HoopsHype.com Rumors

Bobcats coach Mike Dunlap delivered high praise for Marc Gasol as the league’s best passing big man. Dunlap compared Gasol to former Portland Trail Blazers great Arvydas Sabonis. “He holds that ball like it’s an olive and he can send that ball anywhere he wants,” Dunlap said. Gasol had seven assists and is averaging 4.6 per game. Memphis Commercial Appeal

Charlotte Bobcats, Memphis Grizzlies, Portland Trail Blazers, Marc Gasol, Arvydas Sabonis, Mike Dunlap 

Jonah Ballow: Last night in the #Knicks locker room, @Carmelo Anthony made it quite clear he wants another shot at the Grizz & Gasol, specifically. Twitter @jonahballow

Memphis Grizzlies, New York Knicks, Carmelo Anthony, Marc Gasol 

Steve Luhm: Utah's Randy Foye on Marc Gasol's flagrant foul with three seconds left in Memphis' win last night: "... He's not a dirty player." Twitter @sluhm

Memphis Grizzlies, Utah Jazz, Randy Foye, Marc Gasol 

Marc Gasol: Welcome to Robert Pera to our family and the city of Memphis. Blue collar team in a blue collar city! #OneTeamOneGoal Twitter @MarcGasol

Memphis Grizzlies, Marc Gasol, Robert Pera 

Gasol then traveled to Spain where he trained with his national team for the London Olympics. Gasol missed some time early because of a shoulder injury in early July. But he was there when Spain challenged the USA for gold. There was no quit in Gasol when he returned to the Grizzlies for training camp. He didn't take time off and competed hard in ever drill and most of the exhibition games. He couldn't look sharper now that the season has begun. "I just love to play basketball," Gasol said. "I don't know how long I'm going to be able to do it so I don't think about how much I've played. Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Marc Gasol 

Marc Gasol: "I see myself playing in Memphis a lot of years." Marca.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Marc Gasol 

Ibaka recently signed a four-year, $65-million extension with Oklahoma City, but it remains unclear whether that would soften his frustration with the Spanish national team. Still, Gasol hopes Ibaka’s realizes his role may expand in 2016 for a simple reason. “I’m not going to play forever,” Gasol said. “Marc is not going to play forever.” Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, Pau Gasol, Spain, Marc Gasol, Olympics, Serge Ibaka 

Pau Gasol: I'm so lucky to be sharing these moments with my brother. Very proud of him! We have a great team!! #Brotherhood http://t.co/Kw3sr51y Twitter

Pau Gasol, Spain, Marc Gasol, Olympics 

Marc Gasol: "[USA Team's style] is very open. It reminds me of the style of Mike D'Antoni, with lots of pick-and-rolls, transitions, very open game, everybody shooting a lot, from three especially." El Pais

Memphis Grizzlies, Mike D'Antoni, USA Basketball, Marc Gasol 

What would it take for you guys or anyone to beat this United States team? Marc Gasol: “You gotta be very disciplined in order to beat them. You can’t fall into their game. They want quick possession. They want to get the ball and run and go at you and score easy buckets. They have so many players that can score. You gotta give up something. That something you give up is a pretty good player. You can take two or three options away, but the other two are pretty good too. You take away Kobe Bryant or Kevin Durant you still got LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony or Chris Paul. They have a pretty good team, but you gotta be very consistent and very disciplined the whole game or you are not going to have many chances to win.” Sports Radio Interviews

USA Basketball, Spain, Team USA, Marc Gasol, Olympics 

Bruce Arthur: Juan Carlos Navarro is sitting on the Spanish bench, long before the game. Marc Gasol is with him, presumably to guard against nut shots. Twitter

Spain, Marc Gasol, Olympics, Juan Carlos Navarro 

Julien Deschuyteneer: Quote of the day "Mr and Mrs Gasol deserve an award, they are very important for basketball" Brett Brown Australia coach #JO2012 #basketball Twitter

Pau Gasol, Spain, Australia, Marc Gasol 

Jeff Zillgitt: Spain coach Sergio Scariolo on M. Gasol's left shoulder: "Marc Gasol is getting better even if it is clear he will be playing through pain." Twitter

Memphis Grizzlies, Injuries, Spain, Marc Gasol, Olympics 

Jeff Zillgitt: Spain coach Sergio Scariolo on M. Gasol's left shoulder: "Marc Gasol is getting better even if it is clear he will be playing through pain." Twitter

Memphis Grizzlies, Injuries, Spain, Marc Gasol, Olympics 

Which American team is better: the Barcelona '92 team or the current one? Marc Gasol: Who has created this debate? They have, right? On a bad day for the '92 team, the current team would lose by just 15 or 20 points against them. Which American player do you find the most dangerous playing FIBA basketball? Marc Gasol: I like Kevin (Durant) because he makes it easy. He doesn't need to do much. He doesn't have to dribble. He just gets the ball and shoots it. He plays well with the ball and off the ball. But with those guys, you have a No. 1 guy and then you have 1B, 1C, 1D and so on. Kobe (Bryant) is also a very dangerous player. He'd be dangerous even with cricket rules. LeBron (James) is also scary. They all have their tools. HoopsHype

Memphis Grizzlies, USA Basketball, Spain, Marc Gasol 

Which American player do you find the most dangerous playing FIBA basketball? Marc Gasol: I like Kevin (Durant) because he makes it easy. He doesn't need to do much. He doesn't have to dribble. He just gets the ball and shoots it. He plays well with the ball and off the ball. But with those guys, you have a No. 1 guy and then you have 1B, 1C, 1D and so on. Kobe (Bryant) is also a very dangerous player. He'd be dangerous even with cricket rules. LeBron (James) is also scary. They all have their tools. HoopsHype

Kevin Durant, USA Basketball, Spain, Team USA, Marc Gasol 

Which American team is better: the Barcelona '92 team or the current one? Marc Gasol: Who has created this debate? They have, right? On a bad day for the '92 team, the current team would lose by just 15 or 20 points against them. HoopsHype

USA Basketball, Spain, Team USA, Marc Gasol 

The greater certainty, of course, is that there will be plenty of jawing back and forth between Bryant and Pau Gasol, with Kobe pointing out often since Team USA landed Friday on Spanish soil that he sees Marc Gasol's big brother as his little bro in Lakerland. "They like to talk [trash]," Marc Gasol said. "Kobe loves to talk." "He went at [me] a little bit during the All-Star Game. He had all of his teammates around. I felt a little alone there by myself in the corner. But it will be a little different story now that we're here at home." ESPN.com

Kobe Bryant, USA Basketball, Spain, Team USA, Marc Gasol 

Marc Gasol: On our way to Valladolid for the first exhibition game vs Great Britain! How is my Memphis people doing?! I will miss @Rudy Gay in London! Twitter

Memphis Grizzlies, Rudy Gay, Spain, Great Britain, Marc Gasol 

Jon de la Presa: Spanish NT: Calderón, Sergio R, Sada, Navarro (Rafa Martínez), Llull, Rudy, San Emeterio, Claver, F. Reyes, Pau Gasol, Marc Gasol, Ibaka. Twitter

Pau Gasol, Rudy Fernandez, Jose Manuel Calderon, Spain, Marc Gasol, Olympics, Serge Ibaka