Marc Gasol Says He Will Return Before the Season Ends


According to Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol, he fully intends to suit up prior to the Playoffs. He’s currently out indefinitely with an abdominal tear. Per the Commercial Appeal: “The Grizzlies have not discussed shutting down Marc Gasol for the rest of the regular season due to his abdominal tear. However, any conversation along those lines would be a waste of time because the 7-foot, versatile center won’t allow it. ‘No, no, no,’ Gasol said. ‘We’re going to try to keep (treating it) and when it feels good and gets better, I’ll get out there. I don’t care if it hurts a little bit. I have no problem with that. We’re going with indefinite. But it’s going to go game-by-game, day-by-day.’ Memphis will play a third straight game without Gasol Wednesday night when it faces the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden. Gasol originally suffered the injury March 6 in a game against the Portland Trail Blazers. A decision to rest him was made after Gasol re-aggravated the abdominal tear last Friday during a loss at New Orleans. Gasol played nine games with the injury but knew it was time to sit when the pain and his performance became unbearable. ‘I was playing anywhere from 60-65 percent before New Orleans,’ Gasol said. ‘I felt like it wasn’t getting better. I felt pain and I was ineffective rebounding the ball. I lost all of my explosiveness. I’m not very explosive anyway but the little bit I try to be was gone. It just hurt real bad. When we did the test it was obvious.’ An ultrasound revealed the tear. The team hasn’t revealed the extent of the injury. However, Gasol won’t require surgery.”