I understand that Marc Gasol brings “intangible” things to the game of basketball. He’s savvy, he knows how to win, he utterly shuts down Joel Embiid whenver they match up (that’s more of a “tangible” than an “intangible” but whatever), he provides leadership on the court, blah blah blah, who cares?
Marc Gasol might have been a key player in bringing a ring to Toronto, but he doesn’t bring EXCITEMENT the same way that Chris “The Bouchebag” Boucher does. Gasol just plods around and acts all slow while playing fundamental defense and sometimes hitting a three. Boucher runs around like a madman, goes flying through the air to block shots, and lets loose three-pointers with his goofy form whenever he feels like it. Not to mention the crazy drives to the rim where it looks like his limbs are going in four different directions (because they are) and he still gets the bucket to go while little people are bouncing off him. The last time Gasol did something like that was never.
When the games start mattering again (which is very soon), I expect Gasol to step back into his bigger role. I also expect Serge Ibaka to return to the lineup. But for these meaningless games where everybody’s just having fun playing loose and carefree, those are the games where Boucher should be getting 40 MPG and 25 shot attempts.
By the way, if forty minutes and 25 shot attempts doesn’t happen for Boucher next game, I am going to draw a Canadian flag in MS Paint and then draw a big red X through it to express my disdain for Canada and its citizens. The red hue of the X will be different from the red hue of the flag itself so that the X can be distinguished.