The Toronto Raptors announced yesterday that center Marc Gasol will be sidelined for an extended period with a hamstring injury. While Toronto didn’t provide a timetable for Gasol’s eventual return, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the Spanish big man will be out for multiple weeks.
Toronto Raptors center Marc Gasol will miss a period of weeks with a left hamstring injury, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 19, 2019
Undoubtedly a major blow for the Raptors, the injuries continue to pile up early this season. Pascal Siakam remains out with a groin injury while wing Norman Powell is also nursing a banged-up shoulder. Free-agent acquisition Stanley Johnson hasn’t played in over a month with a stress reaction in his groin. Still, the Raptors have managed to claw their way to an outstanding 19-8 record.
While Marc Gasol may not be as effective as his former All-NBA self, he was a key part of the Raptors’ championship run last season and keeping him around over the offseason was the first step towards trying to retain that championship culture in Toronto.
Gasol’s numbers have dipped this season to the tune of only 6.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game but he still finds a way to make an impact. With Gasol and Siakam both set to miss extended time, expect veteran Serge Ibaka to be relied upon heavily in Toronto’s decimated frontcourt rotation for the time being.
