Gasol takes responsibility for Raptors' poor start in Game 2 loss
The Toronto Raptors acquired Marc Gasol at the NBA trade deadline for his passing skills as a center and his veteran leadership. Through two games of the Eastern Conference finals, however, his poor play has been a major factor in Toronto's 0-2 hole against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Gasol took ownership for his part in the Raptors' Game 2 blowout loss Friday, citing a particularly bad stretch to start the contest.
"I played really bad and that set the tone," Gasol said, according to the Toronto Sun's Ryan Wolstat. "The beginning kind of set us in a real bad spot and we couldn't get a grip of the game early on and I take full responsibility for that."
Gasol missed a nine-foot hook shot in the game's first three minutes and turned the ball over twice in the first quarter. He finished 1-for-9 with two points and is now shooting 14.6 percent from the floor in two games this series. He logged just one assist Friday after dishing out five in Game 1.
The more mobile Serge Ibaka fared better in minutes at the five in Game 2, scoring eight points with 10 rebounds.
Gasol isn't the only Raptor warranting blame, however. After a breakout season, Pascal Siakam is shooting 37.2 percent over the first two games of the series, while Danny Green is clocking in at 26.7 percent.
Game 3 goes Sunday in Toronto.