Earlier today, we passed along word that Marc Gasol will miss time with a hamstring injury and the news from The North has gotten worse. Pascal Siakam and Norman Powell are each out indefinitely, the Raptors announced in a press release.
Siakam sustained a stretched groin, per the team, after landing awkwardly during the Raptors’ tilt against the Pistons. Powell also left that game after colliding with another player and the wing has been diagnosed with subluxation of his left shoulder.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Gasol will miss “a period of weeks” with his injury. The team didn’t put a timetable on it, instead calling the big man out indefinitely as well. Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca (Twitter link) hears that Siakam will likely be the quickest to return of the three.
After a summer that saw Toronto win an NBA championship and lose Kawhi Leonard, the team came back this year focused and it shows in the Raptors’ 19-8 record. The club sits fourth in the Eastern Conference as of this writing. However, it’ll be tough for the Raptors to remain to hold their position in the standings, given their injuries and the fact that the Sixers and Pacers are within a game of them.
Sounds like Toronto is dropping in the standings very soon.
Ha, you wish. I dont think so. It won’t be easy, but the Champs have the depth and talent to tread water until Siakam is back, which shouldn’t be too long. Raps will be fine. The Rockets, not so much haha
The Rockets just gave the Clippers their 2nd home loss of the season after trailing by 17 points. Once they get Eric Gordon back next week they will be even better, so they will be better than fine.
Sounds like the Raptors will be calling the Knicks about one of their PFs very soon.
NO!!
Time to even that record up.
Gasol’s production probably won’t be missed but Siakam and Powell will leave a mark.
They will miss Gasol a ton. His contribution to the team doesn’t show up in the box score. He has a huge part to play in their defensive acumen and a lot of their ball movement plays through him.
The one part that makes his injury hurt a bit less is that Serge is ready to roll in his place.
Serge is still not Gasol
His pick and rolls are great, but he cant sit at the top of the key all game and expect the pick roll to be there constantly. His passing is nearly as good as Gasol and his D isnt Gasol style either. Not to say Serge is garbage, far from it! But hes not going to do the things Gasol does, 2 completely different styles
FYI: On the Raptors:
Defensive rating
w/Gasol on – Best
w/Gasol off – Second worst
Offensive rating
w/Gasol on – 4th best
Don’t know this one!
FYI: On the Raptors:
Defensive rating
w/Gasol on – Best
w/Gasol off – Second worst
Offensive rating
w/Gasol on – 4th best
Don’t know this one!