Marc Gasol intent on ‘keeping Grizzlies together’

ATLANTA – Amid another rough patch in the schedule in which the Grizzlies have lost five of their past six games, including three straight, despair is nowhere to be found.

Center Marc Gasol won’t allow the lottery-bound Grizzlies to become depressed on the court, or in the locker room.

When asked what’s most important to him now that he’s playing in his first NBA season without playoff hopes since 2009-10, Gasol said, “Keeping the guys together no matter what.”

Gasol insists that he’ll continue to play and maintains that a trade demand isn’t happening. The 7-footer continues to pour his leadership into a Griz squad that’s committed to developing young players with point guard Mike Conley (heel surgery) and leading scorer Tyreke Evans (awaiting a trade by the Feb. 8 deadline) sitting out.

Forward Chandler Parsons (right knee soreness) hasn’t played since Dec. 27, but is hoping to return before the all-star break.

Gasol, meanwhile, averaged 33 minutes over the past 10 games. He logged at least 36 minutes in four of those contests.

“It’s easy to look for an excuse in this situation,” Gasol said as the Grizzlies prepared to end a four-game road trip Tuesday against the Atlanta Hawks. “We have so many to pick from that it’s easy to find one. I’ve never bought into excuses. Break everything down and just concentrate on your job.”

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Grizzlies interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff and Gasol talk often. Gasol, in many ways, has become a positive extension of the coaching staff.

“He’s doing a great job of leading, and leading not only by actions but the conversations that he’s having, the way that he helps the young guys,” Bickerstaff said. “It’s the way that he talks to them and teaches them. In his situation, it is very easy to be frustrated. He obviously has high expectations and is used to winning a lot of games, so he’s dealing with that frustration well and he’s helping the young guys through this.”

At 18-34, the Grizzlies have almost as many losses as they did last season (39) when they earned a seventh straight postseason berth. The Grizzlies have no chance to make the playoffs but Gasol says he won’t quit on the season.

“(Bickerstaff) knows I’m going to do whatever is asked in every situation,” Gasol said. “I’m going to have everybody’s back. It’s simple.”