Toronto Raptors: Examining potential return dates for Marc Gasol

Marc Gasol has been out of action for quite some time. When might the big man return to the Toronto Raptors’ lineup? Here are a few suggestions:

Shorthanded for most of the 2019-20 campaign, the Toronto Raptors are getting healthy at precisely the right time – down the stretch of the regular season.

Perhaps no injury has been tougher to fill than Marc Gasol’s. Gasol has battled hamstring issues two different times this season, his most recent episode has cost him 12 games. In those games, Toronto has posted a 9-3 record, far better than the 6-6 record it managed during the big man’s first absence earlier in the year.

Despite having found a large amount of success without the Spanish veteran, Gasol remains a vital part of this Raptors team. His offensive numbers may be down, compared to past seasons, but it’s been on the defensive side of things where Gasol, playing in his 11th NBA season, has shone brightest. Understandably a team-centric stat but still worth pointing out is Toronto’s net rating this year – the team has been noticeably better with Gasol on the floor vs. off of it (+11.5 vs. +5.1).

There is no advantage to rushing Gasol back into action, especially not while the team continues to win more than it loses. Toronto remains in second place in the East, holding a narrow lead over the Boston Celtics, so it can afford to give Gasol as much time as he needs to get right.

Rest assured, all signs point to him returning well before the playoffs start – Gasol remains without a definitive return timeline.

Let’s take a look at a few upcoming games on Toronto’s schedule and examine why each would make for a good time for Gasol’s return.