwaukee, it’s far from the end of the world because all that matters is how healthy the veteran is, come playoff time. Heck, manage Gasol’s load the rest of the regular season if that’s what it takes to have him all systems go for April, May and June.

In Gasol’s place, Serge Ibaka has played exceptionally well. Toronto remains thin at the five but thanks to Nick Nurse’s tireless innovation when it comes to lineup configuration and defensive scheming, the Raptors have been able to successfully navigate the rough waters that come with having only one true center on the roster…remember when the champs managed to contain self-proclaimed All-Star snub, Karl-Anthony Towns by starting Rondae Hollis-Jefferson at the five spot? RHJ is listed as six-foot-six, and even that’s being slightly generous.

Why rust won’t be an issue for Gasol when he eventually returns

At this stage of his career, nothing should come as a surprise to Marc Gasol. At 35 years of age, he’s seen everything there is to see on a basketball court, both domestically (NBA) as well as internationally (FIBA).

Even as he sits on the sidelines to allow his wonky hamstring to heal, you better believe Gasol is taking note of everything that’s happening with his team, as well as with opposing squads.

In terms of basketball IQ, Gasol has no rival – he thinks and sees the game better than anybody in the league, including LeBron James. James possesses far more physical gifts than Marc, but mentally speaking, they’re equals.

Benefitting from an abundance of intangibles, Gasol is unlikely to be impacted by rust buildup when he eventually returns to Toronto’s lineup. In his eight games played before going down a second time, Gasol averaged 11.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 3.8 assists while shooting 60.3 percent from the field, including 52.8 percent from beyond the arc. Whereas some players need time to get back into the swing of things, Gasol’s veteran savvy will allow him to seamlessly integrate himself back into Toronto’s lineup once his hamstring gets the green light from the Raptors’ medical staff.

Besides Ibaka, who does Toronto need to step up in Gasol’s absence?

With no definitive timeline on when Gasol may be back, the Raptors are going to rely on the likes of Serge Ibaka and Chris Boucher to carry the load in the middle. The team will likely explore “alternative routes” along the way – with Nurse likely to go back to Hollis-Jefferson at the five and maybe, in a pinch, experiment with Pascal Siakam there too – but the fact remains, Ibaka and Boucher will be the two mainstays at the center position until Gasol returns.

Also, the buyout market figures to have several options available.

As has been the case all season long, depth will carry the Toronto Raptors through these tough, injury-riddled times. While entirely speculation on my part, if it were the postseason right now, Gasol is probably playing. But seeing as it’s not and the team has played well without its defensive pillar, why risk further injury? It makes far more sense to exercise caution and play it safe, allowing Gasol to recover at his speed and on his terms. The last thing Toronto needs is for Gasol to push it and wind up turning a strain into a tear.

The big man will return in due time – but until that day arrives, the Toronto Raptors have no reason to panic about Marc Gasol’s long-term health. Barring any major setbacks, the cagey veteran will be back long before the playoffs and be ready to help the champs defend their title.