Most basketball fans will say Dwight Howard is the best big man in the NBA, and there's nothing wrong with that. Howard is a three time defensive player of year and has led the NBA in rebounding five times. Gasol was drafted in the second round -- as opposed to Howard who was drafted first overall and Pau (Marc's brother) was drafted in the first round.

In the 2011 NBA playoffs, an epic seven-game series ensued with the Thunder victorious at home. Durant would go off for 39 points in a 15 point victory. Two years later in the 2013 postseason, Gasol's defense dominated Durant's high powered offense. Last postseason, the Grizzlies eliminated the Thunder in just five games with the Thunder never hitting the 100 point mark in a single game.

This postseason, Gasol and the Grizzlies are facing Kevin Durant and the Thunder for the third time in the last four postseasons.

A rivalry is beginning to take place before our very eyes. It's not exactly Michael Jordan versus the Bad Boy Pistons, but Gasol and Durant make for a great matchup. This season, the Grizzlies ranked third overall in team defense with the Thunder ranking fifth overall in offense. A top-three defense versus a top-five offense: What more could a basketball fan ask for?

Last season, Gasol was the NBA's defensive player of the year, and this season he has improved his offensive game. A 7 foot 1 inch, 265 pound center that rebounds might be the answer to eliminating Durant and the Thunder. Gasol can limit second chance points by Russell Westbrook and Durant, and for a center, he is a very good free throw shooter.

Gasol has spent much of his basketball career overseas.

He would play in numerous professional leagues and national teams in his native country of Spain and has twice participated in the Summer Olympic games. In both Summer Olympic games (2008, 2012), Gasol would lead Spain to a silver-medal finish just behind the U.S. With America being miles ahead of the rest of the world in basketball at the Olympics, second place is an extraordinary achievement -- even more so, twice at the Olympic games.

If Gasol can find a way to upset and eliminate the heavily favored Thunder and soon-to-be-named Most Valuable Player Kevin Durant for a second year in a row, he will easily insert himself as one of the best centers in the NBA. With so few offensive weapons around him, Gasol has a chance to show fans why he is the best center in the NBA.