Davis lights up the night of Pau

In addition to the other, there was a party. On the day of Pau Gasol, in a historic day for Spanish basketball, the party was complete for the fans of some Lakers who beat the Memphis Grizzlies (112-103) and will sleep in position play-in. Ninths (32-34) only, for those who want to continue looking up, from fifth place in the West. Things.

Those of Tennessee, meanwhile, continue to unravel. The injuries and the disappearance Ja Morant, away from the team due to personal issues whose resolution seems more important right now than anything else (for him and his team), are blurring a normally fierce, dangerous, proud group of players. On Sunday they were allowed to come back in the last quarter by the Clippers. This time it was similar… although from a much smaller distance. The pothole is deep the head seems elsewhere. And the second place in the West is already from the Sacramento Kings. The Grizzlies are third and see those Suns who have added Kevin Durant coming.

The Lakers are 7-3 since they transformed their team at the market close. The merit is remarkable Huge considering that LeBron has only played in three of those games and that D’Angelo Russell, about to return, has missed six. But the rotation makes more sense, there is more physicality and more points. AND he’s back Anthony Davis. The center, two days after creak the Warriors, also destroyed the Grizzlies: 30 points, 22 rebounds. Since LeBron fell, he has averaged 33.8 points, 13.5 rebounds and 2.8 blocks. It is the umpteenth demonstration, which sometimes seems to still be needed, of how monumental it is, on both sides of the track, when injuries they leave you alone.

Davis began to fuck all rebounds, his teammates kept the faith, and a very dangerous 88-94 with eight minutes remaining became a 105-98 who put victory within reach. It was sealed by a triple from Troy Brown, one of the secondaries who has taken a step forward: work, defense… and outside aim. This time, 13 points and 4 rebounds. Besides, Schröder played well (17+6 and 9 assists) and very well, once again, Austin Reaves (17+4+7). And Hachimura did what he should always do for talent but he only does sometimes by head: score baskets of talent (17 points), get his team out of trouble. The Lakers are in a good moment, especially in spirit. And they are buying time: Russell is going to return and it seems that they will arrive alive at the hypothetical return of LeBron. In a difficult season, this is already a lot. He is a kick of optimism.

Pau Gasol saw his Lakers win… and lose those Grizzlies that were his first team in the NBA and They are the first for Santi Aldama, who had a precious moment in the first half with two triples of talent. He finally scored 11 points and grabbed 5 rebounds, from more to less. Jaren Jackson Jr produced (26+8) but it seemed tiny next to Davis. Tyus Jones was not differential and almost all Dillon Brooks failed, little more than provocations to the stands, and Desmond Bane. Between the two, only 20 points on 8/31 shooting. the grizzlies They’re not here right now, they would need the world to stop, get off and get some air. But the NBA doesn’t stop, sometimes for the worse… and sometimes for the better. Let them tell the Lakers.