Marc Gasol, basketball man beast

Not just playing for the Grizzlies, playing LIKE a grizzlie. Marc is a man's man, and plays the game with Spanish passion, and already, in only his first two games of the season, playing toe-to-toe with the reigning all-star centers in the NBA. In his first game, it was containing the Great Wall of China, Yao, then last night, there he was shutting down all-star national team player Dwight Howard.

Foul trouble forced Gasol to sit most of the third period. But the 7-footer made his presence known with Howard, particularly in the first half. Gasol began to ruffle Howard's feathers midway through the second period. Howard's frustration led to a technical foul after a series of spirited possessions. On offense, Gasol attacked Howard with a series of post moves, and aggressively fought the Magic's big man for position while on defense.

The Magic center managed only four shots in the half, and at times appeared frustrated. “That was their game plan to fight me and get physical,” Howard said. Howard got a technical midway through the second period. In the third quarter, Gasol got in foul trouble, and none of the other Grizzlies big men had the same impact, allowing Howard to be more dominant.

Rudy Gay's game winning shot came after Gay came around a screen by Marc Gasol. Gasol gave Memphis a chance to win in the final minute after blocking a shot and then tipping out Quinton Ross’ miss with 26 seconds left and the score tied at 84. Gay’s 21-footer bounced over the backboard giving Orlando one last chance with 2.8 seconds left in regulation.

But with Gasol overplaying Howard in the low post, Kyle Lowry intercepted the inbounds for Memphis, setting the stage for Gay’s shot. Hedo Turkoglu's inbounds pass sailed over Dwight Howard's head and into the hands of Kyle Lowry under the basket. Memphis immediately called for time after the turnover. "Marc did a great job not letting Dwight get the lob," Lowry said. "I was just in the right place at the right time."